(Posted August 13, 2007)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Jenifer Cushman, former director of international and off-campus study at The College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio from 2005 to June 2007, has been named dean of international programs and associate professor of German at Juniata College, effective immediately. \"Juniata has a strong commitment to both study abroad and to an increased international presence on our campus and we have seen significant growth in both study abroad numbers and in the number of international students on campus,\" says James Lakso, provost. \"We are confident that Dr. Cushman will carry on the tradition of excellent leadership we have had in the Center for International Education, from Bill Russey, William Vocke, Kim Richardson, David Sowell and most recently, JoAnn Wallace.\" Cushman comes to Juniata after overseeing Wooster\'s international programs and serving as an adjunct professor of German. At Juniata, Cushman will oversee the college\'s extensive study-abroad program, the outreach program Language in Motion, marketing and recruitment efforts for international students, management of a variety of international programs and the college\'s Intensive English Program. \"Jenifer Cushman is poised to bring a new perspective to our already formidable international programs,\" says Thomas R. Kepple, president of Juniata. \"Our interest in international study and international educations reaches back nearly five decades and Jenifer\'s qualifications will help us build on our success to rise even higher.\" Cushman earned a bachelor\'s degree in German and psychology in German in 1989 from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn. She went on to earn a master\'s degree in 1992 and a doctoral degree in German in 1996, both from Ohio State University. Cushman started her career as a language specialist as a Peace Corps volunteer in 1996. She taught English in Russia at a pedagogical university and went on to teach as an instructor at the Beneficium School of English in Grajewo, Poland in 1996 and 1997, and at the Pedagogical College of Foreign Languages in Suwalki, Poland in 1997 and 1998. Cushman\'s stateside career began in 1998, when she was hired as an assistant professor of German and Russian at the University of Minnesota, Morris, a post she held through 2005. She also served as discipline coordinator for the University\'s Russian program from 1998 to 2005 and became the coordinator of German programs in 2004. She also headed a pilot program, Big Idea Study Abroad, from 2002 to 2004. From 2004 to 2005, Cushman was faculty coordinator at the university\'s Center for International Programs. She also was promoted to associate professor of German in 2005. Cushman has taught courses and presented talks or research at a number of international universities in Poland, Russia, and Italy. Her teaching and research interests center on German and Slavic literatures and culture, particularly the works of poet Rainer Maria Rilke. She has served on the Midwest Modern Language Association\'s executive committee since 2005 and served as the Ohio representative for NAFSA (National Association of International Educators) in 2006-2007.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.