Daniel Pack hosts a conversation about intercultural competence in advising international students with Esther Ra and Vicky Lee. Vicky recounts an early negative career services experience that revealed advisors’ lack of understanding of international students’ nuanced needs, including immigration and cultural norms. The speakers emphasize cultural humility and relational advising and present the LBC framework—Launchpad, Bridge, Coach—as a scaffolded approach to culturally responsive career services providing foundational context and real-world examples for U.S. job searching, bridging cultural differences and systems navigation (including addressing imposter syndrome and using tools like GoinGlobal Cultural Wizard), and coaching through ongoing goal setting, follow-ups, and continuous engagement to build agency and career self-efficacy.

Daniel Pack is a Career Exploration Specialist at Syracuse University, where he has spent over eight years helping students navigate their professional journeys. His two passions are supporting international students in their career development and exploring the convergence of AI and career services. He is the author of Culture, Communication, and Community: Navigating School, Work, and Belonging in America, a guide for international students adjusting to American professional and academic environments. He is an active member of the National Career Development Association, serving as Co-chair of the Resources Subcommittee for the International Student Services Committee. Daniel can be reached at dvpack@syr.edu and LinkedIn.

Esther Ra, Ed.D., CCMC, CELDC (she/her) is currently an Associate Director at the University of Pennsylvania’s Career Services where she co-leads the International Committee, collaborating with many internal and external campus partners to ensure the career needs of the international community. Dr. Ra is also a Lecturer at The Wharton School, lecturing in the MBA, Executive MBA, and Global Executive MBA Communications Programs. She is a Visiting Professor at Seoul National University, and has had appointments at Korea University in Seoul, South Korea. She has 25 years of experience in both K-12 and Higher Education sectors as an advisor, professor, researcher, teacher, and professional developer. Dr. Ra is Principal and Founder of ERa Coaching and Consulting (www.drestherra.com), where she collaborates with private clients and organizations towards advancing professional development and career pursuits. She is a daughter of immigrants and a bicultural, first-generation scholar-practitioner, coach, and consultant. She can be reached at estherra@upenn.edu or via LinkedIn.

Vicky Lee, M.Ed., M.S. (she/her) is a doctoral student and Graduate Research Assistant pursuing a PhD in Education at George Washington University’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development. Before returning to school full-time, Vicky worked as a higher education and student affairs practitioner for over 7 years, with hands-on experience primarily in career services and international student services. Vicky also has experience working abroad in England and Scotland. Most recently, she served as the Associate Director of Career Equity, Access & Global Career Development at Suffolk University’s Center for Career Equity, Development & Success. Vicky is an international and first-gen student who aspires to be a scholar-practitioner in higher education. She can be reached at vicky.lee@gwu.edu or via LinkedIn. 

Learn about NCDA's Committees, including the International Student Services Committee.