Kathryn DeCecco Goes Extra Mile to Welcome International Students at Niagara University
As assistant director of international student services at Niagara University’s Edward A. Brennan Center for Language, Culture and Leadership, Kathryn DeCecco works with students from all over the world, providing each the necessary tools to succeed in a new country and at Niagara.
The university’s efforts this past year have resulted in a 25 percent increase in its international student population. Now, students from at least 40 countries attend Niagara University. Long before xenophobic sentiments and conditions made it more difficult for non-Americans to obtain visas, the Rev. James J. Maher, Niagara’s president, made it a priority to internationalize the campus for the benefit of all students.
“Our office is set up to support international students,” explained DeCecco. “My specific position provides support for international exchange and degree-seeking students – including academic, personal and logistical support.”