When Ellie Mickibbin arrived at Cleveland State University for her freshman year in 2022, the excitement of starting college was quickly met with the quiet reality of what comes with being far from her home in Ireland. 

As an international student, many tasks were difficult or unfamiliar – filing taxes, getting a phone number, opening a bank account, applying for a credit card, and understanding a new grading system. These were things she hadn’t navigated on her own before, let alone in a different country. 

Just as she began to find her footing, a new challenge emerged: finding  an internship. Already balancing the demanding schedule of a student-athlete, Ellie found herself once again overwhelmed by the added layers that come with being international. 

Feeling like she was never properly adjusting, she became frustrated. Through it all, she began to wish there had been a space – a guide, a community – where students coming from afar could learn what to expect and avoid the confusion she had faced.

“It was a complete and utter headache,” Mickibbin, a Swim & Dive student athlete, said. ”At that point, I had no idea how to file taxes and there was this whole mess with the internship process – I really wanted to just create awareness and educate our academic advisors and athletic faculty around the hardships in the international space.”
 

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Before securing her internship in the fall, Mickibbin was already thinking about how to turn her ideas into action. Determined to create better support for international student-athletes, she brought her vision directly to athletic leadership.

“I went to our athletic director and explained that this is something I was really passionate about and that I had so many different ideas,” Mickibbin said. “And she said, ‘Well, I think the perfect place to do this would be through SAAC,’ which is our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.”

Mickibbin is now the founder of SAAC International.

What SAAC International does

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) meets monthly and brings together athletes from all teams to amplify their voices and support areas such as marketing, social media, events, community relations, mental health, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). In her junior year, Ellie helped add an international focus to SAAC, initially combined with DEI, with  the main effort being to assist international student-athletes with taxes.

This year, Ellie worked with the athletic director, SAAC president, and faculty leadership to create a dedicated international branch of SAAC with its own leadership and co-advisor. 

“I spoke with our athletic director again, and our president,” Mickibbin said. “I just explained that I think SAAC International needs its own identity, and that I would love to have another international member with me, like a co-advisor, because this really does take a lot of time and a lot of capacity.”

Since fall 2025, SAAC International has operated as its own distinct branch, giving the initiative a clearer identity and the capacity to focus fully on the unique needs of student-athletes from abroad. Mickibbin now leads the organization alongside Tilly Nasende, a cross country and track & field student-athlete, allowing the workload – and the vision – to be shared.

SAAC International initiatives

This year, SAAC International launched a Big Vikes/Little Vikes program to support incoming international students. Each freshman international is paired with another student from their home country or who speaks the same language, plus a U.S. student, forming a trio. The goal is to provide cultural support, help with language barriers, and offer practical guidance for navigating life at Cleveland State, from grocery trips to holiday plans.

The program kicked off with a Big Vikes/Little Vikes outing to Ben & Jerry’s in October, giving the students a chance to meet in person beyond move-in day. Leading up to the semester, Big Vikes also reached out to their Little Vikes to coordinate support, ensure rides, and address any immediate questions or needs, fostering  a stronger sense of community among international students.

The group also hosted an international Thanksgiving in November, where international students, along with some faculty who are really passionate about international cultures, brought a dish from their home country. 

“There was bingo, card games, and we played international music,” Mickibbin said. “It was a really good event.”

Looking ahead, Mickibbin has reached out to the College of Business to compile a list of companies willing to hire international students, since not all employers accept them. She’s also working to raise awareness about CPT and OPT, the internship and work visa processes for international students.

What's next for SAAC International

As she prepares to graduate in May 2026, Mickibbin faces the bittersweet task of passing on the program she built from the ground up. She is working with faculty to create a comprehensive packet for next year’s international students, covering everything from visas, taxes, and academic requirements to setting up a bank account, phone number, and Social Security number, as well as tips for move-in, local restaurants, and things to do in the area.

“I’m working to create a packet for all the internationals for next year,” Mickibbin said. “Once I graduate, I’ll sadly have to pass this program on.”

As she prepares to leave, Mickibbin is already thinking beyond her own time at Cleveland State. She hopes the foundation she built will continue to grow long after she hands it off.

“My hope is for the legacy of SAAC International to live on,” Mickibbin said. “And that schools across the country will follow suit in creating a unique support system for their international student-athletes."