Campbellsville University international student, Center for International Education instrumental in bringing new employer to Taylor County
July 9th, 2008
Campbellsville University student Yoo Jin (Eugene) Lee (3rd from left) and CU staff.
By Linda Waggener, CU Communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Ron McMahan, director of Team Taylor County, made a call to Campbellsville University’s Center for International Education after he confirmed a site visit by a Korean auto parts manufacturer. The result of that call may have been a key contributing factor to INFAC Corporation’s decision to locate in Campbellsville.
When McMahan made the call, he hoped for assistance with protocol. What he got was CU student Yoo Jin (Eugene) Lee, who was happy to act as translator and aid in communications with the guests.
Campbellsville University president Dr. Michael V. Carter said that this is a prime example of CU and the community working together to help advance economic opportunity and quality of life.
“This is another example of how Campbellsville University impacts our community and region and how we in turn benefit from the close working relationship we feel with our community leaders and residents,” said Carter. “The world has literally come to Campbellsville University as well as to our larger community. We’re thankful that our faculty, staff, and students are very much involved in the betterment of this fine community.”
Ohe Gil Choi, CEO and chairman of INFAC Corporation, has said Yoo Jin Lee helped him to better understand Campbellsville. It turned out that the CU student’s father lives near the INFAC Corporate headquarters in Korea.
“Eugene was very helpful,” McMahan said, “I credit her assistance with helping close the deal.”
McMahan said that Jay Choi, director of North America operations for INFAC Corporation, said they felt safe here. INFAC has since asked the CU International Office for assistance with interpreters, student interns and locating a full-time Korean speaking employee.
The CU Center for International Education’s director Bill Holmes said, “We are proud to help in any way - this is part of the process of community learning. I want people to know that I see the CIE as a service, most directly to the university, but also a service to the community and region. Opportunities for our international students to be involved outside the campus are very helpful in making them feel accepted and more at home.”
Yoo Jin (Eugene) Lee is a senior majoring in music with an arts minor from Seoul, South Korea. She noted that this was a great opportunity for an international student to represent the university and the local community and connect with her home country.
“It was a great time to meet with and help people from my country,” Lee said, “I hope it helped them to know more good things about Campbellsville.”
For more information about the Office of International Education at Campbellsville University, contact Bill Holmes, director, at (270) 789-5051.