Idaho State University

Meet your Recruiter

 

Kasi Beorchia

Title: Recruitment Specialist
Direct: (208) 282-3070
E-mail: beorkasi@isu.edu
Territory: Southeast South Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado

Education:
B.A., Family and Consumer Sciences, Minor in Health Education Idaho State University, 2008

Life before Idaho State University:
Born and raised in nearby Idaho Falls, I am the oldest of three very different girls. Family has always played a huge part in my life. I was the typical first-born child, working for good grades and participating in everything possible. I grew up as my Dad's little tomboy, so I have a deep love for playing and watching sports. I continue to watch and support collegiate athletics, especially ISU's programs. I continued my "good grades, get involved" mentality at Idaho State University. I learned to love personal finance and played a large role in the development and opening of ISU's Financial Wellness Center. I love to learn about money, especially scholarship money! I am now pursuing a graduate degree through ISU's Counseling Program and hope one day to have a Ph.D.. I am definitely a goal-oriented person. I loved life as a college student—late nights, study groups, tough tests, concerts and activities—and I hope to help other students find a school where they can also have a great experience!

What are your professional//work interests?
I really enjoy helping people. The collegiate years are definitely a transition for students and can seem overwhelming for some. I hope to help students successfully prepare for college and adapt to the new environment. I especially enjoy helping students find and research scholarships. Though the search can be time-consuming, I know that the scholarship dollars really pay off in the end.

What is your best college search tip?
Start early! Give yourself plenty of time to research programs, campuses, and scholarships. Don't forget that you are not alone! You are surrounded by supportive individuals who have tools to help you. Admissions counselors and recruiters can answer many questions, so don't be shy. Ask questions! High school counselors are also great resources.

What do you learn from interacting with Idaho State students?
I have learned to appreciate and value that we are all different. I love interacting with people who share similar views, but I truly appreciate learning new and different ideas from others around me. New friends and conversations have highlighted my time at ISU! I think we can learn a lot from each other.

What do you value most about working at Idaho State?
I enjoy having a job where I can interact daily with so many different people. I love the staff and faculty at ISU, and appreciate that I still get to work with them frequently. I also get to meet fabulous prospective students. I really love getting to know others!

What are your hobbies?
I love sports, playing and watching. I recently started picking up golf. I also live for music. (I secretly want to create my own music station!) I play the piano and organ, and I love to sing. I really like spending time with friends and family, especially my husband Dane. We have a lot of fun together. I try my best to be a good cook and love learning new recipes. I am always open to suggestions!

What is your favorite ISU tradition?
To be honest, I really love any tradition that involves free food—you will appreciate that as a college student, trust me!

 

Shawnee Burt

Title: Recruitment Specialist
Direct: (208) 282-2420
E-mail: knapshaw@isu.edu
Territory: Southeast Idaho North Region

Education:
BS/PTA certified, Health Science and Physical Therapist Assistant, Idaho State University, 2008

Life before Idaho State University:
I grew up in Rexburg, ID and attended Madison High school. I was one of the only students from Madison to attend ISU from my graduating class and I am proud to be a Bengal! I have a little sister, Shante' Knapp, who is a freshman here at ISU, and a brother, Cameron Knapp, who is transferring to ISU from BYU-I this next fall. I also have a 13 year old brother, Burke Knapp, who will be attending ISU as well ?. I played the trumpet in high school and I participated on the cheerleading squad. I also enjoyed ballet and I danced for about 14 years most of which were en pointe. I loved teaching ballet and I taught younger girls my first few years of college. As a college student at ISU, I was heavily involved in student government as a senator, and was an active Ambassador for four years giving tours and doing campus service, and I was the president of the LDSSA organization. I recently got married to Ryan Burt who is from Idaho Falls. He is currently a student at ISU in his first year of the Pharmacy program and he is also working on his MBA.

What are your professional/work interests?
My interests include being helpful and positive to prospective and current ISU students and also to help students realize the quality of education they can receive at ISU. I also enjoy participating in employee development workshops to improve my skills and abilities and to be taught by those who are experts in their respective fields. I love working with students and helping to shape their first impressions of ISU as positive and helpful. I greatly enjoy representing ISU in all aspects of my professional and personal life, and I greatly enjoy working with our student Ambassador group that serves as our leading influence on prospective students.

What is your best college search tip?
The best tip I have for students looking at different colleges is to 1. Start the process early and get in touch with recruiters and other personnel on the various campuses of interest and use them as a resource and 2. Take campus tours of the various campuses of interest. As far as Idaho State University goes, we give a very unique tour where actual student Ambassadors who are well trained give tours and answer questions for students in a very professional manner. We also provide free lunch and overnight accommodations, appointments with housing and professors from the programs of each student's choice. Our campus tours are so effective that we urge our prospective students to visit us because we are confident that once they come and visit us, they will be impressed with our great university.

What do you learn from interacting with Idaho State students?
The main thing I learn from interacting with ISU students is the things we can improve upon as far as customer services goes on campus. By interacting with current students, I am able to get a fresh perspective of the needs of our students and how we can better serve them. When we focus on the things that matter to our students, we improve ISU overall for everyone and it also benefits future generations of students.

