Jon Booth, Syracuse University's deputy director of the Division of International Programs Abroad (DIPA), has been appointed interim executive director of DIPA. Booth succeeds Nirelle Galson, who will devote her attention exclusively to creating a strategic development plan for DIPA, which will include coordinating the DIPA Advisory Board. These changes, announced Nov. 15 by Vice Chancellor and Provost Deborah A. Freund, will allow DIPA to better integrate the academic strengths of its programming across the University.
Booth has served as DIPA's deputy director for 12 years and was the director of the University of Minnesota's foreign study program before coming to Syracuse. As deputy director, Booth has acquired a comprehensive understanding of the complex DIPA organization, which has allowed him to efficiently resolve a number of critical situations. "Jon is eminently well-qualified for this position," says David C. Smith, vice president for Enrollment Management. "He is well known and well regarded on campus and is an excellent choice to succeed Nirelle." Booth will report to Smith through Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management Donald Saleh.
Galson assumes her new responsibilities after serving as DIPA executive director since 1993. During that time, she helped the division achieve a national reputation as a model overseas study program. "Nirelle has served the University with distinction for her entire career," says Freund. "We're all greatly indebted to her for the outstanding work she's done at DIPA to establish this nationally-recognized program."
As interim director, Booth will work with a team assembled by Smith to develop a new administrative structure for DIPA. The new structure will ensure that DIPA programming is driven by the strengths of SU's faculty and on-campus academic programs. "We're taking these measures so that DIPA can become a more integral part of our academic culture," says Freund. The team also will develop a marketing strategy targeting SU and non-SU students, establish a comprehensive approach to evaluating prospective DIPA venues, and re-examine pricing and financial aid policies.
The restructuring is intended to help DIPA build on its reputation as one of the nation's premier study abroad programs in light of changing student demands. DIPA, recognized in recent years by U.S. News & World Report as the "Cadillac of American study abroad programs," has five centers around the world. The program has doubled its annual enrollment since 1986 to an average of nearly 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students per year.
