Five-Minute Feature: Lorette Calix, Academic Program Director of the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Program
Get to know the Empire State University community through this rapid-fire interview series that bridges professional accomplishments and personal interests. What makes Empire State University exceptional? The unique people behind the work. Five minutes—starting now!
What led you to teach the subject you’re teaching?
After experiencing a semester of Study Abroad, I chose an undergrad degree in International Relations. And after working in a number of managerial positions, I decided I needed to know more about Management, so I completed graduate studies in that field. The first course I taught (and I happily continue to teach) for SUNY Empire combined both fields: International Cross-Cultural Management (ICCM). I have lived internationally for over half my life, and I identify with the ICCM course content because of my many lived experiences. Even though ICCM is a management course, I especially like it because it is a course that promotes tolerance and understanding. It is a course that opens most students’ eyes to different, but equally correct, ways of interpreting a situation or doing things. It helps them work effectively with people from different backgrounds and create inclusive workplaces. Even after 20 years, I learn something new every term, and ICCM continues to be my favorite course.
What is your favorite thing about SUNY Empire?
My favorite thing about SUNY Empire is the student focus. We try to meet students where they are and help them find a path to reach their goals. Our students have interesting and complicated lives, and we try to provide the support they need to be able to succeed. Even the younger, more traditional age students, are choosing SUNY Empire because they find it provides a way to get a quality education and still maintain some balance with their other life commitments. I’m proud of our students and enjoy working with them; and I am happy to be part of an institution that has so many people who care.
What’s one moment in your career you’re especially proud of?
When I think of my proudest career moment, a memory from my college days is what comes to mind. So, it isn’t really part of my professional career, but related, because it was both in education and related to “meeting students where they are”. When I was in my last year of college, a friend and I started an English as a Second Language program for immigrants living in the area. One of the places we went to give classes was a local factory. When we started working with that group of students, I realized that one of the older gentlemen was illiterate, and very ashamed of that fact. He was embarrassed every time he had to sign a document with an “X” or had to ask a co-worker to punch his timecard because he couldn’t read his name.
In addition to working on English, I worked with him one-on-one to help him with what he needed most. He didn’t become fully literate, and he didn’t learn as much English as he might have if we had dedicated all our time to that; but the memory of his happiness when he could sign his own name or find his time card on the rack still brings me joy, and I am proud to have been able to help him.
What is your favorite travel destination?
I have been to so many places, it is hard to choose. I find something memorable and enjoyable every place I go. I can’t even say there is a least favorite place where I wouldn’t want to return. But the places I travel to most often are all related to people I want to see. So, I guess my favorite travel destinations are those I share with people I care about—and that includes traveling home!
What is the greatest benefit of international education?
International experiences can be life-changing. Before my study abroad semester I was trying to decide between majors in Biology and English. Numerous studies have demonstrated that students with international experience start with higher salaries after graduating, have lower unemployment rates, have improved GPAs, get jobs faster, are more likely to graduate, and get into their first or second choice grad school. In addition, there are the “softer” benefits like demonstrating more maturity, greater self-confidence, better ability to adapt to diverse work environments, more tolerance for ambiguity, and greater job satisfaction. On top of all that, international experiences can be exciting and fun! I don’t know what I would consider the greatest benefit, but I do believe a broadly applicable result is that most students come away from international experiences with more awareness of the rest of the world and a greater appreciation for other perspectives and points of view.