International students are more likely to experience mental health issues and increased stress. Mental health is often surrounded by negative societal stigmas that act as barriers to seeking support and tend to lead to greater mental health concerns. International students tend to seek socioemotional support from other international student peers rather than seeking out counseling services. However, this study shows that LGBTQIA+ international students were less likely to seek socioemotional support from other international student peers due to fear of their sexual orientation being discovered and their families finding out about their identity. This study examines how LGBTQIA+ international students talk about their experiences on and off campus in relations to their socioemotional well-being. Specifically, this study sought to better understand the complexities of LGBTQIA+ students’ identities, and the challenges they faced in terms of their socioemotional well-being. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Colleges across the world have increased the representation of international students. This increase is associated with a desire to globalize, while others see international student growth as an opportunity for additional revenue, with some past research labeling these students the “cash cow." The services offered to these students has been called into question and little research has been dedicated to the supports that institutions offer. Some institutions have sought to centralize the supports they give students through the development of a center dedicated to international students, that is led by a director or manager. Our study focuses on the role and empowerment of these international center leaders. We utilized a multi-institution case study approach, guided by the empowerment framework. Findings include international center directors reporting their sense of empowerment is founded in their desire to serve, sense of autonomy and the sense of meaning they find engaging in the work.