Frank Merendino

When did you join Grok?  August, 2024

Describe yourself in three words. Passionate. Collaborative. Thoughtful. 

What were you doing before working at Grok?  I’ve worked in the international education sector for 17 years and prior to joining Grok, worked at US universities and commercial organizations focused on developing international enrollment partnerships with institutions of higher education.

What was your first job in education?  My first gig in international education was working as an Immigration Assistant & International Housing Coordinator at my alma mater. My key duties were helping exchange students find housing, set up bank accounts, acquire mobile phones, and more. Being the first point of contact and helping students get set up after they arrived on campus was incredibly rewarding and led me to pursue a career in the IE sector.

What does international education mean for you?  Connecting people from across the globe on a personal level. Travel itself is a wonderful learning experience. When you couple education with travel and then add a dash of getting outside your comfort zone, that’s when deep intercultural learning takes place. 

What is one of the most satisfying outcomes you’ve helped a client to achieve?  I find satisfaction any and every time I play the role of infomed connector between my organization and a university that is looking for a partner to help them internationalize their campus and better support the unique needs international students have. 

What is your favorite book?  Anything by Kurt Vonnegut, but two that rise to the top are Player Piano and The Sirens of Titan.

What is your dream travel destination? Why?  I’ve been fortunate to cross two of my top three destinations off my list already – New Zealand and Switzerland. The last on my personal “big three” list is Japan. Hope to make it happen soon!

What is your favorite food to eat with friends?  A tomahawk ribeye steak cooked using the flip-every-fifteen-seconds cooking method or homemade smashburgers with shack sauce.

What is something you’ve learned from somebody inspirational?  “A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be. When you win, say nothing, when you lose say less. I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” I love this quote from Wayne Gretzky and I’m not even a hockey fan! The last line is iconic and often quoted, but the part about “say nothing when you win” reminds me of my Dad. When I was young, he would say “Act like you’ve been there before!” if I did well at something. Basically, be proud of your achievement but don’t gloat – it’s not a good look. 

What was your favorite subject at high school or university? History. Important to learn how we got to where we are as a civilization…and hopefully not repeat the same mistakes!