Welcome to the second issue of WIN! 

In this issue
Staff Spotlight:
Bethany Keller - International Academic Advisor
Melanie Gottlieb - International Credential Specialist & Coordinator
News & Announcements

Lela Prodani (Albania)
WIN Editor
Graduate Assistant, International Recruitment & Services

Staff Spotlight

	Quick Facts First Name: Bethany                 Last Name: Keller        Position: International Academic Advisor           Country of Origin: USA Contact Information: Tel :314-961-2660 x7658 bethanys@webster.edu
Bethany Keller

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bethany began her Webster career as a student. After studying abroad as an undergraduate student and completing her MA in International Relations degree at Webster, she decided to pursue a career that would allow her to help others communicate across cultural differences in the United States. Currently, she is the International Academic Advisor in the Academic Advising Center and focuses her professional energy and attention on providing accurate, enthusiastic and culturally-sensitive advising to Webster students from around the world.
 
Once a student has been admitted, she contacts the student via email to begin the course selection and registration process, taking into account individual background, experience, and interests. When she describes her advising approach, Bethany says, "I advise international students based on a developmental model of advising, helping students to identify and address academic interests and abilities and choose appropriate courses and plan for achieving their academic and personal goals." Once an undergraduate student has declared a major, the student is referred to a faculty advisor in their major for the completion of their studies.
 
"I greatly enjoy being able to help students clarify their academic goals, explore academic options each semester of study, and adjust to their life in St. Louis," she continues,  " My role as Webster's international academic advisor requires skills in advocacy, collaboration, cultural sensitivity and awareness and the effectiveness of my role is based on experience, training and enthusiasm for our international mission."

Due to her outstanding work in the advising field, especially for her specialization towards international students, Bethany received the 2007 Outstanding Advisor Award by the Missouri Academic Advising Association (MACADA), which represent advising professionals from Missouri colleges and universities. The MACADA Awards are designed to honor individuals and institutions in Missouri that have made contributions to academic advising within MACADA and their institutions.

Bethany greatly enjoys her job! She concludes, "Each student brings a unique view of the world to our campus, and we all benefit from each individual student's contribution to our campus community. I look forward to meeting each new student personally during Orientation in August 2008!"

	Quick Facts First Name: Melanie     Last Name: Gottlieb      Position: International Credential Specialist & Coordinator Country of Origin: USA Contact Information: Tel :314-961-2660 x7512 gottlieb@webster.edu
Melanie Gottlieb

 

 

 

 

 

 

Melanie has been with Webster in the International Recruitment & Services office for almost five years.  Her interest in international education began a decade ago when she worked as the Registrar and International Student Advisor at Marlboro College, in Vermont, USA.   “I take every opportunity that I can to travel and experience local culture, both within the US and internationally.  My work with students allows me to see parts of the world that I have not yet been able to experience for myself…yet.”

Her work at Webster includes both international credential and transfer credit evaluation and international education research and policy development for the university.  As part of the Admissions Committee, she translates the students’ academic work in their native system to a traditional American grade and credit scheme, and applies as much of that work as possible to their chosen program.  “International Credential evaluation,” says Melanie, is both a science and an art.  There is a specific framework that must be followed, but I also have to consider the culture around academics and grading in the native system and even sometimes at the school that the student attended.  Our students have varied backgrounds.  Many of them have attended schools in two or three countries and systems.  Every file, like every student, is unique; Webster allows us to consider each case individually, taking into consideration the contextual aspects of the student’s experience.  That kind of individual attention is unique for a University the size of Webster, and it is one of the things that I love about my work here. We are very focused on our students.”

Webster will award advanced standing credit for a number of accelerated academic programs. The most common are described in the following chart:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quick Announcements

International Student Award Recipients

• Emma Laheus from Laholm, Sweden received the Dean's Award for Service for Fall I. She was nominated for her work at the Multicultural Center and International Student Affairs, being an Orientation Leader in 2007, and for her community commitment such as facilitating an international student discussion group and speaking to the elderly at Shephard Center in Webster Groves.

• Hans Tveten, a senior management major from Quito, Ecuador received the Outstanding Student Employee Award Recipient for Fall II. He was nominated for his outstanding work as a student employee for the International Business Internship Exchange program.

• Sophomore international relations major Ricardo Falla from Ecuador was one of the two recipients of the Chinese government scholarship for spring 2008. This scholarship will allow him to study for a semester at Fudan University in Shanghai, China.

• Ama Budu-Anguah, junior biology major from Ghana, and Laura Murcia, a junior business and management major from Quito, Ecuador received the Outstanding Employee Award for Spring 1. Ama was nominated for her outstanding work as a tutor for the Student Literacy Corps, where she has made a huge difference in helping immigrant children learn to read and write in English. Laura was nominated for her excellent work as a customer service associate in the housing office.

LASO Appreciation Dinner

This picture is taken from the Latin American Student Organization (LASO) appreciation dinner on November 30th in the University Center Sunnen Lounge. Jose, a freshman student from Ecuador, says, "The LASO party was organized to show people how Latin people get together and have fun. The best way we try to share our culture is through dancing." LASO's goal on campus is to assist Latin American students spreading their culture and fitting into American traditions through the interaction with the community.

Daniela holding the Ecuadorian flag during the LASO Appreciation Dinner

Is there something that you would like to see featured in WIN? 
Contact us at intlstudy@webster.edu

Contact Information:
Webster University International Recruitment and Services
470 East Lockwood Ave., St. Louis. MO 63119. USA

website: www.webster.edu/iris/ email: intlstudy@webster.edu
Tel: 314-961-2660 ext. 7753 Fax: +1-314-967-7119