Tabitha Fleming arrived at Portland State University in the summer of 2020 with a clear vision: to advance in international education administration. Today, as assistant director of International Student and Scholar Services at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, she has achieved that goal.
"I'd love to be an assistant director," Fleming wrote in her application to the College of Education’s Postsecondary Adult and Continuing Education (PACE) master's program. Shortly after graduating in spring 2022, that aspiration became reality.
Fleming's path to international education started with an undergraduate degree in Japanese Studies. "I thought I was going to be a translator," she recalls. Her fascination with the language originated from an unexpected source: Japanese rock music. "I got hooked on the genre of Japanese rock music called visual kei, and then I started watching TV shows in Japanese,” she says. “I just really found the language fascinating. It's very difficult to learn from an English speaker's perspective, and I like that challenge."
This interest led Fleming to the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program, where she not only taught but also gained valuable administrative experience in the Japanese government. Upon returning to the United States, she sought a position in international education administration, landing an advisory role at Mt. Hood Community College.
It was at Mt. Hood that Fleming decided to take the next step and pursue a master's degree. The PACE program stood out for several reasons, particularly its flexibility. "One of the biggest reasons I chose it was that I would have the opportunity to go to classes in person or online without having to move," she explains. She also did informational interviews with coworkers who had been through the program. "They all had great things to say about the program and got me really excited for it," she says.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most of her classes were online, but Fleming still found tremendous value in the program. She balanced a nearly full-time course load with part-time work. After a seven-year break from academic studies, her first class — an accelerated course in educational philosophy — reignited her passion for higher education.
"The content was so interesting,” she remembers. “I love philosophy and I love education, so if you put those two things together, I didn't care that I was spending hours a week reading." Throughout her two years in the program, she valued not only the high-quality instruction, but also the faculty’s passion and dedication. "The instructors clearly spent time and effort crafting their courses, and I always felt like I got good feedback from them."
PSU instructors were struck by Fleming’s commitment as well. “It became instantly clear that Tabitha was exceptionally dedicated, uncompromisingly hardworking and unbelievably talented,” says Associate Professor and Department Chair Moti Hara, who was Fleming’s academic advisor. “She engaged every course with full intention to learn everything there is to learn, and took every assignment above and beyond any expectations set by course instructors. Tabitha's inquisitiveness and thirst for knowledge challenged instructors to push their coursework to new heights for which all students benefited.”
While the PACE program provided essential theoretical knowledge, Fleming was also able to customize her education by taking courses outside her major, including one in intercultural communication. Certain classes continue to influence her professional practice today. She often revisits an elective on the history of U.S. higher education, recognizing how historical context helps her navigate institutional policies.
Fleming's current role at the Middlebury Institute involves managing compliance for international students on F-1 and J-1 visas. As both a Designated School Official (DSO) and an Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO), she helps students understand their visa requirements and benefits while advising the institution on how policies impact international students.
After a year and a half in the position, Fleming finds her work deeply rewarding. "The students are so amazing," she says. "The Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey offers such intense degree programs like Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies, Translation and Interpretation and Translation and Localization Management. The things that my students are studying are so crucial for the world today, and tomorrow."
Tabitha Fleming on the beach in Monterey, California. Photo courtesy of Tabitha Fleming.
This passion for international education stems from Fleming’s belief in its transformative power. "The only way we really come to understand other people is through meeting people from different cultures and backgrounds," she explains, while noting the value of educational environments as safe spaces for this type of exchange.
"You're in an educational setting and you're also being exposed to things that you're not familiar with,” she says. “Ultimately we're sharing knowledge and that's how all humanity grows.”
For students seeking employment, Fleming offers some key advice. First, keep your LinkedIn profile up to date so recruiters can easily find you. Second, actively engage in your field of interest — something she did by joining NAFSA: Association of International Educators.
“I think doing those two things in tandem — graduating from the well-regarded PACE program and staying active in my professional network — led me to this opportunity.”
Hara, fascinated by how each step of Fleming's personal and professional journey built towards a career in higher education, is not surprised that she was recruited for her current position after finishing the PACE program.
“I am very proud of the many accomplishments Tabitha has already made,” he says, adding “I have absolutely no doubt there will be many many more in her path ahead.”
Fleming’s story is a testament to the power of lifelong learning, proving that the right graduate program can transform passion into leadership on a global scale.