This is part of Das Tor’s ongoing series “Student Success Spotlights,” which features the hardworking staff on the Student Success Team at Thunderbird
I joined ASU’s Thunderbird School of Global Management in June 2019 as Executive Director of Enrollment and Student Success. In this capacity, I am responsible for overseeing all of our Student Success team at Thunderbird, including student recruitment and admissions, academic advising, student engagement, and career service functions. I have worked for Arizona State University since 2009.
Prior to joining the Thunderbird global family, I directed the ASU Study Abroad Office from 2014 to 2019. As director, I worked with an amazing team to advance the vision, strategy, and implementation of study abroad at ASU and its connection across all disciplines. Previous to this position, I was Assistant Director of the Study Abroad Office (2011-2014), and before that, I was Assistant Director of Global Launch at ASU. Prior to joining the university, I directed an advocacy and service-learning program for FH, an international NGO.
I moved from the ASU Study Abroad Office to join Thunderbird because I am passionate about a global education for leaders in all sectors. Specifically, I was drawn to the diversity of our Thunderbird students and the globalized curriculum, including the teaching and importance of intercultural communication, awareness, and sensitivity.
In 2014, I received my Doctor of Education degree in Leadership and Innovation from ASU. Since then, I have taught both undergraduate and graduate students at ASU and the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Specifically, I teach two courses I designed as part of my dissertation research study: Foundations of Cross-Cultural Awareness and Introduction to Intercultural Competence. In particular, my dissertation study was titled The development and implementation of a pre-international experience course: A cultural intervention in a university setting.
In true Thunderbird spirit, I have lived, studied, and worked in Chengdu, China, for three years. I also have studied, volunteered, and traveled extensively to over 30 countries. A native of Tempe, I live in Tempe with my wife (of almost 21 years!), three kids, and one dog.
As we start this new semester, I want to emphasize the role the Thunderbird Student Success team plays in students’ lives. We work to create an accessible graduate student experience, both inside and outside the classroom, that empowers all students to learn; develop purpose, passion, and a global mindset; and grow as individuals to achieve their academic and professional goals in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We offer the expertise and infrastructure necessary to support our students’ global aspirations. We develop Thunderbirds for life-changing careers.
Ultimately, our team helps all new/incoming and current students from beginning to end! Our Student Success team is set up to provide bumper-to-bumper student services from the time a student begins to speak with one of our Graduate Student Recruiters until they become a Thunderbird graduate. Throughout a student’s time at Thunderbird, they will interact with our team from recruitment to CMC services to academic advising to student engagement – and everything in between!
All of our team is available via email, phone, Zoom, and in-person appointments. Students also can come and visit us on the second floor in the Student Success suite, Room 209, within the new Thunderbird Global Headquarters.