GVFaces: Immaculata James

September 3, 2024 (Volume 48, Number 1)
Article by Samantha Drougel

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Senior Immaculata James was named the international chair for Student Senate. James said she has a passion for politics and has made it her mission to advocate for international students at Grand Valley.

James is from Pahang, Malaysia, where she helped care for her family.

“It became hard for me to continue my education,” said James. “Because of that, I worked a lot with a couple of members of parliament in the opposition party back in Malaysia and that is how I gained an interest in political science.”

James traveled to the United States in 2021 to study political science. She started at Western Michigan University, then transferred to a community college. In 2023, James received the international merit scholarship from Grand Valley as well as other scholarships to help her finish her political science degree.

“I have self-funded college for the past three years,” she said. “College can be very expensive, so coming to Grand Valley really helped financially.”

James said her professors have helped her find internships and connect with GVSU alumni. She also said her coursework has been very helpful in her work life.

“A lot of the things that I learned in class I was able to apply to the work that I do,” she said.

James has gained a passion for immigration law. She interned at the Michigan State Senate, where she was able to be a voice for the state's growing immigrant population.

“I got to learn that state politics are so important and even though immigration is not being discussed, it should be due to the population of immigrants in Michigan,” said James, who will graduate in December.

James currently works with Michigan Common Cause and Vocal Media to encourage people to vote. "Despite not being a citizen myself, I learned it is so important to help other students vote because it will change lives down the road,” said James.

Her motivation for change has made an impact on the GVSU Student Senate. Her position, international student chair, was added along with a graduate student chair last fall.

“I work very closely with the Padnos International Center to make sure our senators are well educated on what international students currently face,” she said. “The most important thing I have heard from every international student is their biggest anxiety is about applying for jobs."

James's drive to help students navigate the complexities of the U.S. legal system will continue after she graduates. “When I came here, I didn’t know anybody but now I can say that Grand Valley is home for me," she said.

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