The International House at University of California, Berkeley is an organization that fosters intercultural respect and understanding, lifelong friendships, and leadership skills for a more peaceful world. Pulse 2.0 interviewed UC Berkeley’s International House CEO Shaun Carver to learn more about the organization.
Shaun Carver’s Background
What is Shaun Carver’s background? Carver said:
“I’m what you’d call a third-culture kid. My parents hail from opposite sides of the Atlantic — the UK and the US — and I attended an Irish school for a few years. From a young age, I became keenly aware of how people from different backgrounds perceive the world in diverse ways, underscored by traveling in Europe, where a short flight can transport you to an entirely different culture and viewpoint.”
“Initially, I followed my father into the electronics industry, but by my mid-twenties, I started craving something that was more meaningful to me. I wanted to build a legacy and make a positive impact on the world. I first pursued an MBA, then began teaching at Cal State San Marcos and Palomar College in San Diego. It was there that I discovered my passion for helping young people develop their ideas and realize their potential.”
“A pivotal moment in my career was accepting a one-year teaching contract at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing. This led to a 13 year career in higher education in China and eventually to the Shanghai campus of the Hult International Business School. I returned to the US in 2015, and when the opportunity to lead International House (I-House) at UC Berkeley arose in 2020, I jumped at it.”
Responsibilities At I-House
What are Carver’s primary responsibilities at I-House? Carver shared:
“As the CEO of I-House, I oversee our entire operation. This means engaging with our board of directors to update them on the state of the house, evaluating different strategies to boost resident engagement and satisfaction, assessing our finances as a non-profit organization, and much more.”
“One of my favorite responsibilities since joining I-House has been engaging with our alumni – we recently hosted our 94th anniversary and all years alumni reunion, where we welcomed back alumni stretching back to the 1950s. Their insights and passion for I-House constantly remind me of how important our mission to promote intercultural understanding and a more just and peaceful world really is.”
Favorite Memory
What has been Carver’s favorite memory working for I-House so far? Carver reflected:
“Many of my most recent favorite memories involve I-House residents – either current or former ones. I recently traveled to Singapore, Japan, China, and Taiwan, meeting with I-House Berkeley alumni at each location and also getting a chance to reconnect with I-House Japan, located in Tokyo. It’s amazing to see I-House alumni that are decades apart, meeting for the first time and instantly connecting with each other over their incredible experience.”
“I also really enjoy connecting current residents. My family and I honor the Sunday Supper tradition of Harry and Florence Edmonds by inviting 18 current residents to our home for dinner and socializing. We also include members of our Board to join this celebration. Two of my favorite times of the year are Thanksgiving and Spring Festival dinners, which are the two most important holidays for me and my family.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of I-House’s most significant milestones? Carver cited:
“We officially turned 90 in 2020 when I joined, and we just celebrated our 94th birthday in August. We have completed fall and full-year move-in for the 2024-25 academic term and welcomed 623 residents representing 82 countries, ages 18-51. 84% of these residents are international, with the other 16% being made up of US students and scholars. I’m looking forward to getting to know each of them and ensuring that all of them feel welcome and part of the I-House community.”
Challenges Faced
What are some of the challenges that Carver and the team faced in building the company? Carver acknowledged:
“With residents from a multitude of different backgrounds and cultural perspectives, we work to actively and deliberately foster a community founded on respect. As you may imagine, this is a particular challenge in the polarized world we find ourselves in. For example, we have students from Israel and Palestine and from Ukraine and Russia. To ensure we live up to our mission, we consistently and constantly ask ourselves what more we can be doing for all of our residents to create a community founded on respect and civility. We also actively solicit feedback and make it clear that we listen to concerns from that same place of respect.”
“We treat our values not as a one-time issue to be addressed, but as a challenge that we try to live up to each day. We look for ways to improve resident and staff experiences, and then we address them.”
“For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we faced significant challenges in maintaining our community while transitioning to remote operations. By leveraging our established systems of representation and communication, we were able to quickly gather input from students and staff, identify key concerns, and implement solutions that addressed those concerns while upholding our values of inclusivity and support.”
Future Goals
What are some of I-House’s future goals? Carver pointed out:
“Our core mission remains unchanged: fostering a more peaceful and just world through intercultural understanding. At I-House, we strive to ensure that our residents see each other as individuals, beyond just viewpoints or nationalities.”
“Looking ahead, my focus is on not only ensuring that I-House thrives through its 100th anniversary but also positioning it for success in the decades to come. Reconnecting and revitalizing the International House network envisioned by Edmonds and Rockefeller is a key part of this effort. We’re also exploring ways to extend our mission beyond the walls of Berkeley, further advancing the ideals that have guided us since our founding.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics you would like to discuss? Carver concluded:
“Building an inclusive, respectful community takes work. I-House Berkeley is a stronger, better, and happier community because of our commitment to fostering this community, and we see that strength and kindness every day in both normal and extraordinary times.”
“As you work to build your own inclusive community, don’t underestimate the power of being deliberate in your actions. I’ve seen so many companies and institutions express a belief in the importance of diversity and inclusivity, but then only really apply lip service in the form of a statement of values. People can tell when you’re being insincere or only providing token, half-hearted measures. While this is primarily a question of perception, you should leave no room for doubt about your commitment to diversity and inclusivity.”
