Orchestrated by Dr. Leventhal & Mr. Arredondo

OHIO LAYS RED CARPET FOR LANKAN RECRUITER

Summer of ’08 would be memorable to Priyanthi Dissanayake. Being impressed with her dedicated & spectacular promoting of University of Cincinnati & Lorain County Community College in Sri Lanka in the preceding months both Dr.Mitch Leventhal (Vice Provost UC International) & Mr.David Arredondo (Director International Admissions LCCC) invited her on a “13 day 16 school (whirlwind)” tour.

Priyanthi with Sri Lankan students at LCCC

On July 27th evening, Priyanthi & Dissa flew into Cleveland International Airport to be welcomed by David Arredondo. David’s sight seeing tour took them to famed Oberlin College where despite being summer it was full of overseas student competitors participating at the famed annual music competition. Night was spent in Elyria.

On the morning of 28th Lorain County Community College laid the red carpet for their latest international recruiter who placed seven students at her maiden try which was the largest ever recorded maiden contingent from any country to LCCC. The visitors were warmly received by many departmental heads followed by many meetings. The guests were pleasantly surprised to have come across Prof.George Pillainayagam former head of farm Machinery Research Center Maha Illuppallama Sri Lanka where Dissa had past interactions with, heading the Lorain’s engineering program. Lunch at the school cafeteria was attended by all seven students Priyanthi had placed a few weeks before where existing problems were discussed & ironed out. All of them conveyed their appreciation and assured that they were getting adjusted to the new life remarkably.

At Cleveland with Lankan grad students

After a final meeting with David it was time to leave for Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea. And its attractive Associate Director Carmen Castro-Rivera was at hand to chauffer them to Berea where the night was spent.

B-W, an excellent private liberal arts school had a well organized plan for visitors for the following morning. Interspersed with a series of meetings were many tours to famed departments, gymnasium, theater & residential quarters. After an excellent lunch at the school cafeteria attended by a few international students, it was time to head to Cleveland chauffeured by Carmen.

Cleveland State University was their next stop. Regina Motiejunas – the international admissions specialist - was at hand to introduce the guests to Barbara Legan-Turner associate Director of the Center for International Services & Programs & its legendary Director George C.Burke. Situated in the heart of Cleveland city there were many departments to visit. Few of them were covered the same evening.

At “Case” with Churyl & her colleagues

Following morning was set aside for numerous meetings with heads of depts. towards the end of which the guests were escorted to the graduate dept of Chemistry to meet five Lankan grad students reading for PhD in Chemistry – all alumni of University of Colombo. Professor Lily M. Ng Chair of Chemistry dept conveyed how impressed she was with Lankan students. The lunch was hosted by George Burke at the school cafeteria attended by Barb, Regina & all Lankan students. The visitors were told by Lankan students how low the living cost were whilst barb pointed out of the affordability of tuition.

Next was a brief visit to famed Case Western Reserve University which was only a short distance away where Churyl F. Croone – Asst Director Undergrad Admissions was waiting to welcome the Lankan guests.

“Case” being one of the expensive & “branded” schools with no financial aid for international undergrad students was not much appealing to Lankan recruiters whose emphasis was on low cost schools. After showing off its famed engineering dept & medical facilities Churyl & Susan Alexander - Asst Director of financial aid for student employment assured that they would press the decision makers to introduce an attractive merit based scholarship scheme for international undergrads.

At Mount Union with Scott & President Giese

On a beautiful summer evening Scott A. Slabaugh Director International Student Services at Mount Union College was at hand to chauffer Priyanthi & Dissa to Alliance where Mount Union was located. On the long ride through rural Ohio Scott was explaining his interesting experiences in Japan teaching English for many years & helping Japanese youth with admissions to US colleges – exactly what Priyanthi & Dissa were doing in SL. Lankans were further amazed to hear how Scott had initially discovered Mount Union first as a student & then joined international recruitment upon graduation. They were much impressed by Scott’s attachment to the school.

