Small College America - Elizabeth Nino Executive Director of International Enrollment Augustana College
Today, we welcome Liz Nino, Executive Director of International Enrollment at Augustana College, a private, coeducational liberal arts college in Rock Island, IL. Augustana enrolls approximately 2,600 students, and international students comprise nearly 20% of the college’s enrollment.
Liz is a global leader in international student recruitment! She’s literally put Augustana College on the map for students from across the globe. She’s known worldwide for her commitment to liberal arts and science education and cross-cultural understanding.
Liz grew up in the Quad Cities and attended St. Ambrose University, where she earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees. But, much of her education occurred across the globe—from Sweden, where she studied as a Rotary Exchange student in high school, to Spain, where she taught English. And, now, as Augustana’s lead global recruiter, she regularly fills all of the pages of her passport within just a couple of years. We are delighted to welcome Liz Nino.
Questions
- You are not the typical admissions professional who comes to the profession through serving as a tour guide or student worker. Can you tell us a little bit about your professional journey and how you found your way to working in admissions at Augustana College? Follow up: What attracted you to working in admissions?
- Augustana is not necessarily a place that one might think of when it comes to being a destination for international students. The college isn’t in a large city. It’s not on either coast. And, it’s predominantly an undergraduate institution. How in the world have you grown international enrollment to comprise nearly 20% of Augustana’s enrollment? Is there a formula for what you’ve been able to accomplish?
- Are small colleges a viable option for international students? And, if so, what are some of the resources that need to be in place in order to meet with success? Do you have any lessons you’ve learned from your work at Augustana?
- Many small colleges across the country specialize in the liberal arts, but most of the world doesn’t have much experience with liberal arts education. How have you handled that special challenge, and what advice do you have for others to help provide some clarity around describing what liberal arts colleges do?
- The world of international student recruitment has changed considerably over the course of the last decade. There’s greater acceptance of working with agents. There are new ways to connect with international students virtually. There are direct admit programs that are now emerging. There are many more international alumni (and non-international alumni) representing colleges abroad. Which of those changes and others do you view as the most impactful?
- The US has more than 1 million international students studying in the US right now. There’s been concern expressed about the current political climate and the need for those trends to continue. I know you just returned from Central America, and your teammate is currently traveling in Asia and Africa. What have you learned and heard during your travels about the perceived value of studying in the US? Has it changed considerably? And, what trends are you watching right now?
If you'd like to learn more about Small College America, go to our LinkedIn site, where you can find details on upcoming episodes, contact us, and suggest topics you’d like us to cover." This episode of Small College America is made possible with underwriting support from Perspective Data Science, a firm specializing in AI-powered tools and data solutions, including the Financial Compass platform.
For Small College America, I’m Kent Barnds. On behalf of our guest, Liz Nino, my co-host Dean Hoke, and myself—thanks for listening.
