When I joined ISSO in 2018, its social media presence was limited to posting immigration compliance updates on Facebook and Twitter—platforms losing traction with Gen Z and struggling to engage our international student and scholar population.

Recognizing Instagram’s growing popularity among my peers, I proposed expanding to the platform and, in summer 2019, launched ISSO's official Instagram account. With over 14,000 international students and 2,000 faculty and research scholars in mind, I leveraged Instagram's visual appeal and interactive features, such as Stories, to create a more dynamic and engaging presence. Inspired by the @Columbia account, my vision was to build a welcoming space that celebrated our diverse, vibrant community in a personable, approachable way, with the goal of achieving influence on par with our parent account and top-performing collegiate peers.

Through strategic content development, consistent posting, and a willingness to adapt to Instagram's evolving algorithm, we grew the account into a powerful communication tool. Five years, 7,500+ followers, and 600+ posts later, I’m proud to say ISSO's Instagram has become a top performer within the Columbia community and beyond."