Debbie Singiser and Patrick Liu join staff to bolster recruitment and retention
CASTLETON — As Castleton moves forward with instituting the Castleton Plan — a 10-year strategic initiative — it is pleased to announce the addition of two new administrative positions beginning in August 2014 to support international recruitment efforts.
“Part of our mission going forward is to attract and retain new students who will contribute to enhanced diversity and mutual understanding in the global village that is our modern day world,” said President Dave Wolk.
A leading force of the international initiative is Debbie Singiser, who will assume the new title of coordinator of international student services.
Singiser has spent a majority of the past 25 years living and working outside of the United States in eight different countries and traveling extensively around the globe. She holds a Master of Arts Degree in International Affairs from Columbia University and has several years of valuable experience working as an International Development Consultant.
Over the past year Castleton, along with Singiser and various other committed staff and faculty members, has been working to build a strong foundation for international student recruitment and retention plans.
The new position is a continuation of Singiser’s consultancy with the college that began in October 2013, when she led the designing and planning phases of the international student initiative.
“My goal is to be proactive by building a support system for international students to tap into so they not just succeed, but thrive while at the college and are immensely proud of their Castleton degree,” said Singiser. “By increasing its international student population on campus, while simultaneously encouraging more American students to study oversees during their college tenure, Castleton is preparing competent and confident global citizens for the 21st century.”
Joining Singiser is international recruitment professional Patrick Liu as the director of international student recruitment and enrollment.
Liu has been involved in the international education field for over 18 years, having completed his bachelor’s degree in China and master’s degree in the United States.
Before joining Castleton, Liu was an international student, scholar advisor and F-1 visa specialist at the University of North Texas and previously assisted with international recruitment, admissions, advising and international program development and implementation at a liberal arts college in Wisconsin.
“I am excited that Castleton is very international and that we have full support not only from the college’s administration but also from all faculty and staff,” said Liu. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to expand our international programs to other parts of the world, especially to the East Asian countries.”
In his new role, Liu will be responsible for many aspects of the recruitment, orientation, and transitioning of current and prospective international students.
Already preparing for the 2014-15 academic year, Liu is currently working with several Chinese institutions of higher education and expecting a delegate from the East China Institute of Technology to visit Castleton later this fall.
Both Singiser and Liu will play an integral role in the continued growth and success of Castleton’s international initiatives, working to create a culture of inclusiveness on campus that embraces multiculturalism.
“I am more than excited about our improved and innovative approaches to recruiting and educating new international students,” explained President Wolk. “Working with our talented staff in admissions, student services, academic affairs and student life, Patrick Liu will help us attract these talented students and Debbie Singiser will continue her stellar work in leading us to make the cultural changes on and off campus that will help us to embrace and educate these new students.”
