2008 Woodie Awards
Experience motivates new staff
Issue date: 8/22/08 Section: News
Clayton Vertrees
Staff writer
The 2008-2009 academic year brings change to Murray State's office of recruitment with Shawn Smee, director of the office of recruitment and Lesa Harris, director of undergraduate admissions.
Smee graduated from Murray State and began working as an admissions counselor in 1998. In his position, Smee said he continued experiencing a distinct environment, which set Murray State apart from other universities, even during his undergraduate education.
Following Murray State, Smee traveled to Jonesboro, Ark., in 2001, where he worked in the associate for Student Affairs and Admissions offices, at Arkansas State University. Upon his return to Murray State, Smee said his work experience at the two universities as a faculty member, and as a student, helped him draw interest from area high school seniors more effectively.
"I think it is very different when you are selling the institution where you graduated from, and so definitely one of the reasons I came back was to work toward making the University the best it can be," Smee said. "Through my position, you can talk about your experiences on campus, your experiences in the classroom, and becoming involved."
Lesa Harris, director of undergraduate admissions, said her goal is to improve communication between perspective students and the University. Similar to her career experiences at West Kentucky Community and Technical College admissions and registrar's office in Paducah, Ky., Harris said the timely admission of students helps maintain student interest in a school.
"If students know within a short period that they have been admitted, there is a good possibility that they are not going to be searching for an alternative school or somewhere else to go," Harris said. "I think making sure students get admitted in a timely manner will let them know that are going to be a Murray State student, and don't have to keep wondering and checking out other schools."
Harris earned a bachelor's degree from Northern Kentucky University's online program, and she said she also sees potential for greater interest among working, nontraditional students through a stronger emphasis on online courses.
Clayton Vertrees can be reached at james.vertrees@murraystate.edu.
Staff writer
The 2008-2009 academic year brings change to Murray State's office of recruitment with Shawn Smee, director of the office of recruitment and Lesa Harris, director of undergraduate admissions.
Smee graduated from Murray State and began working as an admissions counselor in 1998. In his position, Smee said he continued experiencing a distinct environment, which set Murray State apart from other universities, even during his undergraduate education.
Following Murray State, Smee traveled to Jonesboro, Ark., in 2001, where he worked in the associate for Student Affairs and Admissions offices, at Arkansas State University. Upon his return to Murray State, Smee said his work experience at the two universities as a faculty member, and as a student, helped him draw interest from area high school seniors more effectively.
"I think it is very different when you are selling the institution where you graduated from, and so definitely one of the reasons I came back was to work toward making the University the best it can be," Smee said. "Through my position, you can talk about your experiences on campus, your experiences in the classroom, and becoming involved."
Lesa Harris, director of undergraduate admissions, said her goal is to improve communication between perspective students and the University. Similar to her career experiences at West Kentucky Community and Technical College admissions and registrar's office in Paducah, Ky., Harris said the timely admission of students helps maintain student interest in a school.
"If students know within a short period that they have been admitted, there is a good possibility that they are not going to be searching for an alternative school or somewhere else to go," Harris said. "I think making sure students get admitted in a timely manner will let them know that are going to be a Murray State student, and don't have to keep wondering and checking out other schools."
Harris earned a bachelor's degree from Northern Kentucky University's online program, and she said she also sees potential for greater interest among working, nontraditional students through a stronger emphasis on online courses.
Clayton Vertrees can be reached at james.vertrees@murraystate.edu.
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