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Welcome to SIS Voices, an ongoing series in which SIS alumni from historically underrepresented backgrounds share their experiences working in international affairs and offer some advice to current and future students who may also find themselves in the minority in their classes and professional spaces. These alumni work in varied fields, and they share a belief that the surest way to realize the SIS vision of “waging peace” is to include all voices in the discussion.

In this edition, we spoke with Nikia Brown, SIS/MA ’16 who is currently working as the Associate Director of Intercultural and Global Learning for International Student Experience at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). She studied abroad in Geneva, Switzerland during her time in the Intercultural and International Communication program at SIS. At UIUC, she developed and now runs the Global Leaders Program, which was partially inspired by her experience in Geneva.

What sparked your interest in international affairs?

To answer this, I would say it all starts with my roots. Both of my parents are from the Caribbean—my mother is from Jamaica, and my father is from Trinidad and Tobago—although my brother and I were raised here in the United States, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Growing up in the US with strong Caribbean influences—through language, food, culture, and the vibrancy of our heritage—was a big part of my upbringing. I had the opportunity to travel to Jamaica several times as a child, often staying for extended periods. That early exposure to a country outside my own definitely sparked my interest in different cultures.

Another pivotal moment came after I graduated from college. I moved to South Korea to teach English as a second language. Initially, I thought I would stay there for a year, figure out what I wanted to do next, and prepare myself for adulthood. But just three months in, I knew I wasn’t leaving Korea anytime soon. I fell in love with how different everything was compared to what I had known; it challenged me and stimulated my curiosity in ways I didn’t expect. My interactions with Korean culture and people, as well as meeting people from diverse backgrounds in the relatively homogeneous society of South Korea, really ignited my passion for international affairs and intercultural, global learning.

What are some challenges and opportunities you have found as a Black woman in the field of international affairs?

To be honest, at first, what felt like an opportunity actually felt like a burden. As I mentioned, I taught English in South Korea. After returning to the US after my first year, I realized I still wasn’t ready for life in the States. So, while looking for graduate programs, mostly in sociology here, I had a thought: "Why not see if there are opportunities back in Korea?" I did a quick Google search for graduate programs for international students in South Korea, and the first thing that popped up was the Korean Government Scholarship. It would fully sponsor me to learn the language in depth and pursue a master's or PhD in any field of my choice. I was amazed, but I almost talked myself out of it. Thankfully, I had friends who encouraged me to apply, and I’m grateful I did because I got the scholarship. That brought me back to Korea in 2010, where I completed a language program and earned my master’s degree in sociology at Sungkyunkwan University. I stayed there until 2014.

During those six years in South Korea, I lived in a very homogeneous, and at times, xenophobic society. Looking back, everything seems beautiful, but there were definite challenges. People would make disrespectful comments about my hair or skin color. Some students were rude simply because I was different from them. They wouldn’t describe me as "different" but as "weird," and I had to correct them. I used those moments as teaching opportunities because I knew their ignorance came from a lack of exposure. They had never seen anyone like me before. It took patience and cultural humility, understanding that South Korea had a long history of conflict and colonization, which made them defensive about preserving their culture. Knowing that background helped me respond to moments of discrimination with more patience.

For the most part, the students were receptive. I remember one student who didn’t believe I was from the US because I was Black. She insisted I must be from Africa since, in her mind, all Black people came from Africa, and all white people with blonde hair and blue eyes were American. It disrupted her worldview, and I had to help her reorient how she saw people and the world.

There were also interesting personal interactions, like when my Korean roommate told me that, during our first two weeks together, she was just observing me. She said she expected us to be very different but was surprised by how similar we actually were—we both watched Korean dramas, stayed up late doing homework, and had similar habits. This was an opportunity for me, as a Black woman in South Korea, to challenge the stereotypes and preconceived notions people had about Black individuals.

Sometimes it felt like a burden because I knew that my actions would not just reflect on me as an individual, but on Black people as a whole. I didn’t want that weight, but I was mindful of it. I wanted to make sure that my behavior didn’t reinforce negative stereotypes. In the end, I think it turned out to be a positive experience for both sides.

What are you doing now and what skills/tools/knowledge did you gain from SIS that have proven especially important in your career?  

I’m currently working as the Associate Director of Intercultural and Global Learning for International Student Experience at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I draw on all of my international experiences to help prepare our first year international students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to not only thrive within the college but also across campus. In our orientation course, we have the opportunity to cover a wide range of important topics. We discuss personal versus social identities, mental health—especially given that it's stigmatized in many of the countries our students come from—and we work to normalize these conversations as much as possible.

We also dive into social justice movements, encouraging international students to take up space and find their voice here in the US, whether they’re here for a year or for four. I want them to know that they matter, their voice matters, and that they can affect positive change as international students.

Additionally, I direct my brainchild—the Global Leaders Program. It’s a four year cohort-based program that brings together domestic and international students using a human-centered design framework and community engagement. What that looks like is students collaborating with community partners, both locally and internationally, to address various social challenges. It’s about going to the people who are experiencing the problems and including them in finding the solutions.

