Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling and Higher Education at Northern Illinois University
About
Gudrun Nyunt serves as an assistant professor of higher education at Northern Illinois University. Born and raised in Bregenz, Austria, Dr. Nyunt came to the United States as an international student. Nyunt holds a BA in journalism from the State the University of New York at New Paltz, a Master's in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of Connecticut, and a PhD in Student Affairs from the University of Maryland, College Park. Nyunt's professional experiences include seven years of working full-time in Residence Life (Miami University, the University of North Florida, the University of Connecticut), conducting research and supporting programmatic initiatives of an NSF-sponsored ADVANCE grant (the University of Maryland, College Park), working as front desk manager at Webster University's branch campus in Vienna, Austria, and serving as a resident director for Semester at Sea for the Fall 2012 voyage.
Current Work:
Dr. Nyunt is committed to improving student affairs practice and fostering full participation of all members of the higher education community through my scholarship. My research interests focus on educational practices that foster the development of intercultural competence and prepare students for active engagement in a global society (e.g., study abroad); the experiences of international and minoritized students, faculty, and staff at U.S. Higher Education institutions; and the mental health and overall well-being of members of the campus community. One of my manuscripts under review explores the potential of study in fostering cross-cultural interactions, using the lens of critical hope; an manuscripts explores study abroad experiences of BIPOC women. Current research projects include a phenomenological study on the experiences of Asian students during times of increased Asian hate and a study focusing on Student Affairs practitioners' wellness and retention during COVID.
Research Area(s):
- study abroad; international students; mental health; Student Affairs practitioners; minoritized populations
