Director of the International Office and International Student Advisor Judy Mackenzie is leaving Dartmouth at the end of Spring term.
Mackenzie has been head of the International Office since its founding in 1987. The office provides services to international undergraduates, graduate students and their families.
She will be moving to Seattle, Wash. where her husband, who is currently the senior pastor of the Church of Christ at Dartmouth, has accepted a new position.
"It is time for someone else to do what I have been doing," Mackenzie said. "I have been in the office since 1987 and I feel it is time for a new challenge."
Senior Associate Dean of the College Dan Nelson said Mackenzie will be difficult to replace.
She "was the founder of the office so it will be quite a loss," Nelson said.
"She has an amazing capacity to communicate to the students that she cares," he said.
"Mackenzie has been extremely effective in helping Dartmouth as a community to appreciate all that the international students have to offer," he said.
Nelson recently sent out a letter announcing that Mackenzie was leaving and saying the College is currently searching for Mackenzie's successor.
"We are looking for somebody who has experience working with international students in a college setting and is familiar with the governmental regulations involved," Nelson said.
He said he hopes to fill the position by early this summer.
The office handles all of the government regulations involving immigration and provides "one-on-one advising and counseling of students," Mackenzie said.
There are currently 410 international undergraduates and graduate students at Dartmouth, representing 70 different countries, she said.
Mackenzie also oversees Brewster Hall, the international student house.
The International Student Office runs programs such as the host family program, which matches international students with local families, and orientations to help international students adjust.
The office also helps students who wish to stay in the United States after graduation.
According to a job description published in the classified section of Monday's Valley News, preferred qualifications for a new director include a masters degree with four to five years of administrative experience in an academic setting involving advising and counseling on international student and scholar issues.
International students said they appreciated Mackenzie's assistance.
She "was very helpful. She helped me call my parents from her office as soon as I got here," said Karin Lewis, a freshman from Brazil.
"She's been very helpful and knowledgeable," said Canadian Alexandra Reitman '98.
