Students traveling to NYU Accra might not always know what to expect when studying abroad in one of the largest cities in Ghana. Once they get there, however, staff members like Marian Ansa-Otu are available to help make the transition as smooth as possible.

For more than a decade, Marian Ansa-Otu, the programs manager of Student Services at NYU Accra, along with her staff, has made students’ experiences her top priority. “We manage and assist with all aspects of student life, including orientation, cultural programming, health and wellness, and community engagement,” says Ansa-Otu. In fact, she says, Student Services at NYU Accra operates with an open-door policy. “Students can call, text, email, or walk into our offices to share their concerns with us and we will go to great lengths to find solutions.” What’s more, each student has two mandatory meetings per semester with Student Services, so they have ample opportunity to discuss their experiences, successes, and challenges, get assistance, and learn about upcoming events.

Student immersion in the Ghanaian culture is another prime directive of Ansa-Otu and her staff. “Our office collaborates with the academic and other support units to plan, develop, and coordinate programs that help ensure successful cultural adjustment into the Ghanaian environment.” To that end, the staff sponsors workshops, lectures, field trips, and special excursions that correlate with traditions like Career Week, Ally Week, and Cultural Diversity Day. “Planning cultural activities that students can actively participate in helps them learn more about their new environment and culture while adjusting at their own rate and level of comfort,” says Ansa-Otu.

Additional benefits Student Services provides include welcome lunches, farewell dinners, city tours, meditation/reflection rooms, and day and overnight trips to tour different parts of the country.

Ansa-Otu says there is myriad proof that Student Services at NYU Accra is having a transformative effect on students. “Sometimes you see students who change significantly from the start of the semester to the end, evolving into more reflective and engaged students,” Ansa-Otu says. “We even had one student say that coming to this center helped her better understand not only herself but also the world. She said that she felt empowered by her education and left feeling like a new, stronger person.”

Content repurposed with permission from NYU Global Notebook