Sept. 23, 2008 issue
I still remember the day I interviewed at
EMU more than nine years ago. I sat with a handful of admissions staff
who were so warm and inviting during the interview. I knew this was the
place where I wanted to work. I was lucky enough to be chosen for the
position, and I feel very attached to my EMU family.
My position is the assistant director of international admissions. I
meet students from all over the world when they come to EMU. My favorite
part of my job is when I meet the students, face-to-face, for the first
time at orientation on campus. For months leading up to their arrival,
we are in communication via e-mail or phone about the application status
and documents they need to apply for a student visa. It is great to put
faces to names when I meet them on campus.
I appreciate this job because it is always changing as the world changes.
Of course, visa requirements are more strict after
Sept. 11 (2001), and that has been a challenge. But, that
hasn't deterred international students from wanting to
study in the United States.
We try to do as much strategic planning as possible, but anything can
happen to change the international student market, which
keeps me on my toes and loving my career. As we have more
than 900 students from about 100 countries, being at EMU
is like experiencing a slice of the whole world right here
on our campus. And we are all lucky to work in this environment. — Contributed by Krystin Jarrell
