Throughout her four years in Fort Collins, Adina Dumitrache has volunteered extensively with Colorado State University’s international community, ensuring that her international students, scholars and spouses felt welcome and supported. In recognition of these outstanding contributions and committed involvement, Dumitrache received the 2017 Max & Peggy Becker Lifetime Volunteer Award from the Office of International Programs.
“I was really surprised and honored they offered me the award and then they also read what some of the people who recommended me wrote, that was nice. I was really happy to see that, especially [because] they offer a wooden frame award that looks really professional. I have that in my bedroom now,” she said.
Dumitrache grew up in a small town in the eastern part of Romania, later moving to Bucharest, where she attended college to study sociology. While there, she spent her free time helping others through volunteer work. She also met her future husband, Ciprian Dumitrache, who would ultimately be the reason for her moving to the United States and Fort Collins.
“Ciprian applied for a full-ride scholarship in the U.S., and he got it. We decided we didn’t want to do a long-distance relationship, so we applied for the visa at the same time, got married and we came here together,” she said.
When they arrived in the U.S., their first stop was Atlanta, Georgia. Dumitrache didn’t have a work permit because it was expensive and she didn’t know how long they would be staying, so she got involved with volunteer work to pursue her passion of using her time and skills to help other individuals. Her volunteer roles included everything from sorting medical equipment that was shipped to Africa, to cooking Romanian dishes for children. When Dumitrache’s husband finished his master’s, he applied for a PhD at Colorado State University in 2012.
When Dumitrache came to Fort Collins, the first thing she did was to go to the international office and ask if they offered volunteer opportunities. Shortly thereafter, she became involved with CSU’s international and domestic students, scholars and their families through the Fort Collins International Center, Office of International Programs, Apartment Life, and the CSU International Women’s Club.
International Women’s Club was extra special for Dumitrache, because she felt it was important to have a support system for international women on campus.
“Getting to know other women in the same position as you can be so important. Most of the women in the group were dependent spouses, and due to visa regulations, could not work or study,” she said.
While her goal was to provide a comfortable space for international women to interact and connect, she helped international students with academics and social engagement as well.
“There’s a big transition coming from a different country. There’s a transition in terms of learning the language, the local culture, but even the basics like where to find the store,” she said.
Currently, Dumitrache is working as a community coordinator at Aggie Village Family Apartments where she provides social activities and services for the residents in her community. Her goal is to encourage students, both American and international, to get involved with the international community at CSU.
“What’s cool about CSU is that you get to know not only the American population, but those international students from other countries. You don’t need to go to 14 different countries to have that experience, you can just connect to the international community,” she said.
Through involvement with the international community on campus, Dumitrache believes students can see they’re not that different from each other – no matter where they’re from.