About SIS Navigators

WHO ARE THE SIS NAVIGATORS?

SIS Navigators are volunteer from throughout SIS.  They may have been at SIS for many years or for a few months, but they can be a great resource about the school, the university, or the greater Washington DC area.  The SIS Navigator program is in its inaugural year as a new diversity and inclusion initiative in SIS.

WHO CAN ACCESS THE SIS NAVIGATORS?

The Navigators are specifically a resource for students from two historically underrepresented groups in higher education and in the field of international affairs:  students of color and first generation college graduates.  We have found that students from these groups are often the first in their own personal networks to go to graduate school or to dive into the field of international affairs.  As a result, some other students may have family or friends that can help answer a question or give them a strategy for a particular challenge in grad school while many students from these groups do not have that luxury.  SIS Navigators are one resource that can help fill this gap.

WHY SHOULD I CONTACT A NAVIGATOR?

Students may contact a navigator simply to build a new relationship with an SIS staff member as one way to begin to get more connected to the SIS community.  Navigators biographies may be helpful in finding some common ground with an individual navigator or in identifying something they know about that the student would like to learn about.

Navigators are also a great resource when you have a question you don’t know whom to ask.  If the Navigator can’t answer the question, they can likely point you to someone who can!

Students can feel free to contact a Navigator with a simple question for a one-time interaction or with the idea of building an on-going relationship where you and the Navigator might meet periodically during the year.

WHAT IS THE TIME EXPECTATION FOR INTERACTING WITH A NAVIGATOR?

The amount of time you engage with a Navigator can be as brief as a one-time email exchange or as in depth as an ongoing relationship where you might meet or check-in a few times during the semester.  This is something you and the Navigator can discuss.

HOW SHOULD I SELECT A NAVIGATOR?

The full list of SIS Navigators is available to students for browsing. Students can check out their biographies to potentially find a unique connection or an area of knowledge that they want to ask more about.  Alternatively, you may want to connect with a Navigator based on their role in the school or other information they share about their past experiences in their biographies.

CAN I CONTACT MORE THAN ONE NAVIGATOR?

Yes!  You may find that you have different reasons to contact a Navigator over the course of the year and you may want to reach out to more than one. If a Navigator is juggling too many commitments with students, he or she will direct you back to the pool of Navigators to contact another person.

HOW CAN I GIVE FEEDBACK ABOUT THE SIS NAVIGATOR PROGRAM?

Your feedback is welcome for this new program!  Please get in touch with Rebecca Coughlin via the contact button below or in person in SIS 112.