Alvarez family poses with students in front of bookshelves

Alvarez Endowment

This $8.4 million endowed program is made possible through the generous support of Carlos Alvarez and his family. Carlos is a past member of the Davidson College Board of Trustees and his daughter Malú graduated from Davidson in 2002. Since 2010 the Alvarez family has contributed substantially to international students at Davidson through the Alvarez Scholars Program. The Alvarez Grant Program reimagines the international student experience by providing funding for curricular and career-related experiences for international students and enabling additional international student services staff in the International Student Engagement Office and the Betty and B. Frank Matthews II ’49 Center for Career Development (Matthews Center). This program is unique among Davidson’s peer institutions and speaks to the Alvarez family’s and Davidson’s commitment to both the student and postgraduate experiences of international students.

Alvarez Access Fund

The Alvarez Access Fund provides curricular and career-related funding for any F-1 international student who has outstanding financial challenges. Access grant amounts will rarely exceed $1000 and never exceed $2000. To access these funds, students must file a timely and complete Alvarez Access Fund Application (Davidson login required) to demonstrate the experience’s relevance to their career aspirations or area of study.

Alvarez Guarantee Fund

Starting in the fall of 2019 (with the class of 2023), the Alvarez Guarantee Fund guarantees every F-1 international student receiving Davidson College financial aid who submits properly filed applications two $4,000 stipends to use towards curricular or career pursuits while they are students at Davidson. To access these funds, students must file a timely and complete Alvarez Guarantee Fund Application (Davidson login required) to demonstrate the experience’s relevance to their career aspirations or area of study.

Both the Alvarez Access and the Alvarez Guarantee Funds are to be used for curricular and/or career-related activities, including but not limited to living expenses during an unpaid internship, research funds, conference attendance, or summer education abroad experience. For support or to discuss your application idea(s), contact Sara Nobles (sanobles@davidson.edu).

International Student Engagement

International Student Engagement includes two full-time staff members to provide visa-related matters and offer programming and cultural adjustment support.

Sara C. Nobles (sanobles@davidson.edu), the Assistant Director of International Student Engagement, serves as the direct point of contact for the Alvarez Grant Program, advises on F-1 and other non-immigrant visa matters as a DSO, and helps advance the overall mission of International Student Engagement.

Sayre Weir (saweir@davidson.edu), the Program Coordinator of International Student Engagement, manages the Host Family Program and plans and facilitates cultural programming throughout the year, as well as advises on F-1 and other non-immigrant visa matters as a DSO.

Matthews Center Career Resources

The Matthews Center has a staff member committed to leveraging Davidson's strong network of alumni, parents and friends and forging new employer relationships to provide international students with ample career-related opportunities in the United States and abroad.

Tynisha Brice (tybrice@davidson.edu) is the Assistant Director for International Career Development. She provides student-centered career exploration and career management services for international students, working to leverage a network of domestic and international employers who offer internship, job shadowing, and full-time employment to non-resident international students.