Meet our Staff
Ms. Susanne Forrest ( International Student Enrollment Coordinator)
Susanne was born in Weiden , Bavaria , Germany and came to the United States as an undergraduate student with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in 1980 She attended the University of Montana for one year as an American Studies/English major.
She completed her undergraduate work at the University of Erlangen-Nurnberg, Germany, in 1982 and then enrolled in the Master of Arts in English program at North Dakota State University, from which she graduated in 1985. She also completed an M.A. in German at the University of Montana in 1989 and a Master of Counseling in Mental Health at Idaho State University in 1994.
While she has learned English, French, Latin, and Spanish as a foreign language, she now is only fluent in German and English! Susanne has traveled in Europe, the Americas, and Asia and hopes to visit Africa and Australia in the not too distant future.
She is married to Tom Forrest, a native of Texas, and has a teenage son, Phillip, who is the pride and joy of her life! Her family is completed by Lucy, the cat, and Ernie, the dog.
In her spare time she likes to hike, cross-country ski, cook, read, and be with friends and family. Spending time at international student events and at the many cultural opportunities ISU offers also are an important part of her life.
To contact her, send an e-mail to forrsusa@isu.edu
Shawn Bascom ( International Student Program Coordinator )
Shawn was raised in Apple Valley, California, and moved to Aberdeen, Idaho, when he was a junior in High School. He worked as an International Admissions Specialist at ISU from 2001–2004 while working on his degree. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music with a minor in Business Administration at Idaho State University in 2006.
Shawn started working as an International Student Advisor for ISU in July of 2006. He thoroughly enjoys working with international students and loves associating with people from other cultures and backgrounds. He hopes to be able to travel worldwide.
His family includes his wife Tiffany, sons Kyle, Kaden and Wylie, and a handful of fish. He loves music, including singing (his emphasis as a music student was Voice, Baritone), playing the piano and listening to many different genres and styles of music. In addition to his job at ISU, he teaches private voice lessons. He enjoys camping, hiking and vacationing with his family.
Shawn advises international students and scholars on immigration law and campus life and is advisor for the International Student Association.
He can be reached at bascshaw@isu.edu
Ms. Kay Durman (International Graduate Admissions)
Ms. Kay Durman was born in Lawrence, Kansas, and has lived in Kentucky, Utah, and Idaho. She received her BA in English from Idaho State University in 1972. She worked in several different financial institutions for 12 years, and then stayed home to raise two sons.
In August 2001, she began working for ISU as the secretary for the Department of Health Care Administration. In July 2003, she came to the Department of Graduate Studies, and has been enjoying her contact with bright, ambitious students from many countries. Kay processes applications from international students for graduate programs, and the documentation for I-20's to be issued. Her family includes husband Dan, sons John and Jesse, and a very independent cat who came to visit and decided to stay. She and her family love skiing, camping, and traveling through Idaho and the West.
To contact her, send an e-mail durmkay@isu.edu
Ms. Tami Carson (International Admission Specialist)
Tami joined the International Admissions Office in October of 2005 after having worked in the ISU Registrar’s Office and for the Bannock County court system for many years.
Tami previously attended Idaho State University majoring in Music Performance and later completed the Legal Secretarial program.
Tami is a native of Pocatello and an accomplished flute player who regularly performs with the Pocatello City Band and the summer musicals. She also enjoys doing crafts of all kinds, be it knitting, painting, sewing, or cross-stitching. In addition to that, she is a fabulous cook and enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and dogs. In the summer, she spends a lot of her time outside in her yard gardening. She regularly attends concerts, plays, and international student events and is a movie buff who owns hundreds of movies!
Tami processes all our undergraduate applications, supervises inquiries, and issues I-20’s. If you would like to get in touch with Tami, you can e-mail her at carstami@isu.edu.