The Graduate School has named Dean Tsantir as director of admissions, beginning June 9. Tsantir, who brings strong expertise in international recruitment and electronic application systems, was selected after a national search.

"In the coming year, one of our priorities is implementing the transition to electronic applications for graduate education across the University," said Gail Dubrow, vice provost and dean of the Graduate School. "Dean Tsantir's background in communication technology will be a key asset in making improvements to the system that increase its usefulness on the Duluth, Rochester, and Twin Cities campuses."

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 individual college faculty and staff, admits approximately 4,600 students to 132 academic programs.

As assistant to the director for the past year, Tsantir has worked extensively with the Apply Yourself online application system, represented the admissions office on a number of University committees and task forces, and recruited in India.

Before coming to the Graduate School, Tsantir worked with student service and recruitment at International Student and Scholar Services on the Twin Cities campus, one of the top such offices in the nation.

After earning his B.A. in communication at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, Tsantir worked two years for the Japanese Board of Education in Chiba City, Japan, an experience that broadened his international perspective and solidified his interest in the field of international education. From Japan, he applied for graduate school and earned an M.A. in comparative and international development education at the University of Minnesota, with research focusing on the emerging field of international recruitment.

"Recruiting and retaining the most diverse and talented graduate student body possible--domestically and globally--to meet the challenges of this century is a major goal for the University," said Tsantir. "I look forward to working with the graduate education community and with the staff across the Graduate School on the challenges and opportunities ahead of us."

Tsantir will succeed Andrea Scott, who retires June 6 after a career of distinguished service in graduate admissions at the University of Minnesota. Scott led the Graduate School through a period that included the debut of the Apply Yourself electronic application system, the onset of international recruitment in the competitive higher education environment that emerged after 2001, and the emergence of the admissions office as a national leader in graduate admissions.

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

Tsantir's appointment was announced at an Office of Admissions meeting last week. Left to right: Milly Richter, Bill Swisher, Andy Lucas, current director Andrea Scott, Dean Tsantir, Barb Sivanich, Laurie Hoppe, and Stephanie Palumbo. Photo by Photo by Mike Rollefson.