Tears of joy flowed March 17 when Mio Kamijo, MA, was surprised with news that she had been selected as the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) Employee of the Month for March. And the tears weren’t just from the award recipient.

Several of Kamijo’s colleagues from the Office of International Services (OIS) and the Center for Global Engagement (CGE) were on the videoconference — and they got emotional, too, when discussing their admiration and respect for Kamijo, who is an international student advisor for OIS, which works closely with CGE on its programming.

In fact, joy was a theme in her co-workers’ remarks. 

"Mio is maybe the most organized, on-top-of-everything person I’ve ever worked with,” said Michelle Sullivan, global program specialist. “When I walk in the office and see that her door is open and her lights are on, I get so happy and excited. She is just a joy to work with.”

Virginia Rowthorn, JD, LLM, assistant vice president for global engagement and executive director of CGE, said of Kamijo: “Her knowledge on all sides of international education has been such a gift to me and to everyone here. The knowledge from her experiences in Japan, Finland, and all over the world supports everything we do. It’s such a joy to come in and see Mio in the office.”

Gina Dreyer, MA, associate director of international services, said, “It’s a joy to be Mio’s supervisor. We’ve worked closely together for over four years, and I appreciate how detailed-oriented and talented she is. I appreciate everything she does and the way she works with our international students. I’m really happy that she is being recognized by UMB.”

Kamijo thought she was having a one-on-one Webex meeting with Amy Ramirez, MA, executive director of global learning and international services, and was surprised to see more than 10 people on the screen. UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, was on the videoconference, and he gave her the good news.

“I have heard a bunch of wonderful things about you and the special impact you are having with our international students and in the Center for Global Engagement,” Jarrell said. “You are a special person, and I appreciate all of your great efforts.”

Kamijo’s work in helping to organize a new course at the University of Maryland Graduate School, Global Health Aging — Gerontology in Japan, was cited in the award nomination, which was submitted by Dreyer, Ramirez, and Flavius Lilly, PhD, MA, MPH, vice dean, Graduate School, and vice provost, academic and student affairs, UMB. The course begins in April and includes in-person classes and a two-week trip to Japan in June.

“Mio has made possible a study abroad experience for a group of students in nursing, social work, medicine, pharmacy, and biomedical research,” Lilly said in the nomination. “She has taken the lead in coordinating all of the logistics for the experience, including working with over a dozen partner organizations in Japan.

“Throughout the planning process, Mio has always represented the University with the utmost professionalism,” Lilly added. “She has been a true ambassador for our institution. Without Mio’s hard work and dedication, the study abroad experience would not be possible. She has brought to life an important component of the University’s strategic plan to offer global experiences to our students.”

Dreyer and Ramirez noted in the nomination that in just over four years at UMB, “Mio has grown so much and has truly owned her work engaging with the international student community on our campus. International students regularly compliment Mio for her responsiveness and empathetic approach to advising. Everything Mio touches is done in a professional, timely, and thorough manner.”

They also praised Kamijo’s efforts to foster an inclusive atmosphere for international students at UMB. For instance, Kamijo partnered with the Division of Student Affairs to create the Global Perspectives Conversation Program, where international students and postdoctoral fellows can explore common interests, discuss concerns about U.S. academic and social life, and deliberate on matters of cultural, social, and political importance.

“This program has helped international students and scholars build community on the UMB campus, which was especially important when interpersonal connection was so difficult to find during the COVID-19 pandemic,” they wrote in the nomination, also noting that Kamijo created another program, Senior Student Talk, which connects current international students with incoming students to help prepare them for U.S. academic culture and life in Baltimore.

“Mio has helped UMB make progress toward becoming an inclusive campus where international students feel they belong,” they wrote.

Kamijo, who was born and raised in Japan, has great interest in languages and international education. She studied in Hong Kong, England, and Finland before coming to the United States in 2016 and completing a graduate certificate in program evaluation from Florida State University. Previously in Japan, she worked to help high school students learn English and be placed in study abroad programs.

“I’ve always been passionate about the field of international education and really happy to assist with international students,” Kamijo said. “Having been an international student myself, I can relate to them.”

Ramirez said international students go out of their way to praise Kamijo, who supports them in dealing with federal immigration regulations as well as academic and cultural issues.

“I hear this routinely — the students tell me how wonderful Mio is in the way she cares about them and follows through with dedication,” Ramirez said. “Mio has so many wonderful skills and is a huge asset to the institution in the way she brings together competence and caring. That’s why we love Mio.”

Kamijo returned the love, thanking her colleagues for their support and kind comments. She said being recognized by UMB was a humbling experience.

“This award was a big surprise — I didn’t expect this,” said Kamijo, who will receive a plaque, letter of commendation, and $250 in her next paycheck as Employee of the Month rewards. “I appreciate all of my co-workers, and I truly enjoy the work I do. I’m really happy and honored to work at UMB and receive this recognition.”

— Lou Cortina