EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third in a three-part series looking at enrollment data from LSU since 2001.For more interactive graphics about international and in-state student enrollment, visit lsureveille.com/enrollment.
Michael Panther is one of many foreign students at the University navigating his college experience in a foreign country, finding his place among thousands of American students.
“I miss my friends,” Panther said. “I miss the food. I miss Kenya. But I enjoy it here.”
Panther isn’t alone — 5.5 percent of the student body is made  up of international students.
The 21-year-old economics sophomore is originally from South Sudan, which became an independent state in 2011. But Panther moved away from the war-ravaged country in 2004 to the neighboring Kenya, where he spent the rest of his teenage years. 
“It wasn’t a good experience [in South Sudan],” Panther said. “Then I moved to Kenya, which was more peaceful. It was better there.”
When a friend living in Baton Rouge suggested that Panther look into LSU, he decided to find out more. 
“My friend told me to check it out. So I did,” Panther said. “In Kenya, we never heard of LSU, we didn’t know where it was. So I did some research about LSU and decided this was the school for me.” 
But Panther’s decision about where to study was difficult. After attending a British-run school, Panther said the United Kingdom seemed like a logical place to move. He also has family living in Michigan, so the Midwest was an option, too. But Panther did not want to brave cold winters in the Midwest.
While LSU’s economic program was appealing, Panther said Baton Rouge’s climate — which is similar to his African hometown’s — sold him on moving to Louisiana. 
Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment David Kurpius said he is not surprised when students like Panther find a home at LSU.
Most international students seek out the University, rather than the University recruiting them, he said.  
“We don’t do a lot of recruiting internationally, although that is something we might want to change,” Kurpius said.
The Office of Enrollment does not exercise the same recruiting efforts exerted for residents and out-of-state students because of lack of resources.
“That is an area we don’t do enough,” Kurpius said. “It’s a resource issue.”
International student enrollment has remained steady over the past 13 years. Enrollment fell by only 12 students between fall 2012 and this year.
While the efforts to recruit international students is not strong, most international students move to the University for a number of reasons, not just academics, according to Director of International Services Natalie Rigby.
Some international students are attracted to the University’s culture and climate, as well as academics, but what makes them stay is the economic and job opportunities Louisiana offers, Rigby said. 
“The bulk of international students are STEM majors. But that trends nationally and internationally,” Rigby said. “But international students represent anything: music, art.”
India, China and the Middle East provide the majority of international students, but Panther said LSU should reach out to more regions, especially Africa.
“Africans would be drawn here especially because the climate is very similar,” Panther said. “But I believe LSU is working to become a more diverse school [internationally]. I knew I wanted to study abroad. The winters are so cold [in the Midwest], so the weather played a big role in me coming to LSU,” Panther said.
Panther plans to put his economics degree to use in his home country.
“I want to rebuild South Sudan. The country is destroyed by war,” Panther said. “The main thing is fixing the economy of the country. I want to make sure my country is moving in the right direction.”
Kurpius said he wants to bring in more international students because it will give domestic students the opportunity to learn about other parts of the world.

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Charlotte Willcox

Sophomore Michael Panther is an international student studying Economics.