by Babatunde Odofin

Since its inception, the International Club at Greensboro College has been an invaluable resource for both domestic and international students. Serving as a point of connection, it fosters engagement between students in a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. The club owes much of its success to its founding director who played a crucial role in establishing this community and remains a driving force behind it.

We are pleased to announce that Paula Michelle Wilder has been appointed as the new director of International Programs at GC. Wilder brings a wealth of experience and skills to her new role and is enthusiastic about building upon the foundation laid by her predecessor. Wilder has laid out her vision for the role, which revolves around providing support, energy and resilience to the club’s framework. She has a unique academic background, having initially obtained an English degree from Guilford College as a non-traditional student. Wilder embarked on a successful career teaching developmental english at Guilford Technical Community College where her achievements were recognized. Pursuing her passion, Wilder earned a master’s degree in teaching english to speakers of other languages (TESOL) from Greensboro College, graduating with top honors. Her prowess in this field was immediately recognized by the director of the TESOL program at GC who invited her to teach undergraduate classes. During her tenure at GC, Wilder taught adult learners for ten years and developed specialized courses. These courses focused on improving the academic writing skills of individuals who speak languages other than english. Wilder’s teaching abilities were refined during this period and she developed a keen interest in working with international students. After serving for a decade in this position, Wilder moved to Durham Technical Community College to continue her professional growth in the field. She played a pivotal role in developing and implementing innovative programs that expanded the scope of the english practicum beyond social english at Durham Tech. The english class she led received an accreditation, a distinction that was revalidated for another decade in August 2023, which is now internationally recognized.

The outstanding accomplishments of a former GC faculty member garnered significant attention from Greensboro College. Following the departure of the former director of international programs, the college president successfully convinced Wilder to return to Greensboro College and take on the role of director of International Programs. Her current focus has shifted from academics to the development of the GC International Program. However, her vision includes creating english classes for non-traditional students, individuals in health and business fields and others who require professional english communication skills in their daily work but cannot enroll in the regular classes offered by most colleges in Greensboro. Additionally, Wilder aims to transform GC into a more welcoming and inclusive community for both domestic and international students, as well as develop partnerships around the world. We are proud to have such an accomplished faculty member on our team and are confident that Wilder’s expertise and dedication will bring significant value to the club and the college at large.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to remind all students that the International Club is open to everyone, irrespective of their nationality or background. We believe that a diverse and inclusive community fosters creativity and progress. We welcome all individuals who share our vision to join us. Together, we can create a community of brilliant minds and visionary thinkers at GC and make a positive impact on the world.