Admission Counselors

Admission Counselors

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• Debbie Byrne

  dbyrne@otterbein.edu
  Debbie’s Facebook page

  Recruitment Territory:

  SW Ohio, including Hamilton, Clermont, Warren, Butler, Adams, Brown and Preble counties, Kentucky and Tennessee.

  Education:

  Master of Music, Michigan State University

  Favorite spot on campus:

  Picnic table in front of Clippinger (Admission office building).

  Why I love my job:

  I feel it's a real privilege to be able to facilitate this decision for families. I genuinely am interested in people and no two days are ever alike!

  Advice for the college search:

  Be a great high school student and take the ACT your junior year. Visit many different types of schools, large, small, public, private, close to home and far away. You'll know when a campus feels right.

  What makes Otterbein great:

  Faculty interest in our students is astounding. These academic experts will really enlighten and broaden perspectives for our students, helping them to become responsible, community spirited leaders of tomorrow.

• Teri Devlin

  tdevlin@otterbein.edu
  Teri’s Facebook page

  Recruitment Territory:

  All students in the arts and students from our western states.

  Education:

  B.A. Theatre and Philosophy, Otterbein University; M.F.A. Studies in Theatre, The Ohio State University

  Favorite spot on campus:

  My office and the front of Towers Hall.

  Why I love my job:

  I get to meet wonderful students and families from all over the country.

  Advice for the college search:

  Visit the Campus! Talk to students and professors, eat the food, sit in on classes. Really immerse yourself.

  What makes Otterbein great:

  You can find the support to do all the things that will help you grow a huge frame of reference and abilities.

  Favorite memory as an alumna:

  Graduating and starting Otterbein Summer Theatre one hour later.

  Best way to contact me:

  Whatever method is best for families and students.

• Jarrod Harchalk

  jharchalk@otterbein.edu
  Jarrod's Facebook page

  Recruitment Territory:

  Northeast Ohio and the Northeast states.

  Other Responsibilities:

  Otter and Cardinal Callers

  Education:

  B.A. Communication Studies, Kent State University

  Favorite spot on campus:

  The common area outside of Battelle Hall. It has a courtyard feeling, I like seeing students, faculty, and staff walking through the area. There is a great tree right outside of Battelle that looks like it was taken from a Dr. Seuss Book!

  Why I love my job:

  Not only do I get to build relationships with dynamic students, but I get to learn and help them discover what they are most passionate about. Seeing a student through the college search and helping them begin the next chapter of their life is quite rewarding, even if that is not at Otterbein, although it always helps!

  Advice for the college search:

  Have fun! College admission counselors are quite fun, I promise, so ask questions, no matter how silly they may seem, we have heard it all! Tour a variety of schools, immerse yourself at your top college picks and see if it truly is the right fit. Take advantage of different visit options; shadow a current student, stay on an overnight, a general campus tour, or even a special visit event.

  What makes Otterbein great:

  Otterbein has a great sense of community. I cannot explain the feeling of walking across campus daily and meeting a new Otterbein Community Member all while saying hello to those whom I have already met. Everyone is passionate about success, professional and academic success are just as important as personal growth and relationships.

  Best way to contact you:

  Email is always the easiest for me.

• Lindsay Lake

  llake@otterbein.edu
  Lindsay's Facebook page

  Recruitment Territory:

  In Ohio: Dublin city schools and the counties of Darke, Shelby, Miami, Montgomery, Greene, Clark, Campaign, Union, Madison, Fayette, Highland, and Adams.
  Out-of-State: Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Virginia, and Wisconsin

  Other Responsibilities:

  Group visits, Host & Tour, transient students

  Education:

  B.A. Broadcasting and Public Relations, Otterbein University '08; M.A. Organizational Communication, Ohio University

  Favorite spot on campus:

  The magazine area on the second floor of the library located right next to the stairs. I love it because it was favorite place to study as a student. It was comfy and quiet, but I could still see all of the activity taking place on campus through the windows. Plus, I could easily make a quick trip downstairs to The OtterBean for the occasional study break and caffeine boost!

  Why I love my job:

  I love learning and I love sharing my passion for learning with others. Otterbein is a nurturing environment which allows students to explore their academic passion while also making certain they have developed the necessary skills needed to succeed in a multitude of career fields well after their time at Otterbein is complete.

  Advice for the college search:

  Try not to be intimidated by the process because, while it can be stressful, it can also be a lot of fun! Make sure to ask questions and try to visit as many campuses as possible that are different in both size and location so that you can really determine the place you will call home for four years while learning and growing as a student and as a person.

