BUILDING COMMUNITY AND CONNECTION – AN INTERVIEW WITH TAEYA HILLMAN-JOHNSON

Photo by Aung Pyae Lin

MHCC’S NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SPECIALIST

In this feature, The Advocate interviews Taeya Hillman-Johnson, who in August became Mt. Hood Community College’s new International Student Recruitment and Engagement Specialist.

With a background in event planning, community building, and student support, Hillman-Johnson brings creativity, warmth, and a deep commitment to helping international students thrive.

Advocate: Tell us about yourself, please.

Hillman-Johnson: I use she/her pronouns, and was born and raised in Portland. At MHCC, I get to do all the fun programming and recruitment for the international student population. I’ve always been passionate about event planning, from brainstorming unique ideas to executing them, and one of my favorite hobbies is exploring grocery stores. I thrive in chaos, which has served me well while working in (campus) “residence life” throughout much of my post-graduate career.

I attended the University of Oregon, double majoring in Political Science and Theatre Arts, where I discovered my passion for building community and shaping the student experience. I was honored to be voted President of the Year for the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) for the Pacific Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls (PACURH), which inspired me to pursue a post-graduate program at the University of Portland.

At (UP), I earned my master’s in Higher Education and Student Affairs and worked in Residence Life as an assistant hall director in Kenna Hall, where I advised and created a party planning committee and KDUP, the college radio station.

Advocate: What drove you to join the Mt. Hood staff?

Hillman-Johnson: A former co-worker from UP, who moved to MHCC in December, spoke so enthusiastically about their experience that I was inspired to explore opportunities here.

As I wrapped up my master’s program, I applied to a range of roles, from student support at [Portland State and Willamette universities], to marketing and branding with Portland Parks & Recreation, but no position felt as connected to my passions for event planning, the student experience, and my educational journey in theatre, political science, and higher education as this one.

From my first interview, it was clear that the staff were supportive, excited, and willing to be creative with me, making my transition to MHCC smooth and positive. Interviews are not just a chance to sell yourself, but also to determine if the environment is a good fit. And in my case, the answer was “yes” on both sides.

Advocate: What personal discovery/idea shaped how you welcome international students in your role?

Hillman-Johnson: I love encouraging people to be silly. Whether it’s karaoke or wearing a costume, I’ve found that by being the most playful or embarrassing person in the room, I can hopefully create space for others to feel comfortable being vulnerable and playful themselves. This philosophy informs my programming, advising, and my approach to fostering a sense of community.

While at UP, one student in particular was anxious about their transition before even beginning their freshman year. I was fortunate to support them throughout their college experience, encouraging them to join hall council, plan events, and apply to be a Residence Assistant. Now, she is a senior, working as a second-year RA, who feels empowered, capable, and excited about being in school, being in student leadership, and even, dare I say, being silly.

Advocate: What’s a “Taeya-style” treat from your cooking list that you’d share during Coffee Hour (a weekly event at Mt. Hood’s international student office) to connect with students?

Hillman-Johnson: I’ve hosted hundreds of food events – [offering everything] from a functional gravy fountain to over a hundred spam and tofu musubi and nearly a thousand vegan garlic knots. The item I’m most excited to bring is Vietnamese spring roll making.

Growing up, my dad would take my siblings and me to eat shrimp and pork spring rolls with peanut sauce, quickly becoming one of my favorite foods to make for friends. In college, I joined the Vietnamese Student Association and made spring rolls at events there, as well.

For me, something like spring roll making is a meaningful, interesting, low-stress, and delicious way of building community.

Advocate: What travel memory or lesson fuels your passion for engaging diverse students in your job?

Hillman-Johnson: After I graduated college, I went on a six-week adventure around Europe with a friend. Neither of us had ever flown internationally alone before, and while the whole trip was full of learning moments, one experience in particular really shapes how I work with international students today – a miscommunication, a misunderstanding, and ultimately, a missed flight.

By the last week of the trip, we felt like seasoned travelers. We’d been arriving at every airport three hours early, with all our forms double-checked, laminated COVID cards ready, and passports in hand. So, when we got to the Dublin, [Ireland], airport two and a half hours before our flight, I felt confident. But when we went to check in, we were told we needed a negative COVID test, something we hadn’t been required to show in the previous five countries.

For the next hour and a half, we sprinted through the airport with all our bags, sweating, trying to find the tiny testing pod outside, then rushing back through security. As we finally reached the gate, our negative results came in just in time for us to watch the door close right in front of us.

Even with how prepared I thought I was, a missed detail in an email completely changed the trajectory of our trip. Now, working with international students, part of my job is advising prospective students through the visa process and ensuring current students understand the rules and requirements to stay eligible. For me, missing a form just meant spending 12 unexpected hours in an airport. For an F-1 student, misunderstanding something can mean losing their status and having only 30 days to leave the US.

That experience is a huge part of why I’m dedicated to understanding the process well enough to effectively advise students. I want them to feel supported, prepared, and confident.

Advocate: What’s a standout moment in your role so far that you would like to share to inspire new international students?

Hillman-Johnson: [We] recently hosted a Thanksgiving Potluck, providing ingredients for students to cook and share culturally significant dishes. Students from Nepal, Myanmar, and the Philippines volunteered to prepare dishes reflecting their traditions, introducing the group to the flavors and stories behind their cultures.

Since many international students are far from home for holidays, they often spend these times alone or only with friends. Seeing everyone around the table, tasting each other’s dishes, and learning about each other’s cultures was truly special. Experiences like this demonstrate the power of community, and I hope that through our newsletter and social media, new and less-involved students see that a welcoming, vibrant community is waiting for them.

Advocate: Any final thoughts or something we should look forward to seeing from your office?

Hillman-Johnson: Yes, the International Student Program and the MDRC (Multicultural and Diversity Resource Center) are excited to launch Coffee Hour, a weekly event designed to bring together international students, domestic students, staff, and faculty for conversation, cultural exchange, and community building over coffee and snacks.

Each session will include a (volunteer-led), free, short, hands-on activity – something simple, fun, and low-cost that encourages interaction and language practice: origami, paper snowflakes, onigiri-making, simple crafts, or even magic tricks.

We recently held a preview session featuring bouquet making, taught by my mom, and it was a great success with more than 30 participants.

Coffee Hour will officially begin in the Winter term, taking place Thursdays from noon to 1:30 p.m. inside the MDRC, in the Student Union.

Anyone interested in leading an activity or being notified about upcoming events should please reach out to me at hillmant@mhcc.edu

The Multicultural and Diversity Resource Center is a welcoming and inclusive environment with the expressed intemtion of fostering community and celebrating individual identities. It’s located in AC 1050 in the Student Union and is the host location for the weekly Coffee Hour event, designed to bring students together. The Multicultural and Diversity Resource Center hosts other events, and more information can be found at mhcc.edu.