In their first year, students work locally; in the second year, they take their projects internationally. By the third year, they lead different student committees to support the program, and in the final year, they complete a capstone project focused on something they’re passionate about. Then we graduate them and send them out into the world to continue doing amazing things. I’m not sure how typical it is for individuals to study abroad during their graduate years, but I definitely benefited from that as a student at CSIS. I didn’t study abroad as an undergraduate, so discovering that I could study abroad for a semester or a year during my graduate program was amazing. I took full advantage of that opportunity by going to Geneva, Switzerland, to study in their anthropology and sociology program.

Through that experience, I participated in a program called C4SI (Collaborate for Social Impact), which is essentially a scaled-down version of the Global Leaders Program (GLP). I worked with students from around the world and a humanitarian organization called G SURF in Geneva to address violent extremism in the context of Bangladesh. That experience was life-changing and transformative. It inspired me to create the Global Leaders Program as it exists today, allowing me to collaborate with different people. While we weren’t forced to become friends, the context of working together on something larger than ourselves fostered friendships that grew over time.

In addition, I do a lot of programming now in my work for undergraduate students and the campus community, which involves diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in international affairs. This experience taught me the basics, like creating inclusive flyers and wordsmithing language to ensure precision. Forming alliances with campus stakeholders and gaining buy-in were also crucial skills. I feel that working alongside Becca as thought partners on various programs and initiatives equipped me with the skills needed for my current role.

Another significant experience was my involvement in a social innovation fellowship with Bob, which introduced me to human-centered design. I started as a social innovation fellow before going to Geneva, and those skills were invaluable when I applied them to the challenges, we faced in C4SI (Collaborate for Social Impact).

Finally, I had the privilege of being mentored by Dr. Amanda Taylor, who was the Program Director for International Intercultural Communication when I was there. Working alongside her on the Inclusive Excellence Initiative in my final semester was incredible. She has significant power and influence but uses it appropriately, and her relatability made it easy to learn how to be an effective leader through listening, mentoring, and nurturing others. Having such a strong role model was truly amazing.

What advice would you give current students from historically underrepresented communities about what they have to offer as a vital voice?

The first thing I would say is that their voice matters. When entering spaces that are predominantly white or male-dominated, it can be tempting to sit silently and let others speak for you. But don’t do that! Whether your voice is shaking or you're nervous, speak anyway. In the face of fear or trepidation, advocate for yourself. It’s important to contribute your thoughts, especially when you have something valuable to say.

I recently listened to a podcast called The Diary of a CEO, where the host interviewed someone discussing the concept of a “contribution score.” People, whether you know it or not, are taking note of how often and the quality of your contributions. So, as a person of color in a minority position, think about your contribution score and ensure your input is meaningful. You don’t have to occupy a lot of space to make an impact; you just need to express your thoughts.

Another point is to push past fear and imposter syndrome. These feelings might not go away, but you can use them as fuel rather than allowing them to paralyze you. Fear can inspire you to do amazing things, and I choose to use it to my benefit.

I also advise Black students who come to me with curiosity about being a Black woman in Korea to view uncomfortable or disrespectful situations as learning opportunities. When those moments arise, you can teach others from your experiences. While you can’t guarantee they’ll learn, give them the chance.

Advocacy is another important strategy. Sometimes this means educating others by addressing disrespectful behavior directly. For instance, if someone approaches me and touches my hair, I’ll explain that while I understand they mean no harm, it’s essential to ask for permission before interacting with others, especially people you don’t know. This form of advocacy is about educating respectfully.

A third strategy I encourage is choosing not to engage. There will be times when you don’t have the mental, physical, spiritual, or emotional capacity to engage with certain situations, and that’s your right. For example, when I was in a busy area in Seoul, I was talking with a friend, and she pointed out that people were staring at me. After living there for a while, I had stopped noticing it because being hypervisible can weigh on your mental health. Sometimes, protecting your well-being means choosing not to see or engage with certain things.

As a person of color in predominantly white or homogeneous spaces, it’s crucial to have different strategies and know when to use them. Recognize when you have the capacity to educate, when to advocate for opportunities you deserve, or when to simply step back and maintain your peace.

Who are your professional mentors (formal or informal), and how did they come to be your mentors?  

I mentioned Becca and Dr. Taylor earlier. It's interesting because we don’t really engage much on social media like LinkedIn or Facebook, and our conversations are occasional. Despite that, I still consider them mentors, which highlights the lasting impact a person can have on you.

I mentioned Becca for a few reasons: she has been a thought partner in programming, teaching me the importance of using precise language and how to build bridges with faculty members and campus stakeholders. I continue to apply what I learned from her in my everyday work, and her influence is still very present in my life.

Dr. Taylor is another key mentor for me. When I think of a positive, transformational leader, she immediately comes to mind. In difficult situations, I often ask myself, "How would Dr. T handle this?" Her example continues to guide me in navigating challenging circumstances. I know that if I faced a tough situation and reached out to her, she would carve out time to encourage and advise me.

Additionally, I have to mention my mom as a mentor. It’s funny because our relationship wasn’t the best while I was in college. We often clashed due to that intergenerational and intercultural divide; I’m a free spirit, and she is very strict. However, I’ve learned so much from her about having faith, trusting God in difficult times, and being resilient as a Black woman in this world. She taught me how to pray and the importance of knowing when to be silent. Those lessons have helped me navigate personal and professional challenges.

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