Continuing its commitment to growing its international community, Washington & Jefferson College has named Kristin Crosby, former Associate Dean of admission and coordinator of international recruitment at Bates College in Maine, as its inaugural director of international recruitment.

"Over the past five years, W&J has dramatically increased its study abroad and international exchange programme opportunities, and this position reflects the College's interest in, and commitment to, continued expansion of its global connections," said Alton Newell, vice president of enrolment at W&J. "We welcome Kristin to the campus community."

Priyanthi and Dissa with Kristin and James Reese at Bates College in the summer of '06.

Crosby's experience in international recruitment also includes serving as assistant director of admission and coordinator of international recruitment for Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. She will also be W&J's regional director for New England.

"I welcome the challenge of laying the groundwork to build an international community from the ground up and to promote Washington & Jefferson College to international students and colleagues in the international school community," Crosby said. "W&J's history, small size and close community, and numerous global programmes, will appeal to the international student market."

At Bates College, Crosby oversaw all phases of international admission, from recruitment to selection to enrolment. This past year, Crosby said, Bates received more than 1,100 applications from non-U.S. citizens - an increase of 27 per cent from the year before.

Crosby said China and India will be the first two countries she will target and hopefully visit this fall. "Both countries really value education, and U.S.-bound students typically are well prepared for the rigours of college-level work," Crosby said. "This is an excellent time to introduce students to W&J, because the opportunities at many other liberal arts colleges are shrinking and the opportunities in their countries are also very limited."

Crosby admits there are some challenges to getting international students to enrol at W&J. One challenge, she said, is that W&J is relatively unknown in the international school arena, simply because W&J hasn't travelled internationally to recruit. Secondly, there is the location, as many international students seeking liberal arts colleges typically look at schools in New England. The third concern is funding, since many international students need some financial assistance to attend a U.S. college.
"So many of the international students come from large cities, large schools where they are used to being a number and a face in a crowd. They light up when they hear that they can make a difference on a campus, be known, teach others about their culture, and be an individual," Crosby added.
A native of New Jersey, Crosby holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Brown University and Harvard University, respectively.

About Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a national liberal arts
college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality
undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional liberal arts curriculum emphasizing
interdisciplinary study and independent student work.
For more information about W&J, visit www.washjeff.edu or call 888-926-3529.