Academic Background

BA, Psychology, St. Thomas University, Fredericton, NB

Master of Applied Linguistics, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia

Biography

I grew up in Saint John, New Brunswick, on the East Coast of Canada. While I did not attend Laurier, I did see the benefits of attending a small university with a strong sense of community. During my undergraduate studies in psychology at St. Thomas University, I became interested in languages. Growing up in a bilingual province, I had already been exposed to French, Canada's other official language. However, university gave me the chance to explore other languages-- Spanish, Italian, German, and even Latin.

My fascination with languages continued after graduation when I moved to South Korea to teach English and study the Korean language. There, I had the opportunity to work in private education, corporate training, and the post-secondary sector where I supervised a team of 30 instructors at a top ten Korean university. What began as a one-year plan turned into an eleven-year adventure.

I returned to Canada in 2006 and was fortunate to continue my role in the language training sector, this time at the University of New Brunswick's Saint John College. I taught academic English, facilitated the computer language lab, and worked in curriculum development before settling into a role in business development.

In 2009, I moved to Ontario and undertook the role of Manager, International Recruitment at Laurier. With the addition of the Laurier English and Academic Foundation (LEAF) Program in Brantford, the LEAF Pre-MBA Program in Waterloo, and the merging of our recruitment and admissions teams, I now have a slightly larger portfolio as Associate Director, International Recruitment & Admissions. The things that make Laurier special as a student-- the size, sense of community, and engagement-- also make it a fantastic place to work. It is a truly rewarding experience when I can meet a student in his or her home country and then see them here on campus as successful student.