Central Methodist University’s new director of global engagement and assistant dean for international student services has a wealth of experience in the field, as both a student and a university employee. Xiaobin Dai joined the Central staff last week after making the move from Iowa Wesleyan University, where she worked in a similar role.
Dai’s experience in education goes all the way back to her native country of China, where she became an English teacher after graduating from college. She went on to consult for students who wished to study abroad in the United States, Australia, Canada, and other countries, “and then I just never stopped working in international education,” she says.
Since arriving in the U.S., Dai has held a number of jobs at all levels of education. She taught Chinese for the Toledo (Ohio) Public School District as part of the distance learning program, teaching in-person at one high school and being streamed to five others at the same time. She then went on to become the district’s assistant principal of curriculum before moving on to Iowa Wesleyan.
Now that she’s arrived at Central, Dai says she is happy to be in an environment with such nice people and a strong product to offer to students.
“After I applied and started to do some research about CMU, I started to learn about its academic programs and I thought, ‘Wow, it’s rich,’” she said. “If we could turn these academic programs into dollars, we’d all be billionaires.”
Other than recruiting international students to take part in Central’s strong academic programs, Dai’s work will involve providing assistance for domestic students to study abroad, maintaining compliance with immigration regulation, and helping international students learn about their new environment in Fayette.
Outside of work, Dai and her husband, Dong Han – who recently began work in the admissions office as well – have three children and reside in Columbia. They are avid travelers and look forward to getting to know their new home in Missouri. Dai is also working toward a doctorate from Bowling Green State University and expects to complete the degree this summer.