LIMELIGHT INTERVIEW WITH Orlina Boteva

Orlina Boteva, the Director of International Programs at the University of Maine (UMaine), has built a career dedicated to fostering global education and supporting students in their international journeys. Originally from Bulgaria, her own transformative experience as a study-abroad student at UMaine ignited a lifelong passion for international education. From serving as a study abroad advisor to stepping into leadership as director, Orlina has leveraged her academic background, professional experience, and deep commitment to student success. Her story is one of perseverance, continuous learning, and a dedication to creating opportunities for students to explore the world beyond their home countries.

1. What is your current title, and where do you work?

I serve as the Director of International Programs at the University of Maine (UMaine), which is the flagship public land grant institution in the state of Maine.

2. How did you learn about your current position? (Ex. Networking, Promotion, External Job Posting)

Our previous director announced that he was leaving the institution. I raised my hand as someone interested in an interim director role. I served in that capacity for about a year and was then appointed as the permanent director.

3. What sparked your interest in working in international education?

As many colleagues in international education, I studied abroad during my junior year of college. As a native Bulgarian, I enrolled at the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG), the only US-style liberal arts institution in Eastern Europe. My parents were very supportive of study abroad and encouraged me to pursue it as an option. Since my very first semester in college, I started gathering information. At the time AUBG had only two direct exchanges, one of them with UMaine. It was the better choice for me since UMaine had graduate programs, and I thought it was a great way to learn more about various options, how to apply, etc.

My academic year abroad at UMaine was personally and academically transformational. Mentored by Lydia Krise, the former AUBG Dean of Students, and Jill Rasmussen, former AUBG Director of Residential Life, I applied to serve as a resident assistant during my year abroad. Upon my return to AUBG, when I resumed my student worker position in the dean of student life office, I wanted to focus on understanding the experience and process of AUBG students studying abroad and to improve their pre-departure process. This experience sparked a lifelong interest in encouraging and supporting students in taking the leap to learn and travel outside of their home environment.

4. What was your first job in international education?

My first job in international education was as a study abroad advisor at the University of Maine in 2009.  It took two master's degrees - in history and in student development in higher education, professional experience in student life at two institutions, and leveraging my skills and knowledge to land a job in international education. It was a tough and competitive job market at the time.

5. Tell us about your first international experience, either traveling or working abroad.

Even though I was enrolled at a US-style institution, studying abroad at a large doctoral university in the US was overwhelming. Speaking in English for 12-15 hours a day without switching to my native Bulgarian outside of classes was very exhausting at first. The small Bulgarian community on campus was a lifeline during holidays and when homesickness intensified. At the time, in 1999-2000, before cell phones and video calls, I could call once a month to speak briefly with my parents. Phone calls were very expensive. We relied on emails and snail mail. I still have some of the letters my mom had written to me, which I cherish now. Making new friends, exploring new activities and clubs, and traveling around the northeastern United States was fun. I learned much more about myself, what intrigued and inspired me, what made me mad and angry, how to make new friends, and how to challenge myself to step outside of my comfort zone.

6. Describe a typical day/week at the office at your current job. 

I prefer to respond to "How do you organize your day and take care of yourself in the hectic environment of an international education office?" What is typical in international education? You have to be ready for the unexpected.

I start my day by making a cup of coffee, reading the news, and reviewing my calendar for the day and the next few days. Starting slowly and having some quiet time in the morning has really helped me to center, be mindful, and enjoy the quiet in my house before my kids get up.

I usually get organized mentally before I even get to the office about what to expect that day and prepare in advance for any meetings coming up. A good mentor taught me early the importance of never walking into a meeting unprepared or unclear about the goals of the meeting and expectations of me.

I start my work day with a quick scan of emails for anything urgent, and I like to say hello to my colleagues and student workers and connect with them on a personal level. Then, I prioritize what is urgent for the day, create a top 3-5 items list, and work on accomplishing these tasks in between meetings. Another good friend and mentor shared her way of getting organized – she blocks Monday mornings for email and Fridays for projects and urgent meetings, and blocks time on her calendar for quiet time to work on projects. It is a life-saver strategy to stay on top of deadlines and projects.

