The Graduate School admissions office has named Jim Rowan as assistant director, beginning August 18. Rowan--who brings more than 20 years of experience in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions on the Twin Cities campus--will be involved in domestic and international graduate student recruitment, transcript and credential evaluation, international student visa processing, and external relations.

"Our top priority in the graduate admissions office is to provide outstanding service to students, faculty, and staff throughout the University and beyond," said director of admissions Dean Tsantir. "Jim's exemplary record will ensure that we maintain this high level of service. Another one of our main goals in the near future is the transition to a more paperless workflow using digital imaging technology. Jim's practical knowledge in this area will be a major contribution."

The University of Minnesota is both a national and global leader in graduate education and one of the top producers of doctoral degrees in the United States. The office of admissions in the Graduate School receives more than 13,000 applications a year from nearly every country in the world and, working closely with faculty and staff in colleges on the Twin Cities, Duluth, and Rochester campuses, admits approximately 4,000 students to 135 graduate programs.

As senior assistant director in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Rowan's most recent role was to lead the international student admissions unit, including admission decisions, credential evaluation, and advising. Rowan also served on multiple task forces and represented the University abroad.

Rowan earned a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in scientific and technical communication from the University of Minnesota.

Leadership of the Graduate School's Office of Admissions changed this summer, when long-time director Andrea Scott retired and Dean Tsantir was appointed to the post after a national search.

The Graduate School, established in 1905, offers more than 140 majors through programs on the Twin Cities, Duluth, and Rochester campuses, and awards more than 700 doctoral and nearly 2,000 master's degrees each year. It is part of the University's Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost, with central offices located on the Twin Cities campus.

--Gayla Marty