WWCC Spotlight: Cheryl Hansen

You are here:

Home
faculty-staff
WWCC Spotlight: Cheryl Hansen

Who?

Cheryl Hansen, Director of International Programs. At WWCC since 2018.

Most important part of the job?

I attract international students to come study here, and support them so they progress and complete their degrees. I have the great honor of interacting with students from all over the world and helping them pursue their education. I also work with domestic students who are interested in studying, working, or interning abroad. Currently we have 21 international students representing 12 different countries studying here.

Biggest challenge?

Building the program here and enhancing the awareness of WWCC around the world. I hope to have 100 international students here in five years’ time. Once they are here I help the students with anything that happens to them while they are away from home. Often these are routine things, but in the past when I worked at other colleges I’ve had to deal with students being ill, or in jail, and even dying.

People should know?

I want people to get excited about the opportunity to get to know our students and learn about their countries and cultures. We’re starting a Friends and Family program to connect people in the community with our international students, and a “conversation table” program where our students will have the chance to improve their English skills. We’d also like to have some of our students speak to local civic organizations. Our students are a great resource of first-hand knowledge about current events in their home countries, and I hope members of the community will take advantage of that.

Surprising things?

I’ve been to 40 countries and all seven continents. I lived in Brazil and speak Portuguese. While there I worked on a chicken ranch and I sold chickens to gold and emerald miners. It was a really rough area where emeralds were traded right on the street and the men all had pistols in their pockets.

Community activities?

I’m a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood Chapter in Pullman and hope to transfer my membership to a Walla Walla chapter. P.E.O. Sisterhood is a philanthropic organization where women celebrate the advancement of women and motivate women to achieve their highest aspirations.