Admissions office announces new hires

Western Washington University’s Office of Admissions has some new faces joining the team this fall to welcome prospective students and their families to learn more about Western.

Kayle Walls (spring 2009 WWU grad) and Erin Jensen (spring 2008 WWU grad) were hired as full-time admissions counselors this summer. Aside from general counselor duties and program planning, Walls will focus on building a network of faculty, student and alumni volunteers to help support recruitment efforts and will oversee the Student Admissions Representative program. Jensen, who has been working as a temporary advisor for the past year, will play an important role on the communication team working on publications about Western going out to the community.

Jessica Shasserre also was selected from the admissions counselor search to join the office. She has worked in the field of admissions for the past three years at Maryville University of Saint Louis, and before that she was in marketing. Shasserre will oversee and coordinate all communications and publications efforts in the office, replacing longtime admissions staffer Marina Shaughnessy, who will be leaving at the end of October.

Jose Rodriguez, a WWU graduate who also attended Wenatchee Valley College and Whatcom Community College, has accepted a one-year position as an admissions advisor. In addition to participating in general admissions outreach efforts, he will be focusing on Multicultural and Latino Outreach recruitment, including an extra effort in Whatcom and Skagit counties.

This summer’s hiring has helped to fill out the admissions team after tremendous staff turnover in the past 12 months, with Michael Barr, Alina Brown, Lucy Cantu, Sam Kelly and Jesse Moore all moving on to new opportunities.

For more information, contact Alex Allyne at ext. 3441 or alex.allyne@wwu.edu.