Jamie loves meeting new students and helping them through the process of applying. Seeing their ambition upon first introduction is his favourite thing about recruiting for Guelph.
He loves the supportive environment at UofG. Being highly ranked in student satisfaction means our students are comfortable and very happy to be studying at the University, according to Jamie.
Ask Jamie about Guelph and his pet, he can make his dog sing!
Contact:
Email: latam@uoguelph.ca
Extension: +57 315 243 5182
Ernest Damalie
International Recruitment & Admissions Officer
Ernest sincerely believes that the U of G’s “Improve Life” motto works like magic.
Words can’t express how much he loves U of G’s campus, its inclusive community and safe environment. He will also tell you that Canada, and its multicultural spirit, offers you so many opportunities to explore and work. That could be why Ernest has adventured here, himself, from Ghana.
Ernest finds that being on the road has proven, over and over again, that the greatest satisfaction is the smiles and joy he witnesses from the students and their families. As Theodore Roosevelt said, “nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” This quote fuels his passion for recruitment.
Ask him, and he just might sing to you about the U of G!
Education:
University of Ghana, Bachelor of Science, Agriculture in Agri-Business
University of Guelph, Master of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics with International Development
Regional Operations Manager, Middle East and South Asia
Jimmi is our Regional Operations Manager, Middle East and South Asia (ROMMES). Student recruitment is something Jimmi is very familiar with, and we are extremely excited to welcome him to the International team. When speaking to the U of G, he can’t speak highly enough about the community – that is crucial in the integrity process. He’ll also chime in about the food here, so be sure to ask him about that.
Speaking of food, this is something he also looks forward to when on the road. He sees the culinary explorations, along with connecting with other international recruiters, as a privilege. As an international student himself throughout his undergrad (and having been to almost 50 countries), he can sincerely speak to what it means to come to another country to explore academic options. He knows you, and your parents, will find this very helpful.
Coming from Sweden, you know he’s a soccer aficionado. He even played semi-professionally in Europe! In addition, you might even find him singing as he continues his travels throughout the world.
Education:
Hawaii Pacific University, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
Gothenburg University, Master of Arts in Spanish Philology
International Recruitment & Admissions Coordinator
Priyanka Jhanjee is our International Recruitment & Admissions Coordinator. She is an enthusiastic, motivated, and accomplished admissions professional and adept at operations management, office support, and student relations.
Priyanka was born in New Delhi, India, and came to Canada with her husband as a first-generation immigrant, which she now calls ''home'' because of its diverse cultures and has lived in different parts of this beautiful country. She has a genuine passion for students and being able to guide them through the application and admission process, and overall being able to make a positive impact on student’s lives. She has been awarded the “Quality People at Work” appreciation award for her exceptional service delivery.
Outside of work, she enjoys Fall season, long walks, travelling, and exploring other parts of the world.
Education:
Advanced Project Management Certificate, Seneca College, ON - 2012
Post Graduate Diploma – Public Relations, Delhi, India - 1999
University of Delhi, Bachelor of Arts – English Literature, Delhi, India - 1998
International Recruitment & Admissions Coordinator
Meet Lesley! Though she doesn’t travel around the world, she recruits and admits international students from the comfort of her office. She likes to think of herself as “mission control” – which is very true.
In fact, her favorite part of her job is in September when the international students arrive. She finally gets to meet the students she has been in contact with throughout the year, and introduce them to the welcoming community at U of G.
Growing up in the United Kingdom, she came to Canada when she was 18 and never left. She is still a fan of Manchester United and Coronation Street, but she loves that Canadians embrace the four seasons, even in the cold. Just be sure to bring a warm jacket!
Astrid has worked in undergraduate recruitment and admissions for nearly 10 years and has stuck with it because she finds educating, encouraging and supporting prospective students very rewarding. She loves watching students grow both personally and academically during their time on campus and seeing them cross the stage to accept their degree during convocation.
Astrid is originally from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and moved to Ontario as a permanent resident when she was 14 where she went through the English as a Second Language Program, as English is her third language.
While Astrid tries to visit Bosnia as often as possible, she loves calling Canada “home” because of the many opportunities to explore various landscapes and cultures.
Education:
Western University, Bachelor of Arts, Sociology and Political Science
Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning, Post-Graduate Certificate, Human Resources Management
Meet Stuart, our Africa Regional Representative. His favourite thing about the U of G is the sense of community and diversity as well as the unique course offerings in the areas of Agriculture and Food Science and Technology!