  What makes Otterbein great:

  I love that Otterbein is a small campus that is within walking distance of the downtown area of Westerville and just a quick trip in the car to downtown Columbus. It's a comfortable setting that offers access to the perks of a large city without having to deal with the hustle and bustle of living right in the mix of one.

• Merchel Menefield

  mmenefield@otterbein.edu
  Merchel’s Facebook page

  Recruitment Territory:

  Columbus City Schools
  AL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC
  Charter Schools (Ohio)
  Home Schools (Ohio)

  Other Responsibilities:

  Multicultural Student Recruitment Plan
  Multicultural Visitation Day programs
  College Access program liaison

  Education:

  B.S. Psychology, Fayetteville State University; M.S., Educational Leadership, Miami University (OH)

  Favorite spot on campus:

  My favorite spot on campus is Towers Hall due to the fact that it symbolizes our rich traditions of resilence, acceptance, and inclusion while serving as a majestic beacon of knowledge on campus.

  Why I love my job:

  I love my job because I get to help direct and to join so many individuals on their life journeys through learning.

  Advice for the college search:

  Take time to evaluate what you want and be bold enough to share it with others even when they may not agree then be open enough to consider different perspectives.

  What makes Otterbein great:

  Excellence is just the starting point here and you build from that foundation to prepare for all of the world's adventures.

• Andrea Pearch

  apearch@otterbein.edu
  Andrea’s Facebook page

  Recruitment Territory:

  Southeast Ohio (including the following counties: Pickaway, Fairfield, Perry, Hocking, Ross, Vinton, Athens, Pike, Jackson, Meigs, Scioto, Lawrence, Gallia), Hilliard Bradley, Hilliard Darby, Hilliard Davidson, Upper Arlington, New Albany and the state of West Virginia.

  Other Responsibilities:

  Interns/staff training, pre-freshmen programs, military liaison

  Education:

  B.A. in Women's Studies, The Ohio State University

  Favorite spot on campus:

  Benches outside of Towers. It’s a great place to relax on a beautiful day.

  Why I love my job:

  The students. There is no better feeling than working with the student their senior year of high school and four years later, watching them walk across the stage for graduation, achieving the goals they had outline years before.

  Advice for the college search:

  List the important characteristics you are searching for in a school (i.e. specific major, size of school, etc.) and seek all colleges that fit your criteria. Start the college search process early too!!

  What makes Otterbein great:

  The strong sense of community and friendliness across campus.

• Ben Shoemaker

  bshoemaker@otterbein.edu
  Ben’s Facebook page

  Recruitment Territory:

  Columbus School for Girls, Columbus Academy, St, Charles, the Wellington School, and St. Francis DeSales.

  Other Responsibilities:

  Director of Admission.

  Education:

  B.S. in Journalism (Public Relations) '00 and Masters in Education '02 from Ohio University

  Favorite spot on campus:

  Towers Lawn.

  Why I love my job:

  The opportunity to work on a college campus and play a role in the lives of not only those students attending Otterbein, but those who are considering us as well.

  Advice for the college search:

  Asks lots of questions. There is a lot that goes into your college search and it's important that you know as much as possible about your future home. Also, dream BIG! You are only limited by your own imagination.

  What makes Otterbein great:

  The relationships students develop with faculty and staff is second to none. From the first year to the last year, we will not only know your name, but be a supportive partner in your education. Otterbein is invested in all of it's students success.

  Best way to contact you:

  Email for sure . . . I am often running in and out of meetings and can be hard to reach by phone. I always answer my email though, whether it's that night or early the next morning.

• Paul Stelzer

  pstelzer@otterbein.edu
  Paul’s Facebook page

  Recruitment Territory:

  Northwestern Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Florida.

  Other Responsibilities:

  Liaison between the Admission office and the Athletic department.

  Education:

  B.A. Public Relations, Otterbein University '08

  Favorite spot on campus:

  Memorial Stadium

  Name one thing you love about Otterbein:

  The sights and sounds of a Saturday afternoon in the fall while enjoying an Otterbein football game.

  Why I love my job:

  My job is great because I get to talk with families about why Otterbein is such a special place.

  Advice for the college search:

  My best piece of advice would be to ask lots of questions. You can never ask too many. Deciding on what school to attend an be stressful. Just know in the end you will end up where you're supposed to be.

  What makes Otterbein great:

  Otterbein is great because of the people. The faculty, staff, and students are all wonderful to be around. Combine that with a great community in Westerville and you have the makings for an awesome college experience.

  Favorite memory as an alumnus:

  My favorite memory would have to be all of the Spring afternoons I spent sitting on the hill in left field watching Otterbein baseball games with my friends. Also, my Senior Year Experience trip to the United Kingdom was something I'll never forget.

  Best way to contact you:

  Email is always the easiest way to reach me.