Scott had made meticulous arrangements for a well attended dinner at the local golf club in honor of Lankan visitors attended by legendary retired Director of international programs Harold Hall, William Coleman Professor of Communication & the Asst to the President for Diversity, Amy Tomko VP for Enrollment & Dawn Adams asst Director at ISS. As much as the food & wine the conversation too flowed excellently where both parties got to know each other very well.

University of Akron; at the “Quaker” Hotel

It was obvious that Scott had gone to great length on the visit of Lankans. The President of MUC Richard F.Giese was waiting to welcome the visitors. After an entertaining college tour conducted by two serious students it was time to head to Akron.

The visit to University of Akron began with lunch at its club attended by key officials of the international office. There were many visits to different depts. including the famous polymer dept. Situated in Akron where many top rubber industries were based, Akron University is famous for certain courses.

The guests were housed for the night at the university hotel which was unique in many ways. The former factory which made Quaker oats was converted to a hotel by Hilton group without changing any of its original structure. The décor of the lobby created a factory ambience with original Quaker Oats ads adorning the walls. The rooms were located in the original silos so everything was circular. At a quiet dinner two Lankan students joined the visitors. Dr.David P.Ayers Director of International Programs was the gracious host walking the visitors through campus environment & telling them of its history.

At Ashland with Sue

Following morning was reserved for Ashland University & David & his wife accompanied visitors towards Ashland where half way through Susan Rosa was waiting.

Having travelled through many back roads of rural Ohio & seen the beautiful, laid back country side the Lankans were thrilled with their first sighting of Amish people. Their old fashioned dresses, flowing beards of men & bonnets of women, buggy carts, and their centuries old life style left the visitors in fascination.

In Ashland they found a perfect school for MBA applicants. Very affordable cost, ability to work outside campus from the very beginning and work experience replacing GMAT were exactly what the visitors were looking for. The lunch was joined by a Lankan student following MBA. It was now time to head to University of Findlay.

Penny Gerdeman, its legendary head of international office had developed many relationships with recruiters in south Asia and had scores of Nepalese, Indian & Bangladeshi students to prove it. After a quick run through with key faculty heads it was time to join Karen Condeni Vice President & Dean of Enrollment at Ohio Northern University & husband Tony who were waiting to drive them to Ada.

At Findlay with Penny

ONU, offering excellent private education made an excellent exclusive offer to all Priyanthi’s students. To the visitors their highly ranking Pharmacy degree & Masters in Law were most appealing. As it was weekend the visitors were housed in the school’s guest house. Deanna (Dede) Shine Director International Admissions & husband Jim proved to be excellent hosts showing them around Lima & taking them home to meet family. Meetings with Dr.Bob McCurdy Asst Dean Raabe College of Pharmacy & Prof.Jean-Marie Kamatali Asst Director of The Claude W.Pettit College of Law were very interesting to the visitors. At the lunch at school’s cafeteria they were introduced to the President (& his wife) who too were walking in to have lunch there. After lunch it was time for Dede to drive them to Dayton to their next stop; Wright State University.

WSU is named after aviation pioneers Wright Brothers who experimented flying on the adjoining property. Chilean born Claudia V.Espinoza Director International Student Recruitment was at hand to greet the Lankans. After a hot Mexican dinner attended by AVP for International Affairs Dr.Stephen Foster it was time to retire for the night.

Following morning started with a photo opportunity with President David Hopkins (and a Lankan student). There were many meetings with dept heads including Steven Lyons Director International Student & Scholar Services (who few weeks later visited Colombo to participate at Amazing America). After lunch at school cafeteria it was time to head to Otterbein College in Westerville.

At Mount Union with Scott & President Giese

At Otterbein Kristen Messenheimer Assistant Director Admissions was at hand to welcome the Lankans and were presented to Dr. Tom Stein Vice President for Enrollment. The visitors had one of the most fruitful discussions & Tom Steins wasted no time in making one of the most attractive offers. After the customary walk through the campus it was time to join Chuck Vedder Director International Student Programs & wife Debra for dinner at the Hoover Dam. The visitors noted that Otterbein would be a perfect destination for their recruits not only due to its attractive offer but also due to its location at quite suburb of capitol Columbus which was only few minutes away offering best of both – quiet college life with ample summer work opportunities.

