Meet the new International Admission Specialist

by Reneta Kenolova

Drury University is adopting a new approach for expanding diversity on campus.

Director of Admission Chip Parker has appointed a new International Admission Specialist who will face the challenges of the current world situation while trying to increase the number of foreign students on the Drury campus.

Before coming to Drury, Julie Hockensmith worked as an International Student Advisor in various university foreign language centers for 13 years.

Hockensmith was hired as a teacher in the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program, and this is her second semester.

"Working with international students is a challenge and I like challenges," Hockensmith said. She also said her long experience with international students has made her highly receptive to their needs. She said she has no problem playing the role of American mom, nurse or apartment manager.

Hockensmith said she recognizes the impact of the world situation on international recruitment, but she is confident Drury can offer high quality education that can counter-balance the negativism and skepticism of the prospective students.

"Julie handles all problems systematically. She is always thorough and practical, making sure that no difficult situation simply 'falls through the cracks'," Jill Burkindine, Director of EAP said.

The long-term goal of the new recruitment strategy is to find new ways to reach students, according to Hockensmith.

She said she plans to achieve this through more intensive promotion of Drury in various publications and engagement of multiple Internet recruiting services.