Office of International Education Newsletter ISSUE 1, SEPTEMBER 2018
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I am very excited for the opportunity to put my experience and vision to work for Kennedy Catholic.
Dear Kennedy Catholic international students/families, host families, and agents, My name is Mariko Fujiwara. I am the new Director for the Office of International Education (IE). I joined Kennedy Catholic in July after serving 21 years at Highline College as Director of International Student Programs. During that time, the program grew from 90 international students to 600 students representing over 40 different countries. The program evolved over time and had many challenges. Through those challenges, I gained experience and developed expertise with student services, instructional practices, outreach, and international business development. As an international student in Asia, the United States, and Europe, I understand full well, the role of an IE office from a global perspective and how best practices can effectively serve our international community. I am very excited for the opportunity to put my experience and vision to work for Kennedy Catholic. During the 2017-2018 school year, I
had an opportunity to serve as an advisor to Mike Prato, President of Kennedy Catholic High School. I worked closely with him and his leadership team to respond to the current strategic plan (2020 Vision) and the 5-year school improvement plans as they relate to Goal Four, (cultivating a robust, dynamic, and globally diverse student population). President Prato has commissioned our team to apply this goal to our international market. To meet the expectations of the institution, I assisted in evaluating and restructuring the International Program at Kennedy Catholic. As a result, Kennedy Catholic High School has created the “Office of International Education.” We have developed an international plan which we believe will open doors for students, staff, faculty, and the community. Sincerely, Mariko Fujiwara, Director Office of International Education Kennedy Catholic High School For full letter, click here