Clockwise from top left: Brendan Abel, Tiffanie Ross, David Pearmain and Carolyn Joyce.
Counselor Selected for NAFSA Trainer Corps
Cheryl Woehr, Counselor at Truckee Meadows Community College, has been named to a select group of international education trainers. She was chosen as one of 300, out of a few thousand potential trainers. The international organization has 10,000 total members who are from all 50 U.S. states and in more than 150 countries.
When she first started working with international students at TMCC about 25 years ago, she decided to become a member of the professional organization NAFSA. The acronym originally stood for the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers, but in 1990, the organization changed its name to NAFSA: Association of International Educators in order to better reflect its inclusiveness for supporting all types of international education and exchange, and the staff who support these efforts.
“At that time there were no dedicated services for international students, and so I worked closely with Admissions and Records to create the support services necessary for our students,” she said. “At the request of the TMCC President, I also began recruiting for our College in Asia and worked closely with the University of Nevada, Reno to create a partnership to serve and recruit international students.”
On Feb. 23, Woehr was notified that she has been selected by this global organization to serve in the NAFSA Trainer Corps for a three-year term. The 300 member volunteers in the Corps work to develop and teach the NAFSA Core Education Program (CEP) curriculum and educational materials at conferences and training programs.
“I’ve always been passionate about international education and the cultural diversity that international students bring to our campus,” she said. “As a NAFSA Corps Trainer I will have an opportunity to share my expertise, experience and passion with other professionals in the field.”
Woehr will become a NAFSA Core Education Program (CEP) trainer in the following areas:
- Recruiting International Students
- Intercultural Communication in Practice
- Campus and Community Programming
“I feel honored to have been accepted as a NAFSA Corps Trainer and I can’t think of a better time to be involved when, now more than ever, international students need support as well as international educators. ” she added.
NAFSA is the world's largest nonprofit organization supporting international educators and students, and also addresses global workforce development, Woehr said.
The association sets practice standards, organizes professional development training, and provides a platform for networking of staff who support international students. It broadly advocates for international education opportunities. Members of the NAFSA organization traditionally include foreign student advisors, admissions officers, directors of international programs, overseas educational advisors, administrators of exchange programs and teachers of English as a second language.
Students Highlight Supportive Atmosphere of TMCC
TMCC students often comment to staff that one of the most important strengths of the College is the encouraging atmosphere they have found here to nurture their studies.
Tiffanie Ross, a Paralegal major, thinks the supportive nature at TMCC has even made her course requirements more straightforward and stress-free to achieve.
“Learning law is easy,” Ross said. “A nice thing about TMCC is they’re always trying to help—teachers and the student support services.”
David Pearmain, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, is new this Spring at TMCC and has experienced a warm welcome thanks to programs for veterans and the folks of the Veterans Resource Center (VRC).
“Being in my first semester, the Veterans Resource Center has been incredibly helpful and supportive,” said Pearmain, who is first working on his core curriculum requirements. “They are all great guys that go out of their way to help or give advice.”
Brendan Abel, Education major, also has found an especially warm environment at the College.
“My education instructors have been very welcoming and they really want to see us succeed,” he said.
Abel would like to inspire future students.
“With my major—B.A. in Secondary Education, English—we will be teaching and molding the future firefighters, writers, lawyers of America,” Abel added. “I hope to inspire more students to graduate high school and attend higher education.”
Carolyn Joyce, English major, enjoys the camaraderie and support of fellow students and participating in Student Government Association (SGA) activities.
“The English Department here is fantastic—from the course selections to the professors—and I wouldn’t trade the experience for any other school,” Joyce said. “I love the Student Government Association events and all of my professors.”
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