Oluwatosin (Tosin) Opeoluwa, a native of Nigeria, is enrolled in the master of social work program at the University of Iowa. When she was five years old, her parents got separated. “As the youngest child in a family of four children, I was seriously impacted mentally and emotionally but no one was aware. My mom practically raised us alone. I was always sad when she was doing odd jobs as well as when she was down with a terrible ulcer,” says Opeoluwa. “Therefore, I made up my mind to go to college so I could help women like her and their children.”

However, Opeoluwa couldn’t start pursuing higher education right after high school graduation because her mother didn’t have anything to sell to pay for her education. She had to wait until she was 26 years old to start college when her siblings were able to afford it. She eventually received a bachelor’s degree in information resources management from Babcock University, Ilisan Remo Ogun State, Nigeria, in 2010. 

Equipped with a strong background in entrepreneurship that she obtained from college, Opeoluwa became a professional trainer specializing in customer service and etiquette. “I connected to coaches and mentors. Above all, I was always training single moms, specifically women who were coming out of domestic violence,” says Opeoluwa.

At her brother’s suggestion, Opeoluwa moved to the U.S. and received a master's degree in human sciences with a concentration in marriage and family therapy from Prairie View A&M University in 2019. “A few months prior to my graduation, my advisor said, ‘Tosin, if you want to reach those goals of helping women, you need to be an authority. Go for the combined MSW/PhD program at the University of Iowa. That was where I finished. Although it’s cold there, it’s a nice place.’ So I applied to the combined program and got the MSW admission,” recalls Opeoluwa. 

Unfortunately, things went south as the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Opeoluwa was unable to work for several months due to a lockdown and the fact that her passport was expired. When she arrived in Iowa City, she found herself in a situation where she had no income, no housing, no medical insurance, and no financial support from family because everyone else was dealing with the pandemic as well. 

“I found a job on campus, but I couldn’t work because I didn’t have a valid passport as an international student. One day, it was too much for me, so I flew to Washington D.C. with the help of my friends and got to a Nigerian passport office. I knelt down and said, ‘Could you please help me? I haven’t worked for nine months, and I can’t do this anymore.’ After some delay, we got the passport done,” shares Opeoluwa. She received her passport three days later and started working as a learning assistant at the UI Athletics Department within a week. Later on, Opeoluwa worked at a UI bookstore and Burge Market Place. 

In the meantime, Opeoluwa actively sought help from her professors and other resources. “Dr. Butali supported me by connecting me with students who helped me find housing. Dr. Bern-Klug tried so much for me, although the funding she was trying to get for me did not work out, she got a check of $500 for me from a church and bought me a reading table, chairs, a bed frame, blankets, bedsheets, and food. I also got a $350 emergency fund from the Graduate College,” says Opeoluwa. 

"You have all the resources you need to be who you want to be on this campus and in this community. You can ask questions from professors or peers – this place is about sincere conversations."

In spring 2021, Opeoluwa was offered a graduate assistantship. However, she had about $18,000 to pay for the courses she took earlier without an assistantship. After reaching out to the Office of the Registrar, she realized that the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) had advocated for her. As a result, she was able to set up a monthly payment plan. 

In addition, ISSS applied for the Institute of International Education Emergency Fund: COVID-19 on her behalf, which provided $1,500. To further help her relieve the financial burden, ISSS encouraged Opeoluwa to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), which gives international students authorization to gain employment training and work in paid internship positions. According to Opeoluwa, she landed a paid internship on CPT with NAMI Johnson County, where she took her foundation practicum earlier. “Yes, now I have a graduate assistantship and an internship every semester!”

Opeoluwa believes the UI is a space of dream fulfillment. “Ask me why? You have all the resources you need to be who you want to be on this campus and in this community. You can ask questions from professors or peers – this place is about sincere conversations. You have fewer distractions - the library is loaded with resources and helpful librarians, and the most friendly and supportive classmates. And helpful immigration information from ISSS is another point I cannot overlook,” Opeoluwa reflects in tears.

International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement.  IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.