“International students bring ideas, energy and determination,” Mnookin wrote. “They — along with staff and faculty from across the globe — enrich our classrooms, research labs and the broader community. And in many cases, they stay and give back right here in Wisconsin, advancing science, caring for patients, building our communities and strengthening our state.”
Mnookin highlighted several notable UW alumni who were international students, including School of Nursing alumna Sadat Abiri ’99, MS’10, Cert’11, MPH’12. Originally from Nigeria, Abiri earned three UW–Madison degrees. She now serves as a psychiatric nurse practitioner focused on improving mental health for underserved communities in Madison. She’s one of the organizers of a global health exchange with professionals in Nigeria, Uganda and Ethiopia — putting collaboration into action and embodying the Wisconsin Idea every day.