The I-House Connection: May 2025

May 8, 2025

Shaun R. Carver, I-House Executive Director

Dear I-House Community,

Now is the time of year at I-House when the joyful energy of graduation and new beginnings is mixed with bittersweet feelings of departure and change. This year, we are also aware of the added challenges many I-House residents are facing due to recent policy decisions by the shifting landscape of international education. Please know that I-House remains committed to fostering a supportive, inclusive community for all our residents.

Staying connected after I-House can be challenging, and so we’re working to strengthen our alumni network through new IH alumni groups, regional gatherings, and more. If you'd like to receive invitations to I-House alumni events in your region, please update your mailing address. We’d love to stay in touch wherever you are in the world. If you'll be in London tomorrow, May 9th, come for an alumni gathering at the International Student House! And if you can make it to Berkeley this summer, please join us at I-House for the annual Alumni Reunion Brunch on August 10th.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we’re proud to celebrate I-House alumna Dr. Marian Diamond, a pioneering neuroscientist and UC Berkeley professor whose work on brain development still shapes how we understand learning, parenting, and mental health.

Finally, we are looking ahead to the fall and to the next season of our Host Family Program, which continues to foster meaningful connections between I-House international residents and local Bay Area hosts.

Thank you for being a part of our vibrant community, where we not only celebrate diversity—we depend on it.

Shaun Carver, I-House Executive Director

Shaun R. Carver Ed.D., MBA
Executive Director and CEO
International House at UC Berkeley
linkedin.com/in/shauncarver

P.S. I recently discussed I-House's approach to intercultural dialogue on the Innovations in Education podcast and shared my thoughts on the future of international education in an op-ed on PIE News

Update your address to learn about alumni events!

Please let us know where you are living these days by replying to this email or updating your contact information on our Stay in Touch form.

I-House Berkeley Alumni Gathering in London

Friday, May 9, 2025, 4 - 6 p.m.

You're invited to an alumni gathering tomorrow afternoon at the Thirsty Scholar Coffee House and Bar, located at the International Students House in London. We'll have free appetizers and a no-host bar available. Space is limited, so please RSVP here to help us with our planning.

I-House Alumni Reunion Brunch

Alumni Reunion Brunch August 10, 2025

Sunday, August 10, 2025, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Tickets on Sale Now!

Join us for the 3rd annual International House Alumni Reunion brunch. Gather your I-House friends and meet for Sunday brunch in the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Dining Commons at I-House Berkeley! Together, we'll share memories, catch up, and celebrate our ever-growing global community. Friends and families are welcome. Help us spread the word to fellow I-House alumni! Buy tickets now.

Plan Your Legacy at I-House

Ways to Give

Whether you’re an I-House alum or someone who believes in our mission of fostering cross-cultural connection, your legacy can help shape a more just and peaceful world. By including International House in your will, trust, or retirement plan, you’ll ensure that future generations continue to experience the life-changing friendships, learning, and leadership development that make I-House so special.

A legacy gift is a powerful way to invest in a future where global understanding thrives. To learn more about creating your I-House legacy, visit our Gift Planning for Tomorrow webpage.

Marian Diamond Alumni Spotlight

For Mental Health Awareness Month, we are proud to spotlight I-House alumna Marian Cleeves Diamond (IH 1949–52), a pioneering neuroscientist and UC Berkeley professor emerita of integrative biology. Her groundbreaking research on neuroplasticity and glial cells revolutionized how we understand the brain, shaping modern approaches to education, parenting, and mental health worldwide. Read more about Dr. Diamond’s legacy at ihouse.berkeley.edu/notable

Interested in being a host for an I-House resident?
Join the Host Family Program!

The Host Family Program pairs international students with local individuals and families who are eager to share their culture, offer support, and help I-House residents feel at home during their time in the Bay Area. Hosts serve as friendly local guides, offering occasional meetups, sharing meals, exploring local attractions, attending community events, etc. This program is ideal for local I-House alumni and community members who want to make a difference in the life of an international student. Time commitments are flexible and based on mutual availability. For more information and to sign up to host a resident next fall, please fill out the Host Questionnaire by July 15th.

The Power of Community: How I-House Brought Bonnie and Peter Together

Be sure to check out our latest blog story about Bonnie Veaner and Peter Parks, who met at I-House in the 1980s. Bonnie’s reflections on shared humanity and lasting friendships speak to the heart of the I-House mission:
"Living at I-House taught me that no matter our ethnicity, religion, or background, we all want the same things—peace, friendship, and prosperity. If we focus on our shared humanity, we absolutely can learn to get along. That message is needed now more than ever." Read the full blog post.

An Invitation to the UC Berkeley Alumni Virtual Book Club

The UC Berkeley Alumni Virtual Book Club gathers Cal alumni worldwide through a professionally moderated online forum. The club discusses selected books in-depth every two months and covers a variety of fiction and nonfiction works, including those by UC Berkeley alumni and faculty. Learn more and sign up here: www.pbc.guru/berkeley