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Meet Our Community!
Learn why our students love UNA! Explore student testimonials below and learn more about their individual experiences, from thoughts on campus life and classes, to living in Alabama, and more.
“I came to UNA through my brother. When I came here everyone welcomed me with open hearts and they were always there for me. I met a lot of kind people from all around the world at UNA, and even though we come from different countries and backgrounds we consider each other family.”
-Mohammad Alharbi | Saudi Arabia
“My university experiences thus far have been amazing. I have learned and experienced so many things in such a short period, and it has gone by so fast. I am still discovering all the opportunities that the university offers me. UNA is a very welcoming place, and from the first day, I felt at home here. I have made many new friends from many different backgrounds. I live in an international residence hall and the students are from different countries on my floor have allowed me an insight into their cultures and also I’m an international navigator this year and I have met a lot of international students this year.
My classes are great and I enjoy every one of them, especially biology. The depth and detail of what we are learning are far beyond my high school experience. It is just amazing to think that even the tiniest details on the subatomic level can have such a huge impact. I am also taking an introductory Spanish, which I greatly enjoy. Learning a new language is challenging but it is very rewarding. The course load is intense, so time management is key. Time has been flying by and it’s hard to believe that we have been on campus for a year already. Life at UNA is a great experience that I plan to make the most out of.”
-Srindhi Siddi | India
“University of North Alabama is the best of both worlds. Not only is it the perfect place for someone who loves sports and wants a good education, but the campus is gorgeous. I came to UNA because of the Geospatial Science program’s reputation, and I found that it lived up to the praise. Other reasons for choosing UNA included the quality scenic campus, welcoming community and great weather. North Alabama weather is the best of everything. We get nice and hot summers to enjoy, then we move into the beautiful fall weather that is temperate and brings out all of the drastic colors of the leaves, we move into a chilly winter that only gives us short bouts of snow, and then we bring all of the pastels and bright pinks of the flowers with spring. There is no other place I would be happy going for my Master’s degree, other than here at UNA.”
-Stephen Osero| Kenya
“I believe University of North Alabama is a sweet apple pie into the deep heart of the planet because of its greenish land, greenish means alive! I am here. I could recover my cultural phobia after being a member of this family; the campus is very diverse with students from distinct corner of the universe. Inter-communication between professors and pupils allure me tremendously. I am enjoying here my student life perfectly. Have a great life!”
- Nazma Khanam | Bangladesh
“For me, being a UNA student is a privilege. It is a place where everybody is nice, warm, and friendly. The campus is beautiful, full of nature, and wonderful buildings. Classes are great, they are not too big and you can easily interact with the professors that are also nice and comprehensive. UNA has been my family since I’ve been in the United States. I hope that more people can have the opportunity to come here and appreciate how great this University is.”
-Alex Velazco Moreno | Venezuela
“The University of North Alabama has changed my life. I never thought that I would find such a welcoming community that helped me every time I needed it. I have made incredible memories and lifelong friendships that I will never forget. At UNA you will find friends, a family, and a friendly community, as well as different activities, diversity and a beautiful campus.”
- Julie Pinzon| Columbia
Graduate Student Interviews
UNA First Impressions
“I have been at UNA for three years. I like this campus, the beautiful environment, the fresh air, and the friendly people. UNA offers small classes where I can talk with the professors directly and ask questions. I get to do my internship with the Office of International Affairs and I feel grateful for the opportunity.”
- Jaiming Li | China
“University of North Alabama offers you more than a place to study your major. It is a place that gradually makes you feel at home, until the day comes when you realize that you actually call it home. Not only the programs they offer are good but also the community helps you to feel that you are in the right place. I study Electromechanical Eng. and the teachers are amazing and help you if you have any kind of problem. Without a doubt, UNA has given me many experiences and knowledge that throughout my life will serve me!”
- Christopher Artieda| Ecuador
“I chose UNA because I wanted to study Hospitality Management in more practical settings as well as business. One of my favorite things about staying here is I can get to know people from all over the world, and learn about each other’s cultures. As a part of that, I teach Japanese. Studying at UNA has widen my perspective so much, which I could never be able to do if I stayed in Japan.”
-Yui Omameuda | Japan
“The reason why I chose UNA is because my high school teacher recommended here. Also the environment here seems to be better than some universities in other regions. I like UNA because the environment. There were more and more natural environments that I had not seen before and the weather is usually warm. Furthermore, people and friends around me are very friendly. These things help me to adapt here more quickly.”
- CheolJun Jo | South Korea
Video Transcript:
“Hello, my name is Heidi Pham, and I'm an international student at UNA. I came from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I will graduate this December, with a bachelor degree in accounting, and I'm currently working for the Office of International Affairs. I'm an assistant for the International Admissions office.
I came to UNA four years ago, when I was 18. Studying abroad at an American university is a huge challenge and it's required a lot of hard work and dedication, but without this experience, I wouldn't be who I am today.
The professors here at UNA, they have a lot of experience. They remember the student individually and they always try and find a way to help the student in any situation.
When I was a freshmen, I didn't know which major I wanted to take, so I took my first
accounting class with Ms. Barksdale, and I remember she wrote on my first exam, 'Heidi, have you ever considered accounting as your major? I see the potential in you.' So I listened to her advice and I haven't regretted it since.
On another occasion, I was having trouble signing up for one of my classes, so I called Dr. Borah. I told him about my situation, and without knowing who I was and having never seen my face before, he immediately said, 'Yes, let me find a way to help you.' And he created a class just for me. I was the only student in the class. I know that a lot of university, they're not gonna go that far for one student. You know, it's the little things that make UNA so special to me.”
-Heidi Pham| Vietnam
