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April 20, 2006
ANDOVER, Mass.—German instructor Susanne Torabi has been appointed international student coordinator in the office of Community and Multicultural Development (CAMD) at Phillips Academy. In assuming this new role, Torabi will be an advocate for international students in the Phillips Academy community and will work to promote understanding and appreciation of foreign cultures. Other responsibilities will include assisting all international students and their families with all aspects of their life here at the school.
Born and educated in Germany, where she received a master’s degree in education from the University of Münster, Torabi had her first introduction to the American school system and to American culture in 1986 when she spent six months in Atlanta, Georgia. She then returned to Germany to finish her master’s degree, then took a tenured position in 1990 in a German inner city elementary school with a diverse multicultural and ethnic background.
In 1991, Torabi immigrated to the United States to take a position as a German teacher at the Atlanta International School (AIS) in Atlanta, where she first taught elementary students German in bilingual educational programs and then later taught middle and high school students as well. “Teaching at this school was a very unique and rewarding experience, particularly because there were many Olympic families on campus leading up to the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta,” she recalls.
New to PA, Torabi began teaching German here in the fall of 2005. Already she has been awarded one grant that will allow her to work on course development for the coming school year. She has also applied for another grant through Abbot Academy to create course materials to be used by German language students of all levels.
“To be appointed as PA’s new international student coordinator is a great honor, giving me the opportunity to do something I’ve always desired,” says Torabi. “My early interest in traveling and my curiosity to learn about different cultures and peoples was inspired and nurtured early on by my father, who took my two brothers and me on extensive trips every year all over Europe as we were growing up. Ever since then, I have been attracted to multicultural diversity and exchange.”
As she steps into her new role, Torabi says she’ll be focusing on ways to support the diverse needs international students have as they strive to become successful members of the Andover community. At the same time, she’ll explore new ways to “raise awareness and empathy among the whole student body and faculty for the particular needs and challenges which international students might experience on their journey to study and live in Andover.”
To get a jump start on the job, Torabi has already made plans to attend the annual NASFA conference of international educators in Montreal from May 21 to 23.
Linda Griffith, dean of CAMD, welcomed Torabi into her new role, saying Torabi’s own experience as an international student will be a tremendous asset in her work. “International students will feel supported by someone who ‘understands’ their experience,” said Griffith. “The energy and enthusiasm Susanne will bring to this role will certainly infect everyone in the CAMD office.”
Lisa Svec, chair of the German department, echoed Griffith’s praise of Torabi. “Susanne is a true professional who cares deeply about meeting the needs of each and every student as an individual. As a teacher, she is creative, passionate about her classes, and always looking for ways to engage and support her students. I feel very lucky indeed to have her as a colleague.”
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