Navigating International Education: A Doctoral Student's Experience at UAlbany

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) conducted this interview with Khem Sedhai — a PhD candidate in UAlbany's Department of Education Policy & Leadership and a data analyst for the Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment's assessment and planning unit — during Winter 2025-2026.
 

U.S. universities and colleges across the country celebrated International Education Week (IEW) in November 2025. UAlbany hosted a number of engaging events, including our largest annual cultural fair, the Cultural Connections Festival.

Why is celebrating international education across the world important? And why is it particularly critical in the 2025-2026 Academic Year?

Celebrating international education globally is important because it provides students, faculty and staff with the opportunity to recognize the value of cross-cultural learning, knowledge exchange and collaboration in addressing shared global challenges. It fosters spaces for dialogue, mutual understanding and respect across national and cultural boundaries. 

In the 2025-2026 Academic Year, this celebration is particularly significant given ongoing geopolitical tensions, rising nationalism and limitations on global mobility. At this time, international education serves not only as an academic enterprise but also as a vital platform for promoting inclusion, global solidarity and cooperation across borders, while contributing to broader public diplomacy.
 

Can you tell us about your former international education experience, especially back in your home country Nepal? What was special about it? 

Before coming to the United States for further study, I founded and led a company in Nepal for ten years that promoted international higher education worldwide. As the founding director and CEO, I worked with colleges and universities across more than 20 countries, including Australia, Canada, European nations, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. 

Through my global travels and interactions with students, faculty, institutional leaders and diplomatic missions, I gained a deeper appreciation for the value of international education in fostering intercultural understanding, academic collaboration and strong connections among diverse stakeholders. This was particularly meaningful to me because I was actively contributing to this mission.
 

While in Nepal, you worked with universities and colleges across multiple countries and became familiar with higher education systems in different global contexts. 

What led you to choose the United States for your further education, and what specifically drew you to UAlbany for your doctoral studies?

After completing university degrees in Nepal and traveling to several countries, I wanted to pursue further education in a developed country. I was particularly impressed by the United States for its flexible, high-quality education system and diverse, inclusive academic and research environments.

I completed an MA in International Relations at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. Although I received multiple offers for doctoral study, I chose UAlbany because, during a campus visit with my family, I found the community welcoming and the location ideal — near major cities such as Boston, New York and Washington, D.C. UAlbany's funding offer was also very attractive, which is critical for doctoral students. 

I am very satisfied with my decision, as the program has provided a strong environment for learning, research and professional growth.

What is your current PhD dissertation topic and how does it inform the field of international education? What about your other scholarly and professional activities as a UAlbany graduate student?

My dissertation research examines higher education access and social mobility among Nepali Dalits, a caste-oppressed community. Drawing on one-to-one, semi-structured interviews with Nepali Dalits completing higher education in the U.S., the study employs a narrative inquiry approach to explore how marginalized and socially excluded population — many of whom are first-generation college students — navigate international higher education. By centering their lived experiences, the findings provide insights valuable for students with similar socioeconomic backgrounds and for practitioners seeking to support them.

During my doctoral studies, I have actively engaged in scholarly and professional development. I have presented at the annual conferences of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME), reviewed conference and grant proposals, and held leadership roles on multiple committees. In recognition of these achievements, UAlbany awarded me the President’s Award for Leadership in 2022 and the Dean’s Excellence Award in Leadership and Service in 2024. 
 

Can you share your future plans regarding re-entering the profession of international education? How do you hope to impact the international education field with your work?

I plan to re-enter the field of international education in a leadership, teaching, research or policy oriented role that bridges scholarship and practice. Building on my diverse academic and professional experience, I aim to advance and promote international education. My goal is to inform institutional policies, strengthen global partnerships and support the internationalization of higher education. 

I expect that my training in both qualitative and quantitative research, along with my multilingual and multicultural experience, will contribute meaningfully to advancing the field. Ultimately, I seek to strengthen international education as a space that fosters mutual understanding, social responsibility and meaningful global engagement.