Purdue campus
Purdue · West Lafayette, Indiana

You don't have to
do this alone.

ISMP at Purdue is a group of volunteer mentors who meet international students here on campus. Come to one event, or get matched with a mentor and start from there.

On campus

What's happening at Purdue.

You don't need a mentor. Come and see how it feels.

Ice Cream and Boardgames
Upcoming

August 15, 2026

Ice Cream and Boardgames

6:00-8:00PM
Beering 1222

Come join us for ice cream and boardgames. Some games are quick, some take a while — and you do not need to know any of them, because someone will teach you. Come on your own or bring a friend.

Graduate Student Welcome Dinner & Info Session
Upcoming

August 22, 2026

Graduate Student Welcome Dinner & Info Session

5:00-7:00PM
Beering 2290

We’ll enjoy dinner together, introduce you to some of our volunteer mentors, share how mentorship can support you during your time at Purdue, and give you a chance to meet other international graduate students. 🥘

Please RSVP below as spots are limited.

Sign up
Connect, Belong, Thrive: Building Relationships In the U.S.
Upcoming

August 29, 2026

Connect, Belong, Thrive: Building Relationships In the U.S.

11am to 12pm
Krach 230

Learn tips on how to build genuine relationships with classmates, professors, and colleagues. Building relationships in a new country can be challenging! Join us for a practical workshop on communicating confidently and building meaningful connections in the U.S.

Please RSVP below as spots are limited.

Sign up
Meet the Mentors
Upcoming

August 25, 2026

Meet the Mentors

6:00-7:00PM
WALC B058

Come meet and connect with the mentors of the Purdue chapter of the International Student Mentorship Program! Stop by, meet the team, ask questions, and learn more about how you can get connected with a mentor during your time at Purdue.

Your mentors here

Some of the mentors you'll meet here.

They run the workshops, host the dinners, and stay in touch long after your first semester.

Caleb Chung
Caleb ChungOptometrist - Evans and Taylor EyecareBS Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior Doctor of Optometry
Daryl Lee
Daryl LeeComputational Fluid Dynamics Engineer - AeroDynamic Solutions, Inc.BS, MS Mechanial and Aerospace Engineering
Summer Zhao
Summer ZhaoDigital Advertising Manager - Harvest GroupBS Business Administration
Krista Lee
Krista LeeAssociate Veterinarian - Blair Animal ClinicBS Animal Science Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Gary Zhao
Gary ZhaoSoftware Engineer - OddballUC Riverside - Psychology
Jenny Chung
Jenny ChungOptometrist - Evans and Taylor EyecareBA Molecular Cell Biology Doctor of Optometry
What to expect

What a mentor actually does.

  • Real help
  • Open to everyone
  • Your pace
01

Get help with the real things.

How to email a professor, a roommate problem, a housing question, and what looking for a job in the U.S. is really like. These are the parts of life here that nobody explains. Our mentors are unpaid volunteers who know how hard it is to move to a new country, and they are happy to help.

02

Open to everyone.

ISMP is built on Christian values, and all of our mentors are Christians. Their faith is what motivates them to volunteer and invest in the lives of international students. What you do together is practical and personal: studying, working, and building a life here. There is no requirement to be Christian to participate. Every international student is welcome.

03

You set the pace.

You meet your mentor once to start. After that, you decide how often you meet and what you talk about. Some students meet every week. Others only want to talk once, before something important like a big presentation. You can stop at any time.

Students at an ISMP welcome event
A large group of ISMP students and mentors at a board game night in Philadelphia
A mentor and a student holding their drinks at a cafe
Students at an ISMP welcome event
01

Get help with the real things.

How to email a professor, a roommate problem, a housing question, and what looking for a job in the U.S. is really like. These are the parts of life here that nobody explains. Our mentors are unpaid volunteers who know how hard it is to move to a new country, and they are happy to help.

A large group of ISMP students and mentors at a board game night in Philadelphia
02

Open to everyone.

ISMP is built on Christian values, and all of our mentors are Christians. Their faith is what motivates them to volunteer and invest in the lives of international students. What you do together is practical and personal: studying, working, and building a life here. There is no requirement to be Christian to participate. Every international student is welcome.

A mentor and a student holding their drinks at a cafe
03

You set the pace.

You meet your mentor once to start. After that, you decide how often you meet and what you talk about. Some students meet every week. Others only want to talk once, before something important like a big presentation. You can stop at any time.

Eason Cai
“Joining ISMP was one of my best decisions because it gave me a true home away from home.”
Eason Cai · Physics and Computer Science · UC Berkeley
Photos

A year at ISMP.

ISMP community photo
ISMP community photo
ISMP community photo
ISMP community photo
ISMP community photo
ISMP community photo
ISMP community photo
ISMP community photo
ISMP community photo
ISMP community photo
Celebrating Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
Celebrating Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
ISMP community photo
ISMP community photo
ISMP community photo
ISMP community photo
ISMP community photo
ISMP community photo
ISMP community photo
ISMP community photo
ISMP community photo
ISMP community photo
ISMP community photo
ISMP community photo
ISMP community photo
ISMP community photo
Celebrating Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
Celebrating Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

There are mentors at Purdue right now.

Tell us your year and what you want help with. It takes a few minutes.

Apply to get a mentor