Hofer's skills meet qualifications as ISS director
Campus Times
October 2, 1998
Phil Hofer, the new International Student director, discusses the
need to "find a new vice president for the international students,"
with Armaud Llamas, a French transfer student who was elected president
of the International Student Organization last week. Hofer worked as director
of international programs and services at Fresno Pacific University for
seven years before joining the University of La Verne in July.
Philip Hofer, director of International Student Services, is more than
qualified for his new position with 12 years of international work under
his belt.
Prior to Hofer's hiring, Janice Johnson, English as a Second Language
(ESL) director, held two part-time positions as ESL director and director
of International Student Services.
"The University decided that we needed a full time administrator
for both positions," said Dr. Loretta Rahmani, dean of student affairs,
which oversees International Student Services.
This past summer, the University of La Verne interviewed professionals
for the position.
"We were looking for someone who knew international regulations
and laws, immigration rules and INS rulings. Someone who had a positive
spirit, a team player attitude, positive international communication and
was a student advocate. Phil Hofer had all of that. He has a wonderful positive
attitude and great international communication," said Dr. Rahmani.
"The job at La Verne was open. My wife and I were looking for a
change of institutions and I saw that La Verne had a bigger program of international
students. I liked the feel of the place and the people I would be working
with," said Hofer.
Prior to working at ULV, Hofer spent 14 years at Fresno Pacific University
(FPU), where he was an instructor in communication and an administrator
in international student advising.
Hofer received his bachelor's in communications from FPU and then went
on to gain his master's in speech communication with an emphasis in cross-cultural
communication at California State University, Fresno.
Straight out of college, Hofer spent three years doing volunteer work
in Nigeria.
Hofer and his wife, Joy, also spent time abroad in Central America and
the Philippines, each for four years, as translators and teachers for a
relief and development organization.
"It was meaningful and interesting work," said Hofer.
Hofer also lived in Pennsylvania for five years, teaching in leadership
institutes run by the local Mennonite Church.
"Growing up, I remember seeing pictures in church of people, missionaries,
who travelled and worked abroad. Early on, I thought I wanted to be a missionary,"
said Hofer.
Although, later, Hofer decided that, because of negative connotations,
he did not want to be considered a missionary.
Now, Hofer said, "I think everyone is a missionary whether we like
it or not. We carry our values on our back."
Hofer's goals as director of international services are to provide a
welcome place for international students, to provide accurate information
on immigration regulations, to provide support to the large number of international
graduate students and to explore the possibility for an active host-family
program.
Hofer and his wife currently live in La Verne, within walking distance
from ULV, and his wife works for the Tomaás Rivera Policy Institute
at Scripp's College as an editor and communications director.
As for a long-term career at ULV, Hofer said, "I would like to
stay here. I like the feel and its location. I like ULV's rootedness and
its history, but I also like its willingness to innovate and try new things."