I occasionally don't pack lunch so I can stretch my legs and go to the student union to grab lunch. It is amazing how many quick and helpful conversations happen in the lunch line or on the way as I bump into students and colleagues. Usually, the afternoons are meetings or work time. And then, I rush out to get my kids to an evening activity, make dinner, help with homework, etc. And then off to bed. I try to get 7-8 hours of sleep per night because I don't function well without enough sleep.

7. What do you enjoy the most about your job?

I like the variety in it. Every day and month are different, with new challenges. And I love working with the students. I keep a small advising load to stay current on trends, needs, and policies. The best part of my day is meeting with students to discuss the challenges they are dealing with and strategizing how to resolve them.

8. What is the most challenging aspect of your job? 

Administering institutional scholarships. Some days, I wish I had an unlimited endowed scholarship fund to help students experiencing financial distress register for the next semester and graduate.

9. What has working in international education taught you about yourself and your own culture? 

I learned, as many others before me, that we take for granted what we know and what we experience  without asking deep questions about how our own family, culture, nation, religion and identity influence our worldview. After living and learning for years outside of my home country, I was able to see deep social issues stemming from sexism, xenophobia, homophobia and racism in Bulgarian society, which I was blind to before.

10. Do you have a career mentor or someone that you consult with about career growth?

I have multiple mentors and go to each one with different questions. For example, one mentor helped me identify opportunities for growth after reviewing my resume. A few years ago, she encouraged me to add writing skills and publications to my resume. Another mentor discussed conferences I should consider as I gain more experience in international education, and committees I can join as a way to continue learning, growing and serving the field.

11. Describe a moment in your career that you consider your greatest achievement.

The last few years have been fun and busy. I added a doctoral program on top of my full-time job and my family obligations. For years, I wanted to enroll in a doctoral program and the pandemic presented a great opportunity for reflecting on my life and career goals. I dipped my toes back into the classroom with one class, then a few more and now I am working on my dissertation. My goal is to graduate by December 2025.

I often tell friends and colleagues that the PhD program has been the best thing I have done for myself. It allows me to step away from work and draw healthy boundaries. Additionally, I do not feel guilty at all about spending time on reading and writing since my research is within international education. It is great when my kids and I "do homework" together. Mostly, my doctoral studies have allowed me to take questions from my daily work in international education and do a deep dive into the scholarly literature, understand the issue better, and then bring this new knowledge back into my practical work and share it with my colleagues.

I consider it an achievement that I have learned to juggle my schedule successfully between work, studies and family. I will be so happy when I get my diploma at the end of the degree. However, I consider my greatest achievement in life being a mom to my two kids. My greatest joy is when we travel together, and I teach my kids about languages, cultures and people.

12. How has COVID-19 impacted your work life?

I have learned that I really enjoy being in the office with my colleagues. I deeply care about students, and connecting with them in person one-on-one is so rewarding. Working from home felt lonely and boring.

13. What type of things are you doing to balance your mental health?

I like to walk, read fun books, watch movies, and work in my garden.

As counterintuitive as it sounds, working on my doctoral degree has also been very good for my mental health. As I have learned the history and landscape of global and US higher education, I don't get frustrated as I did before over policies and processes. Instead, I see that many issues are often embedded in the history and structure of higher education, which is patriarchal and masculine. This new perspective allows me to focus on how I can change what is within my control and advocate for policy revisions at my institution or state.

14. What is the best advice you can give to other global educators right now?

Build networks of colleagues who you can reach out to for advice and guidance, but also to vent and commiserate as needed. Peer mentor circles are a great and free way to learn, seek support, and grow in the profession.

The mission of the Global Leadership League is to ignite change across the global education field by empowering, connecting, and training leaders. We invite you to reach out to us here or learn more about becoming a member.