Eliza Plous

About

Department/School/Division: Office of International Programs
Campus: WTC (but the rest of my team is at LSC)
Years at Loyola: 3.5

What is your favorite thing about working at Loyola? We have such a great sense of community. I am genuinely proud to be a part of the Rambler family, and I get the sense that others are, too. A very close second is our proximity to lots of delicious restaurants.

What is your most memorable achievement as a Loyola employee? In July 2018, I attended the Annual International ACAC Conference in New Orleans, LA, where I co-facilitated two conference sessions related to international students. It was the first time I ever presented at such a large-scale conference. I was very nervous, but ultimately, I think the sessions went well! Best of all, we got to close out the conference at Mardi Gras World.

What does Loyola's mission mean to you? The idea of Magis—always seeking more—reflects my own personal dedication to lifelong learning. My holistic approach to student advising is guided by Cura Personalis: I try to understand each student’s individual circumstances from before I jump in with advice. Finally, Loyola encourages all of us to be Persons for and with Others, by seeking to learn about human experiences very different from our own. This concept led me to my career in international education, and I am proud to work for an institution that recognizes its importance.

What motivates you to succeed each and every day? I am truly lucky to work alongside colleagues who care deeply about their work. Their enthusiasm is infectious and inspires me to push myself as well. Meanwhile, our international students and scholars come from all around the world to study, work, or do research right here at Loyola. They chose us, and they deserve the best experience possible. I feel I’ve been successful when a student or scholar tells me that I personally helped reduce their anxieties about moving internationally to Chicago. I make it my mission to ensure that all of our international community members receive a warm welcome to the Rambler family.

Tell us how you show your Rambler pride. Conveniently, I’m an “Autumn,” so I look great in maroon and gold. I also yell “woooo!” out loud whenever I hear one of Loyola’s ads on WBEZ.

Tell us something most people at Loyola would be surprised to know about you. I’ll give you three: 1) I hate pretty much all games and sports, 2) I am a Bollywood dance student and have performed at a couple of events throughout Chicago, and 3) I used to be VERY into the Chicago ska-punk scene of the late 90s/early 2000s. NO REGRETS