Acting Director, Undergraduate International Admission
Phone: (312) 362-6521
khowar25@depaul.edu
Hometown:
North Vernon, Indiana
College Degrees:
BA in Political Science and Humanities, Valparaiso University (Valparaiso, Ind.)
MA in Intercultural Communication, Anglia Ruskin University (Cambridge, United Kingdom)
My recruitment areas:
Middle East, Asia and Oceania
What has been the most rewarding part of
working in international admission at DePaul University?
I truly enjoy having an opportunity to make personal
connections with the students I help. As a former international student, I know
how hard it can be to navigate an application process from another country. I
also know that having a dependable person to contact can make all the
difference. I love being that person for my students.
What piece of advice would you give an international
student who is beginning the university search process?
Keep an open mind! There are about 4,000 colleges and
universities in the US, and they all offer something different for their
students. Make a list of the things that are most important to you when it
comes to choosing a school and get this information for every place you apply.
If you know that a school ticks all of these boxes, it is much more likely you
will be happy and successful when you are there.
What is your favorite thing about living in
the city of Chicago?
It feels like a big small town! I have traveled to dozens of
different countries, and Chicago is still my favorite city. Since I grew up in
a very small town in the countryside, I love that Chicago feels friendly and
familiar while still offering all of the amazing opportunities of being in the
3rd-largest city in the US. You really do get the best of both
worlds!
If an international student is curious but
unsure about attending college in a city as large as Chicago, what would you
tell them?
Studying in a big city is definitely a different experience
than being at a campus in a small town. One of the great things about being in
Chicago is that you have unlimited opportunities to expand your horizons. You are
exposed to cultures from all over the world and can get professional experience
at some of the largest companies in the US, all while getting your degree in
one of the most exciting and vibrant cities. If you are not familiar with being
in a big city, Chicago is actually very manageable and easy to navigate. It
will quickly come to feel like home!