Aces of Trades: A calling brought Valerie Smith back to Muskingum University
NEW CONCORD – “I grew up in the Akron/Canton area and I was a bossy little thing,” joked Valerie Smith.
“After high school,” she said, “I attended Muskingum University to pursue my goal of becoming an accountant. I had no idea what a transformative experience I would have. I made friends with the girls on my floor, including an international student from Poland. She introduced me to so many other international students and I began to learn more about their cultures.
“At the end of my second year at Muskingum,” Smith added, “I realized accounting was not a field that fit my skills and personality. I thrived on human interaction and helping others. I looked at switching to a business degree and realized that because I had been learning Spanish, I could study international business. I had no idea what I was going to do with the degree, but I was ahead in my classes and realized that I could graduate a year early if I did a faculty-led study abroad program at the end of my third year.
“I entered my third year at Muskingum,” she continued, “and was talking to David Purnell, the director of the international programs office. He told me the next step would be to go to graduate school to study college student personnel. Under his guidance, I was accepted as a graduate assistant at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.”
But first, she studied and travelled abroad. She came back to complete her degree at Ball State, then took a job at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania.
“I received top-notch training on how to do diversity and intercultural training,” she said. “I thought I would be at Lehigh forever. Until David Purnell called me. He was leaving Muskingum University and wanted to know if I was interested in applying for the assistant director of international programs position. I loved Lehigh, but I felt called to return to Muskingum. I’m a Christian and I believe God wanted me at Muskingum.”
Smith began working at Muskingum in January 2003. She’s now the school’s director of international programs. And she returned to school to pursue a doctorate in higher education administration through the University of Liverpool’s (UK) online program.
“Over the years, I’ve watched Valerie welcome hundreds of international students from all over the world,” said Katie Pozzuoli, a former Muskingum student who worked for the international programs office for a time. “She has been a surrogate mother, friend and leader to countless students who have made Muskingum their home. In addition, Valerie has been a strong advocate for American students to expand their worldview through events on campus and study abroad opportunities. Muskingum is a small university in a tiny little town, but it’s a diverse, international community in large part because of Valerie’s work."
“While I never could have predicted this to be my career,” Smith responded, “it matches my passion perfectly. I’m able to serve and be an advocate, which is especially rewarding. Every day is different and there are always opportunities to grow and develop professionally. I get to continue learning about other cultures, encouraging students to discover their own strengths through study abroad programs and guiding international students as they transition to life and studies in the US.
“I’m so fortunate,” she concluded, “to have the best job at Muskingum.”
For more information about Muskingum University, log on www.muskingum.edu.
Aces of Trades is a weekly series focusing on people and their jobs – whether they’re unusual jobs, fun jobs or people who take ordinary jobs and make them extraordinary. If you have a suggestion for a future profile, let us know at trnews@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com.
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: A calling brought Valerie Smith back to Muskingum University