Stuart has traveled to over 65 countries with his real passion being the people and commuinities within Africa. His favourite memories of travelling in Africa are the sights, sounds, smells and of course the engaging noises.
When he is not at work, Stuart loves to particiapte in sports including cycling, football, golf, skiing and paddleboarding.
Stuart cannot wait to hear your stories and help you discover your future school!
Education:
Robert Gordon University (Aberdeen – UK) - BA degree in Politics
Robert Gordon University (Aberdeen – UK) - MSc in International Marketing Management
Abhimanyu is a Marketing professional and has experience in Career Counselling, Client Servicing, Coordination & Operations, International Education & Immigration. He holds Bachelor’s in Engineering (Computer Science) and Master’s in Business Administration (Marketing & Finance). Previously he worked as a Regional Representative India for a Canadian College handling India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and markets in South East Asia.
Education:
MBA (Marketing & Finance) from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) -2012-2014
B.E Computer Science Engineering from MIET, Jammu- 2005-2009
Assistant Registrar, International Recruitment & Admissions
Leanne came to the University of Guelph over 10 years ago, and remained because of the caring environment and inspiring students she meets on campus and around the world. Her passion to constantly improve the student experience within international admissions guides the spirit of the amazing team of people that make up International Recruitment and Admissions (IR&A).
As the number of international students from around the globe increases at the U of G, it is her goal to continue to take time to connect with people one-on-one and to find time to learn and grow.
In her free time when she is in Canada, you can find her volunteering and developing rugby programs for youth in Toronto.
Education:
Mount Allison University, Bachelor of Arts, Spanish and Latin American Studies
University of Leeds, Master of Arts, International Education Management
Simon is a well travelled member of our team, having visited more than 60 countries, Latin America remains his favourite with a special affinity for the welcoming culture. He loves Guelph for similar reasons: the strong sense of community and the beautiful campus with amazing food.
He thinks every international applicant should learn more about how UofG balances academic life and student life, an important aspect for student satisfaction.
Simon is an avid sports fan, enjoying everything from golf to running. To put his passion into perspective, he recently ran a 15 kilometer race, at an altitude of 3,000 meters, in the mountains of Colombia.
Education:
University of Greenwich, Degree in Business Administration
Middlesex University, Masters in Marketing Management
Contact:
Email: latam2@uoguelph.ca
Extension: +57 315 417 6571
Amy Van Rensburg
Assistant Manager, International Recruitment
Amy is our Assistant Manager, International Recruitment. Her favourite thing about travelling is experiencing new cultures and learning how people within those cultures celebrate and communicate.
Amy was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, attended high school in Chile and recently moved back to Canada after living in the UK for seven years. Her favourite thing about Canada are the various seasons we experience here. From snowy winters to crisp spring days, and hot summers to leafy beautiful fall days - we experience it all here!
Amy loves the U of G community and finds that help is always available here. She can't wait to meet students from all over the world and hear their stories!
Education:
University of Rhode Island, USA, Bachelor of Arts, History
University of Victoria, Master of Arts, Dispute Resolution
Meet Rei, our newest International Recruitment Officer. His favourite thing about the U of G is our beautiful campus. From morning walks across Johnston Green to lunches in the gardens and strolls through the arboretum, he truly appreciates the lushness of campus and having access to nature every day!
As a previous international student, Rei understands the excitement and uncertainty that comes with pursuing higher education abroad. Through his travels he has had the opportunity to explore Canada and connect with people from all walks of life. He can't wait to chat with you about the beauty of the land and diverse cultures that you will experience when you come to Canada.
When he is not recruiting, you might find Rei experimenting in the kitchen since he believes that food is what brings people together.
Rei is looking forward to hearing your stories and helping you make one of the most important decisions in your life!
Education:
New College - University of Toronto, Bachelor of Science, Psychology and Economics
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Master of Education, Student Services and Student Development stream in Higher Education
Meet one of our International Recruitment Officers, David. He enjoys working in student recruitment because it allows him to help prospective students make a decision that will impact the rest of their lives.
David loves the diversity of the people and the cultures in Canada. He appreciates that as Canadians we are able to hold onto our roots and traditions from all over the globe, while growing and accepting others regardless of race, skin colour or background. When it comes to his feelings about the University of Guelph he says his favourite things are the welcoming people and the beautiful campus.
When David isn't recruiting he enjoys playing sports, cooking and baking! He can't wait to get on the road to meet and connect with all of you future gryphons. While his goal is to educate you about what the University of Guelph has to offer, he has a strong feeling that he'll learn a lot from you all as well!
Education:
Trent University, Bachelor of Business Administration