Franklin University at the heart of Ohio State’s capitol Columbus was the next destination and Kristen Yanchak was at hand on the following morning to escort them. Sitting down with Evelyn Levino Vice president for students & her staff the visitors were given a detailed presentation of what the school could offer for Lankan students. With its matured student population & considerably low cost city living Lankan recruiters found another school offering variety to their already bludgeoning partnerships. After the obligatory campus visit & lunch it was time for Kristen to drive them to distance Athens to the next school; Ohio University.

At Ohio Northern with Dede & Jean Marie

Passing hilly areas (which the visitors encountered for the first time in otherwise flat Ohio) the party reached Athens in the evening to be welcomed by Vicki Seefeldt West Coordinator International Outreach & Recruitment & Joyce Pae Associate Director Undergraduate Admissions. After visiting many departments it was time to sit down with Dr.Josep Rota Associate Provost International Programs for business discussion. Obviously OU offered a high class education but the visitors sounded little apprehensive of the cost which they felt was little beyond the range of their average student. The dinner was held at the restaurant at the gleaming brand new student center which was OU’s star currant attraction. The special guest at dinner was (the entertaining) Dennis Lee Delaney Chair Theater Dept & the Head Professional Director Training Program. OU’s Masters in Directing was reputed to be number one in US.

It fell upon affable Dan West – Vicki’s loving husband & OU’s head of communications – to drive the visitors in the night through deer infested jungle to Portsmouth. It was plain to Lankans why he was the head of communications (& in charge of OU’s ranking debating team) as he made an otherwise boring & monotonous journey into a fun ride. There wasn’t a subject foreign to him and the visitors were listening to him with rapt attention throughout the long night ride.

At Wright State with Claudia & President Hopkins

Shawnee State University, one of the youngest universities (only 20y in age) the Lankans had encountered in US is located on the banks of Ohio River. For the overnight stay SSU had booked a guest house – one of the oldest in Portsmouth originally owned by a river boat captain who later became the city Mayor. They were the only guests that night & it was a unique experience to stay at a typical home. The house was in excellent condition with neat arrangements.

At breakfast with home made delicious food by the gracious lady host the visitors were joined by Dr. John Lorentz - Shawnee State’s Director of International Programs & its Professor of History. His work on the famous flood which had devastated Portsmouth many years ago has earned him national recognition. John introduced the visitors to Provost Dr. David E. Todt and had meetings with Rick Merb Associate Director Admissions & few others. The visitors felt that Portsmouth is a laid back small city & SSU was a good school providing very affordable quality education.

At Hoover Dam with Kris & Vedders of Otterbein

After lunch at small family run Italian restaurant it was time to cross the border into (the State of) Kentucky. The visitors were enjoying the long ride with changing scenery. At a half way point Elizabeth Chaulk was waiting to take over the guests.

Elizabeth – young, attractive & recently married (to a football sweetheart) is the Coordinator of International Student Recruitment at Northern Kentucky University. She is also one of the most directionally challenged people Dissanayake’s had encountered in the US.

Elizabeth had taken the visitors direct to dinner at Cincinnati & was joined by Elizabeth Leibach recently arriving Director of the Office of International Student Affairs & Dr.Kasturiratne Lankan born Asst Professor of Statistics.

With Ohio University officials

Following morning started with a meeting headed by Elizabeth Leibach & attended by all key officials of the international office followed by a campus visit covering all important departments. Upon completion it fell upon Elizabeth (Chaulk) to ferry them across Ohio River to Cincinnati.

Arriving at University of Cincinnati to be welcomed by Dr. Mitch Leventhal was like coming home for Priyanthi & Dissa. It was here a year ago their spectacular relationship with Ohio began. And Mitch was the architect of it. And now he was organizing a large delegation to visit Colombo to participate at “Amazing America” exclusively American education fair. After some key meetings including kick-starting linking up with Institute of Chemistry the visitors joined Mitch to meet his family & to have dinner with them. And the following morning Prof. Ana Vamadeva took over by taking them home to spend the day with Nita & Gokul. After a very pleasant (and a very short) stay Ana dropped the visitors at the Dayton international airport on the following morning.

With Shawnee State officials