Get to Know HFC: Sara Gonzalez Herrera knows firsthand the challenges international students face

Release Date:

Thursday, April 18, 2024

HFC International Student Advisor Sara Gonzalez Herrera has a great deal of patience and empathy for international students.

After all, she was one herself.

"As an immigrant myself, I know how it feels to be in a new country," said Gonzalez Herrera. "As an F-1 student [an international visa that allows students to study in the U.S.], I know the process and can understand what they're feeling and what they're going through."

Educated abroad and at HFC

The youngest of two, Gonzalez Herrera was born in Monterrey, Mexico. She was educated in her native Mexico and is a 2-time alumna of the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (Monterrey Tech), where she earned her bachelor's degree in marketing and later her MBA.

Fluent in English and Spanish and conversational in French, Gonzalez Herrera studied French at the École de Langue CLIC Montreal in Canada. She also completed coursework in software applications at HFC (then Henry Ford Community College).

Having lived in Arhus, Denmark and Miami, Florida, Gonzalez Herrera attributes her deep passion for the international community to her exposure to other countries and cultures. She takes what she experienced studying and living abroad and uses it to understand and guide students as they explore the next steps at HFC and beyond. Her love of intercultural exchange and learning has driven her throughout her time at HFC and is something she will continue to foster in the community.

After getting married in 1998, Gonzalez Herrera immigrated to the United States. She and her husband, Hugo Herrera, an engineer at Grammer Americas in Plymouth, live in Farmington Hills. They have two adult children.

"HFC is home to me"

Gonzalez Herrera has worked at HFC for much of the past 17 years. She left twice - the first time to have her second child, the second time to live abroad in Germany - only to be invited to return to the College.

Her career at HFC began in late 1998 when she was a student employee, who assisted the now retired Dr. Jo-Ann Terry, then Vice President of Career Education. At the time, she was taking classes at the College, pursuing a computer software applications certificate.

"When I was looking into colleges, I explored several. I felt the most welcome at HFC," she recalled. "Also, my husband was working at that time in Dearborn at Ford Motor Company, so that made it even more convenient. I really liked the atmosphere in the International Office at the College. I really enjoyed working for Dr. Terry."

Gonzalez Herrera became an international student advisor in 1999 and left HFC in 2001. In 2004, then-HFC Registrar Mark Ulseth asked her to come back. From 2004 to 2014, she was an international student advisor. For four months in 2005, she served as the interim admissions manager. She also taught Spanish classes at the College for a semester.

In 2014, her husband was transferred to Germany for work, so Gonzalez Herrera and her family moved overseas. After their return to the U.S. in 2017, Gonzalez Herrera was invited to return to the College, this time by then-HFC Supervisor of Admissions and Recruiting Jeremy Guc.

"I left HFC twice and returned twice. They asked me back. It's so nice to be wanted," said Gonzalez Herrera. "It was truly an honor for me to have been considered and interviewed for this position. HFC is home to me."

Providing great service and a friendly face for international students entering the U.S. and HFC for the first time

Since she returned to HFC in 2017, Gonzalez Herrera has been an international student advisor. She helps students through the admissions process and assists with the documents needed to apply for a student visa.

"Sara applies her rich cultural experiences to her role here at the College," said HFC International Admissions Associate Sulian Larmond, who shares an office with Gonzalez Herrera. "She is an asset in traversing and celebrating diverse perspectives. She is also a reliable fixture in providing dedicated support to our international students."

Gonzalez Herrera also runs orientation sessions, monitors students' academic progress, and coordinates employment workshops. She reports to HFC Registrar Karen Sadanowicz.

"Sara is a valuable member of the International Student Services Team," said Sadanowicz. "She is an advocate for international students, and she works tirelessly to acclimate students to HFC. Sara truly cares about students and is always available to answer questions or to explain the international student process. She provides great service and a friendly face for international students entering the U.S. and HFC for the first time. I am proud to call her my colleague."

For Gonzalez Herrera, no two days are alike at HFC.

"I'm never bored with my job. There's never a dull moment here, even after so many years. It's still a learning experience for me after all this time. I'm never tired of my job because a new situation with a student arises each day," she said. "HFC has been wonderful to me. It's very nice that they wanted me to return twice. My colleagues have been very kind; they're good to me. They, along with the students, make the job fun."