Laura Vaughn

Why FSU?

FSU has a fantastic graduate program in Higher Education with highly experienced professors who have a lot of focus on research. I was looking for a program that could help me develop those skills and gain a greater understanding of leadership education. Working with the Leadership Learning Research Center has helped hone my skills as both an instructor and researcher. The high quality of instruction and the care of the professors at FSU is what brought me here.

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

While I liked the work I was doing, I felt that I was not able to be in a position to make change in my workplace. Pursuing a Ph.D. will give me both the experience and the knowledge to be able to make real change within higher education. I want to use my research to change how people interact with students on a daily basis.

Importance and/or impact of research and work

My research focus is on international student engagement and development. Historically, there has been a lot of focus on having international students assimilate to U.S. higher education culture. However, I want to encourage institutions to change this narrative and embrace more culturally relevant ideas and thoughts. We should be embracing differing viewpoints rather than reinforcing the idea that it is international students who need to change. We can all learn from each other.

Career aspirations

I hope to pursue a faculty position in the future and work at a higher education institution. I want to continue my research on international student engagement and encourage institutions to work with and support international students on their campus.

Advice for anyone considering graduate school

If you are considering graduate school, and especially considering a Ph.D., make sure that you have a goal in mind for what you want to do after your degree. If you are going into a doctoral program without an idea, then you might struggle quite a bit, so make sure you keep that goal front and center.

Accomplishments during graduate career

I have been able to have articles published in the Journal of International Students, New Directions for Student Leadership, and the Journal of Leadership Education. I have also been able to present at conferences such as ASHE, ACPA, the Leadership Educators Institute, the International Leadership Association, and the Association of Leadership Educators. I was awarded the Carrie G. Hall Scholarship through the Hardee Center for Leadership and Ethics in Higher Education. I have also been honored to serve as the Deputy Speaker of Communications for the FSU Congress of Graduate Students for the past two years.