Admissions Staff
Will Bell |
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| Title | Associate Director of Admissions |
| wbell@shepherd.edu ( Email ) | |
| Phone | 304-876-5427 |
| What’s the best advice you would give to an incoming student? It’s OK to not know what you want to major in or what you want to do. You don’t have to have everything figured out when you get to college or when you leave it. Have fun, get involved, and enjoy your experience. What Harry Potter House are you in? What’s a Harry Potter House? What’s one TV show or movie that you’ll stop and watch every time it’s on? I enjoy watching sports so I’ll watch most any baseball and NFL or college football game. Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, and Seinfeld are some of my favorite shows; I’ll always watch them if they’re on. |
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Kahlen Browning |
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| Title | Admissions Counselor |
| KBROWNIN@shepherd.edu ( Email ) | |
| Phone | 304-876-5514 |
| What’s the best advice you would give to an incoming student? Do something you never would have dreamed of doing! Get out of your comfort zone and enjoy your time to the fullest! Visit places you have never been and make connections with as many people as possible. If you could have one superpower, which would you choose? My superpower would be the ability to speak and understand any language instantly! No matter where I visit, I would always be able to communicate with others. What’s one TV show or movie that you’ll stop and watch every time it’s on? Beetlejuice! I have loved this movie since I was a baby. I have absolutely no idea why I love it so much, but I probably end up watching it a couple times a month. I’m also extremely excited that they made it into a Broadway play that kept all the amazing parts of the original movie! |
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Yee Lea Cho |
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| Title | Assistant Director of Admissions |
| ycho02@shepherd.edu ( Email ) | |
| Phone | 304-876-5356 |
| What’s the best advice you would give to an incoming student? Ask ALL the questions. There are so many opportunities and resources that exist just to serve you so don’t be afraid to speak up – you may never know if you don’t ask. Do you collect anything? If so, what? Postcards! I love antique/thrift store finds and collecting them from my travels. With an unlimited budget, where would your next vacation be? Iceland, hands down. I’ve only visited once but would go back in a heartbeat. The food is expensive so I’d need an unlimited budget. |
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Catherine Ellzey |
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| Title | Admissions Counselor |
| cellzey@shepherd.edu ( Email ) | |
| Phone | 304-876-5718 |
| With an unlimited budget, where would your next vacation be? I think I would go to the Bahamas during the coolers months of November-March. I love the idea of beaches, white sands and clear, blue water, but the sun and I don’t get along well. I’d go during the cooler months when the average high is low 80s and stay all winter long! What’s one TV shoe or movie that you’ll stop and watch every time it’s on? National Treasure. I cannot explain how much I love both National Treasure movies. If I find out someone hasn’t seen either movie, I will stop what I’m doing and immediately make them watch at least the first one. I’m still waiting on that third movie! What is something that you think everyone should do at least once in their lives? Everyone should do one thing that absolutely terrifies them at least once. It’s a great confidence booster to conquer your fears and realize you’re stronger than you thought you were. Recently, I went indoor skydiving, and it was a blast. I conquered my fear of falling and heights and I proved I could do anything I set my mind to. |
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Lauryn Fridley |
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| Title | Admissions Counselor |
| What’s the best advice you would give to an incoming student? The best advice that I could give to an incoming student is to be yourself and try everything. I made it an effort to get involved on campus right away, and I met some of the greatest people in my life that I will cherish forever. Getting involved and trying new things on campus will help you gain confidence and make your college experience the best years of your life. College is not just about academics, it’s also about the experiences you create and the people you meet along the way. With an unlimited budget, where would your next vacation be? I think my next vacation would be Europe! I would absolutely love to visit the iconic monuments and landmarks. From eating pasta in Italy, waffles in Belgium, and fondue in Switzerland, Europe has so much to offer! You get the best of both worlds by having beautiful beaches to walk on and snowy mountains to climb up. I am also a big fan of the Olympics, so I would love to tour ancient Greece and see where the first games were held, and maybe take a trip down to Santorini. With an unlimited budget, I really don’t see myself coming back! What’s one TV show or movie that you’ll stop and watch every time it’s on? One TV show that I will always watch no matter what is, The Office! I know it’s one of the most popular shows, but it is definitely one of my favorites. I have watched the whole show all the way through at least four times and I have no shame in saying that! I even have a Dwight bobblehead on my desk that I received as a gift from one of my former bosses. If you were turn on any episode of the show, I could most likely give you the story plot and the season it comes from. The Office got me through some pretty stressful times in college, and it’s still a show that I will always turn on to this day! |
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Jessica Gill |
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| Title | Admissions Counselor |
| jgill@shepherd.edu ( Email ) | |
| Phone | 304-876-5190 |
| What are you most looking forward to in the next 10 years? I am looking forward to getting my Master’s Degree in higher education and continuing to work with students. Outside of my education and professional goals, I have always wanted to own chickens, so hopefully I will have a farm with chickens by then as well. What is something that you think everyone should do at least once in their lives? Travel outside of the country. Even if it is only to Canada or all the way to Australia, I feel like traveling is an education in itself. It is a way to learn about other cultures and open your eyes to how people just like us function and live in different parts of the world. What’s the best advice you would give to an incoming student? Enjoy every moment. You do not need to know every answer to your life now, but once you graduate, you will not get this time back. Focus on your studies, but take time to explore and meet new people or try new hobbies. This is the time to find yourself. |
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Courtney Hayes |
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| Title | Program Assistant |
| ghayes@shepherd.edu ( Email ) | |
| Phone | 304-876-5212 |
| What’s the best advice you would give to an incoming student? Don’t ever limit yourself to doing just one thing. School isn’t just about getting a diploma to get a job, it is about learning HOW to learn and discovering how to use your talents to the best of your ability. With an unlimited budget, where would your next vacation be? My next vacation would definitely be Hawaii. I lived there when I was a kid and absolutely loved it! I have always wanted to go back, but not really sure if I would come back if I did… What’s one TV show or movie that you’ll stop and watch every time it’s on? Golden Girls is my all-time favorite show! I have seen every single episode and will watch it anytime I see it on TV. |
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Siriki Diabate |
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| Title | International Recruiter & Admissions Counselor |
| sdiabate@shepherd.edu ( Email ) | |
| Phone | 304-876-5805 |
| Siriki Diabate is the International Admissions Officer and Recruiter. He graduated from Shepherd with a BS in Political Science/concentration in International Studies (2014), and an MBA in 2016. While at Shepherd, Siriki was an active student leader serving as the president of the International Student Union. He was also selected to represent Shepherd at the West Virginia Legislature via the Frassue-Singleton Internship Program. While at Shepherd, Siriki worked closely with the TRIO program and with the Department of Political Science to arrange campus visits with ambassadors from various West African countries. Siriki is currently pursuing his doctoral degree in Strategic Leadership from Regent University. | |
Barbara Kandalis |
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| Title | Coordinator of Dual Enrollment |
| bkandali@shepherd.edu ( Email ) | |
| Office | Enrollment Management |
Beth Thomas |
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| Title | Regents Bachelor of Arts Coordinator |
| bthomas@shepherd.edu ( Email ) | |
| Phone | 304-876-5725 |
Kristen Lorenz |
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| Title | Director of Admissions |
| klorenz@shepherd.edu ( Email ) | |
| Phone | 304-876-5212 |