Lauren Perrino

FLY: Tell me about your current role at Yale University:

Lauren Perrino: I am Assistant Director for the Center for International and Professional Experience (CIPE). CIPE is a combination of Study Abroad, Fellowships and Funding, the Office of Career Strategy, and Yale Summer Session. The main part of my role is managing the Yale Visiting International Student Program (Y-VISP).

FLY: How did you begin your career?

LP: I started my career thinking I was going to be a French teacher here in the US, but as time evolved I realized that wasn’t what I was looking for. I ended up doing almost the opposite – teaching English in France. After realizing international education was a field, I went to DC where I both earned my Masters and worked at the George Washington University and also worked at an international education non-profit before coming to Yale.

FLY: What skills, abilities, and personal attributes are essential to success in your job?

LP: It is important to be able to handle ambiguity because things change all the time in CIPE and you must be able to roll with the changes. Using clear and direct communication with our partners abroad and at Yale makes for the most seamless work. We have partners in Mexico, India, China, Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. We usually have roughly 30 students each semester studying at Yale from those partners through Y-VISP.

FLY: How does working for Yale compare to previous institutions at which you’ve worked?

LP: This is my first time working with undergraduates in a physical higher education setting. While at George Washington I worked largely with graduate students. I love working in the same location as the students and getting to regularly interact with them and also getting to know the Yale students who are Y-VISP Peer Liaisons. Working at CIPE allows me to work on other university related things beyond Y-VISP like the International Study Award.

FLY: What non-work-related aspect have you enjoyed most about the Yale community?

LP: I love the fitness classes at Payne Whitney. Karate is offered virtually which has been so much fun. Staff can audit courses – I am currently auditing Chinese!

FLY: What changes have been made to your work since COVID-19 started to impact Yale?

LP: Not only am I working from home, COVID has definitely impacted the exchange program. Instead of the usual 30 students we only have 1 this semester. This has provided me more time to work on new projects like planning different alumni initiatives. Working with the School of the Environment and the Five-Year Program for Yale College and Yale-NUS College students, I’ll have the chance to work on a virtual version of Y-VISP this Spring for Yale-NUS students pursing that program.