In challenging times, successful leadership becomes even more important, yet also harder to achieve. COVID-19 has confronted the world with a crisis of never-before-seen proportions, impacting all aspects of modern life. University leaders around the world had to react quickly in order to lead their institutions during these times of uncertainty. One part of the student population was and is particularly vulnerable with campuses shutting down and global travel coming to a rather abrupt halt: international students. This comparative case study will illuminate how university presidents from five different countries are informed in their perceptions of the international students on their campuses during the COVID-19 crisis. Ultimately, important policy implications informing how higher education leaders can navigate global crises while simultaneously best serving their international student populations will be informed. [The page range on the .pdf (p104-111) is incorrect. The correct page range is p105-112.]