Press Kit
Press and Media Kit
Everything journalists, podcast hosts, event organizers, and bookstores need to feature Effective Communication and Academic Success for International Students (Routledge, 2026) and its authors, Genevive Bjorn and Clara Fangfang Ma.
For interviews, review copies, or speaking requests, use the contact form and choose “Media or event organizer.”
The Book
At a Glance
| Title | Effective Communication and Academic Success for International Students |
|---|---|
| Authors | Genevive Bjorn, Ed.D., and Clara Fangfang Ma, Ed.D. |
| Publisher | Routledge (Taylor & Francis) |
| Publication date | November 2, 2026 |
| Length | 314 pages, 11 black-and-white illustrations, 8 chapters |
| Formats and ISBNs | Paperback 9781041020271 · Hardback 9781041020288 · eBook 9781003617419 |
| Audience | International students at English-speaking universities, and the faculty, advisors, and staff who support them |
| Website | internationalstudentsuccess.com |
Short description (50 words)
A practical, research-based guide to the spoken, written, and unwritten rules of English-speaking universities. Bjorn and Ma help international students communicate with confidence from their first weeks on campus through the classroom, friendships, support networks, and the start of a career, and show faculty and staff how to help.
Longer description
International students often arrive with strong academic preparation and still find that communication is the hardest part of studying abroad. Effective Communication and Academic Success for International Students treats communication as a learnable skill built through practice. Its eight chapters follow a student’s path: the first weeks abroad and what the authors call the “arrival cliff,” building personal relationships, taking part in class, communicating outside the classroom, building social support networks, and launching a career. Grounded in current research and real student stories, it offers tools readers can return to, such as the S.P.A.C.E. framework for starting conversations. It addresses accent bias directly, considers neurodivergence, identity, and mental health as part of students’ lives, and shows how to use generative AI ethically to improve academic and professional communication.
The Authors
Author Bios
Genevive Bjorn, Ed.D.
Short bio: Genevive Bjorn, Ed.D., is the founder and director of the Higher Learning Lab and the author of How to Critically Read the Scientific Research Literature: Introducing the CERIC Method (Cambridge University Press, 2026) and Effective Communication and Academic Success for International Students (Routledge, 2026).
Long bio: Genevive Bjorn, Ed.D., founded and directs the Higher Learning Lab. A Knight Digital Media Fellow and award-winning science teacher, she is the author of How to Critically Read the Scientific Research Literature: Introducing the CERIC Method (Cambridge University Press, 2026) and co-author of Effective Communication and Academic Success for International Students (Routledge, 2026), and has written more than 50 articles for Nature, Science, The New York Times, and other outlets. She has taught critical reading in 15+ countries and advances equity by helping learners navigate hidden curricula. genevivebjorn.com · Higher Learning Lab
Clara Fangfang Ma, Ed.D.
Short bio: Clara Fangfang Ma, Ed.D., is an entrepreneur at Inception Consulting, social scientist, and educator specializing in leadership development, cross-cultural competency, and student success.
Long bio: Clara Fangfang Ma, Ed.D., is an entrepreneur at Inception Consulting, social scientist, and educator specializing in leadership development, cross-cultural competency, and student success. With over a decade of experience supporting international students through language, cultural, and communication challenges, she brings firsthand insight as a former international student from China studying in the United States.
Downloads
Images
You are welcome to use these images in coverage of the book and its authors. Please credit the cover to Routledge.
Book cover (800×1200) ↓Genevive Bjorn headshot ↓Clara Fangfang Ma headshot ↓Site logo (PNG) ↓
Interviews
Topics and Sample Questions
- What is the “arrival cliff,” and why do so many international students hit it a few weeks after arriving?
- What are the unwritten rules of English-speaking classrooms that no one explains to new students?
- Why is communication, rather than academic ability, often the hardest part of studying abroad?
- How does accent bias affect international students, and what can universities do about it?
- How can students use generative AI ethically to improve their academic and professional writing?
- How can faculty and staff make classrooms and campus services easier for international students to use?
- What helps international students build friendships and support networks in a new country?
- How should international students prepare for networking and job interviews?
The authors are available for interviews, podcasts, panels, and campus workshops in person or online. Get in touch →