Natalie Brown, PhD, Program Director of Academic Advisement, Transfer Center and International Student Services
Natalie Brown, PhD, Participates in EducationUSA Forum
Representing Truckee Meadows Community College, Natalie Brown, PhD, Program Director and International Services Lead, attended the U.S. Department of State’s eighth annual EducationUSA Forum from July 31–August 2 in Washington, D.C.
More than 570 U.S. college representatives from 46 states, 60 EducationUSA regional coordinators and advisers from around the world, and U.S. and foreign government officials met to discuss international student recruitment and retention strategies.
TMCC has enrolled international students from all over the world and helped them to achieve their goals of earning a certificate or associate degree, transferring to their chosen university or program, and experiencing American college life and customs. Services provided to international students include orientations and workshops, personal assistance with immigration and transfer advising, career exploration, cultural adjustments, and an active student life including the International Club.
In Fall Semester, TMCC will provide peer mentoring to international students. Also, a new Diversity and International Services Center (DISCO) will open, creating meeting and student life spaces especially for international students.
The EducationUSA Forum, organized in partnership with the Institute of International Education, included sessions on comprehensive campus internationalization, student visas, maximizing recruitment resources, and partnering with EducationUSA advising centers around the world to develop innovative strategies for recruiting international students.
Please contact TMCC’s International Student Services for more information.
Kyle Dalpe, PhD, Elected to Vice President of Education Alliance
The Education Alliance (EA) of Washoe County announced in July its new officers and board members for the 2017-2018 school year.
Kyle Dalpe, Interim Dean of Technical Sciences at TMCC, was named 1st Vice President of EA.
The Alliance is a nonprofit organization offering advocacy for student achievement, promoting awareness of educational needs, and developing stronger resources for Washoe County Schools through business and community partnerships. The mission of the organization is to foster educational excellence and to connect educators with business and community organizations. EA is known in the community for their annual Run for Education event, held each October in Sparks, as well as the Partners in Education program which raises funds to support schools.
One of their other projects is the Teachers’ Warehouse. Businesses donate surplus office equipment, supplies, and paper products to the Warehouse on Edison Way, in Reno. WCSD educators may then shop at the facility to find needed teacher aids, arts and craft supplies and other useful materials to use in their classrooms at no cost to the instructor.
The Executive Board also has four permanent posts for the Washoe County School District (WCSD) Superintendent, Presidents of TMCC and the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), and the Education Alliance Executive Director. School district and college positions may be represented by officials at each institution.
TMCC's President is Karin Hilgersom, PhD, and Kendall Inskip is the Education Alliance Executive Director. For more information, please visit the EA website.
Nancy Quintero Orozco Volunteers at PLAN
Marketing and Communications administrative assistant Nancy Quintero Orozco volunteers at the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN) because she’d like to make a difference in the lives of people seeking to become U.S. citizens.
“I help because it can be expensive for legal permanent residents interested in becoming U.S. citizens to seek services that provide legal consultation and help with the naturalization application,” Quintero said. “Through PLAN Citizenship Fairs, individuals can obtain information about the naturalization process, have a brief legal consultation with an attorney and receive assistance with their application free of charge.”
PLAN typically sponsors a Citizenship Fair about once a month, where residents may attend to find out more information, ask an attorney volunteering at the event whether they qualify for the citizenship application, and get help with steps needed when filling out an application.
Once legal permanent residents qualify and have assembled the needed documents, the cost is $725 for the application filing fees and fingerprints.
“I assist the attorneys with the pre-application screening process to determine eligibility for naturalization and provide assistance with the application,” Quintero said.
Quintero also posts fliers about the Citizenship Fairs around the community.
“I help out because some are very concerned right now about immigration laws and many are eligible to apply but don’t know where to start,” she said. “This is their first step on the path toward citizenship.”
For more information about PLAN’s Citizenship Fairs, please visit PLAN, or call 775-800-1851.
Contributions to TMCC Good News are Welcome
Additional contributions for good news are welcome. If you have an achievement, volunteer experience or award to share with the TMCC community, please let us know.