Waitsburg Native Inspires WSU Students

WSU's Global Services Director, Cheryl Hansen, reflects on her journey from Waitsburg to the world

The following is adapted from a speech recently given by former Waitsburg resident Cheryl Hansen, who is the Director of Global Services at Washington State University. Cheryl, daughter of Geraine and the late Jim Hansen, addressed college students at a recent professional sharing night, describing how she, a small-town girl from eastern Washington became interested in the world and ended up working, living, and experiencing life in 40 countries. Italicized portions are taken directly from Hansen's speech.

Hansen said curiosity and a thirst for knowledge were instilled in her at an early age.

It started with my parents. My dad was a WWII veteran and came home after the war in Europe to take over the family farm. After he and my mom had all of their six kids at least in middle school, he decided he wanted to understand the farming practices around the world; how wheat in the Pampas of Argentina compared to Washington hard red winter wheat which is used for yeast breads, hard rolls, and bagels, how the Maasai people in southern Kenya built fences for their cattle, or how the bakers in Japan milled the hard white wheat which originated in the Pacific Northwest to make Asian noodles.

Over the next 32 years her parents traveled to 56 countries and welcomed many international visitors into their home. At age 12, Cheryl made her first overseas trip to Spain, alone with her 15-year-old sister Mary, to bring home another sister for their brother's wedding. The girls navigated themselves to Spain and back, with handwritten instructions from their mother, at the time that Francisco Franco died and Spain was breaking free of dictatorship.

During high school, Hansen participated in a two-week exchange program outside Tokyo, and realized that she wanted to study abroad.

I saved money from my summer harvest jobs, worked on campus throughout college, and when I graduated from the University of Washington, I went to Europe. In September 1985, I spent the next 11 months backpacking through 10 European countries, spending five months as an au pair taking care of three young Spanish girls and teaching them English. They liked having an American instead of their usual British nannies. I also picked up odd English-teaching jobs, took intensive Spanish lessons on the side, and met some wonderful people. . .

Hansen returned to the U.S. and worked for two years as a student activities coordinator at Cottey College in Nevada before taking an opportunity to travel to Brazil, where she raised poultry to sell to miners.

I was the only North American within a 200+ mile radius witnessing the miserable living conditions that miners had in plastic-lined huts, earning $1.50 a day to unearth gold and emeralds. A year later I took an English teaching position in the city of Goiania.

In 1991 I was admitted to Oregon State University in the graduate program, College Student Services Administration. I obtained an assistantship in the Office of International Education where I received my foundation in helping international students and scholars.

Over the next 20 years Hansen worked as Director of International Programs at two Washington State community colleges, was Director of International Admission at two universities, and worked with Washington State's International Trade Office overseeing the education portfolio and helping higher learning institutions promote their programs to overseas markets. These positions took her to Turkey, South Korea, Hong Kong, Norway, Thailand, China, Germany, India, Sweden, Mexico, and many other countries.

Another career highlight included the opportunity to work in Antarctica -- the harshest, driest, coldest place on earth at the bottom of the world, in two of the three U.S. research stations. In 1999-2001, I supported scientists and their research for one austral summer at the South Pole Station, and two winters at Palmer Station on the Antarctic Peninsula. I worked with other Americans and international scientists, who, like myself, had been to six continents, and Antarctica made the seventh.

I was curious about the few women who were at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station when I was there and interviewed nine of the 43 to tell their story. It was printed in the Antarctic Sun, and I'm told it was the most-read issue ever.

Throughout her speech, Hansen encouraged her young listeners to open their arms to opportunity, take chances, and develop relationships.

Actively participate, get engaged every day, this is your life. Do one-percent more than you did the day before and you'll be amazed at how rich your life experiences will be and how many others you will impact.

My career working in international education is still evolving, ever-changing as the world changes. It's been a pleasure being here tonight and sharing with you how important being curious, seizing opportunities, and actively participating in my life helped me get to where I am today.

Through her position at WSU Hansen provides leadership and vision in the development and implementation of the university's programs, services and policies. She also provides strategic direction to staff who manage all immigration processing.