UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Saiber Shaikh, a doctoral candidate in the Counselor Education and Supervision program in the Penn State College of Education, has been awarded the 2025 Ardeth and Norman Frisbey International Student Award as part of Penn State’s annual graduate student recognition awards. This honor recognizes her contributions to international student advocacy, research and mentorship.
Through her journey from international student to advocate, researcher and mentor at Penn State, Shaikh has transformed her own experiences into a mission: to ensure that international students feel supported, heard and valued. For Shaikh, the challenges of being an international student weren’t just theoretical — they were deeply personal.
“I experienced firsthand the unique challenges international students face — cultural adjustment, academic pressures, lack of community, feelings of isolation, career and academic barriers, and trying to find your place in the world,” she explained. These experiences fueled her passion for mentorship, research and advocacy.
One of Shaikh’s recent discussions in academic spaces has been her work on Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its implications for accessibility in higher education. While AI has the potential to break down barriers, she emphasized that its implementation must be intentional and culturally responsive.
“The most pressing ethical consideration is ensuring that Generative AI doesn’t amplify existing educational inequities and biases,” Shaikh said. She envisions AI as a tool that can bridge gaps by helping with personalized learning pathways and becoming a tool for accessibility — rather than reinforcing systemic divides.
Shaikh’s leadership extends beyond research. As editor-in-chief of the RAM Report, she introduced multilingual submissions, making space for students to express themselves in their native languages. This initiative wasn’t just about translation — it was about breaking down invisible barriers and fostering a sense of belonging.
“One student reader shared, ‘Reading this newsletter makes me feel welcomed and included as a member of our community,’” Shaikh recalled. By introducing an environment where diverse perspectives are not only heard but celebrated, she has found a way to celebrate each person’s cultural background and foster belonging within academia.
In the classroom and beyond, Shaikh is committed to broadening education — challenging traditional power structures and amplifying historically marginalized voices. She recounts a particularly powerful moment during a research mentorship discussion: “We talked about how we know what we know. This sparked a rich discussion about knowledge production — who conducts research, who participates in it, and whose experiences become ‘evidence’ and a norm to be followed.”
For Shaikh, these conversations aren’t just theoretical exercises; they are the foundation of a more inclusive, global-minded approach to education.
Shaikh’s dedication to international student advocacy and education has not gone unnoticed. Jessica Henry, associate teaching professor of rehabilitation and human services, describes her as a leader in every sense of the word.
“Saiber embodies the spirit of this prestigious award through her academic excellence, professional contributions, and impactful initiatives that promote international understanding and equity on a global scale,” Henry wrote in her letter of endorsement.
Looking ahead, Shaikh is determined to expand her impact. She envisions creating a comprehensive training model for counselor educators that integrates global perspectives, while also continuing her work in virtual student engagement. As the incoming Graduate Student Representative for the Regional and National Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, she is poised to advocate on an even larger scale.
“Ultimately, I envision creating a network of counselor educators committed to reimagining our field through a truly global lens — one that doesn’t merely accommodate international perspectives but is fundamentally transformed by them,” she said.
Shaikh has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from DG Ruparel College of Arts, Science and Commerce; a master’s degree in counseling psychology from University of Mumbai; and a master of science in education from Purdue University Northwest. Shaikh brings more than five years of experience as a mental health counselor across two countries, working with individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging in age from 5 to 50. Her expertise spans college students, individuals struggling with addiction, the geriatric population, victims of violence and those facing mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, trauma and stress. She wishes to continue being a counselor and educator in mental health spaces.