Millersville University partnership brings together international students

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A university in Lancaster County attracts students from 47 nations to study in the heart of Amish Country.

Along with helping local businesses like Mechanicsburg-based Daisy Data Displays and Duck Donuts grow their global footprints, the International Trade Administration’s U.S. Commercial Service office in Harrisburg has found success with bringing global talent to the commonwealth.

Earlier this year, the International Trade Administration’s U.S. Commercial Service reopened its Harrisburg office. The U.S. Commercial Service Harrisburg’s experts work with Pennsylvania’s businesses to connect them to a broader global network of trade professionals.

The office has now found success working alongside area schools like Millersville University in Lancaster County in a partnership that has greatly increased the school’s international students.

“Education is the eighth largest service sector export for the United States at $37.97 billion, with a trade surplus of $31.96 billion,” said Nic Cervantes, director of the U.S. Commercial Service office . “Pennsylvania welcomed 44,370 international students during the 2021/22 academic year contributing $1.7 billion to the state’s economy and supporting 19,635 jobs.”

Anna Bradford, M.Ed., is one of the local leaders in education who are working to showcase the benefits of studying in Central Pennsylvania. Bradford is the Associate Director of International Admissions at Millersville University in Lancaster County, as well as the co-chair of StudyPA.

“I have been meeting with U.S. Commercial Service representatives on almost a monthly basis for about four to five years,” said Bradford. “U.S. Commercial Services network and reach have been invaluable. They offer several avenues to connect with colleagues around the world.”

Millersville University’s student body includes 123 international students representing 47 nations, and about 66 nations are represented by the student body as a whole. It’s Bradford’s job, with some help from the U.S. Commercial Service, to spotlight Lancaster County as an education destination to international students who have a multitude of choices and other places where they could study.

“This is an incredibly attractive region to live. Cities like Lancaster also seem to be proactive in promoting an inclusive and innovative environment,” Bradford observed. “Many international students will look at a map and think they are moving to this area just to have access to larger urban centers at a more affordable cost of living, and then find they do not actually get into the cities as often as they anticipated. They get wrapped up in life on campus but also tell me that they find more of what they are looking to do in Lancaster.”

“I would love to encourage local businesses to explore taking on current international students as interns or hiring newly graduated international students,” offered Bradford. “While a student’s immigration status can feel intimidating, offices like our International Programs and Services office are available to help both you and the student navigate the next steps. Especially for students on an F-1 visa, our university is hosting the visa for that student – so you can benefit from their skills, perspectives, and time without the initial stress of navigating the H-1B visa process.”