What do you value most about working at Idaho State?
Because I have the privilege of working so closely with students, I love doing my job and I greatly value the ability ISU gives me to truly love what I do. It is so wonderful to work with students and help them better their lives by embracing higher education. I value the opportunity I have to express my enthusiasm for the university to up-coming students!

What are your hobbies?
I love to read, water and snow ski, swim, travel, and I love thrift shopping and going to garage sales! I love spending time with my family and with my husband's family and my husband, and I love being outside and doing things outdoors like camping and hiking.

What is your favorite ISU tradition?
I'm not sure if this could be counted as a tradition, but I love Homecoming week and the sweepstakes competition between clubs on campus, it is so much fun! I also love the first week of school and the white tent event that happens each year, I think it is such a great way to get students involved early.

 

Michael Irving

Title: Recruiter/Admissions Advisor
Direct: (208) 282-2622
E-mail: irvimich@isu.edu
Territory: South East Idaho North

Education:
Bachelors Degree in Organizational Communication, Minor in Outdoor Education

Life before Idaho State University:
I went to school so long I don't remember my life before Idaho State University. ;-)

What are your professional/work interests?
My ultimate goal is to find a job that I love. I have many interests and would be happy doing so many things. I have strongly considered becoming a political speech writer, a counselor, or a fire fighter.

What is your best college search tip?
Take tours of the colleges that you are interested in. Getting a first hand look at a University is an easy way to see if it fits your needs.

What are your hobbies?
I love backpacking, running, generally anything that keeps me active. I also enjoy reading books, and watching good movies.

 

Craig Joseph

Title: Assistant Director of Recruitment Services/Creative Marketing Director
Direct: (208) 282-4685
E-mail: josecrai@isu.edu
Responsibilities: Recruitment Management Team, Marketing Materials, ISU Ambassador Program

Education:
B.A., Advertising Sales and Public Relations, Idaho State University, 2000

Life before Idaho State University:
Born in the West Indies on the Caribbean island of Antigua, I came to the U.S. at age 9 and grew up in Houston Texas. I had a great experience growing up in Texas, and consider myself a Texan at heart, roaming other lands. Athletics was a big part of my life with emphasis placed on football. I was blessed to be surrounded by supportive family and friends that helped focus my life in a direction that I never would have guessed was possible when I first stepped foot on US soil.

What are your professional/work interests?
It doesn't get much better than helping students take advantage of opportunities that will lead to their success. Besides this, I am passionate about art, design, and creative problem solving.

What is your best college search tip?
I honestly don't think there is one best search tip, but college searching is no time to wear blinders. Talk to professors, students, and staff. Ask the hard questions. Don't take pat brochure answers, and get a feel for how that college will take care of you.

What do you learn from interacting with Idaho State students?
There's not much you can't accomplish if you don't limit yourself.

What do you value most about working at Idaho State?
When you boil it down, there's not much else to say than, the students. When I was attending college at ISU, my advisor and professor made me feel as though I, as a student, was what he valued about his job. The students are why we do what we do at ISU.

What are your hobbies?
I love various forms of art from painting and drawing, to photography and graphic design. Other hobbies would be athletic activities, cooking and eating.

What is your favorite ISU tradition?
Definitely Homecoming! The colors, people, camaraderie, and festivities encapsulate some of the best extracurricular experiences that you'll have in college.

 

Guillermo Raya

Title: Recruitment Specialist/Advisor Latino Emphasis
Direct: (208) 282.4651
Email: rayagui2@isu.edu
Territory: N/A

Education:
Business Administration, minor in Marketing, Lewis-Clark State College 2008

Life before Idaho State University:
I attended Rigby high school-went to Lewis-Clark State College and then later found my way back to the school of my first choice-funny how things work

What are your professional/work interests?
Working with Latino related issues such as higher education. Inspiring other Latino students of the possibilities that post-secondary education has to offer other than working in the fields

What is your best college search tip?
Internet!- you can have all the information at your finger tips, deadlines, scholarship, application, campus resources, you name it-its on there.

What do you learn from interacting with Idaho State students?
That many are so driven and want more than just a job at a fast food location. I learn about student's goals and what inspires them.

What do you value most about working at Idaho State?
I value not only my job, the people I work with, but also the idea that at one university you can receive anything from a certificate to a master's degree and beyond-just to think of the possibilities

What are your hobbies?
Hobbies-um-just the norm, going with friends, texting addict, and artistic things such as photography and painting

What is your favorite ISU tradition?
Seeing the Bengal spirit of students, though I must say that orange is not a good color on me

 

Josh Sakelaris

Title: Recruitment Specialist
Direct: (208) 282-5460
E-mail: sakejosh@isu.edu
Territory: Pocatello High School, Magic Valley, North Idaho, Nevada, California, Arizona

Education:
B.S. in Health Education, ISU 2006

Life before ISU:
I am a local boy. I grew up in Pocatello and went to a private Lutheran elementary and junior high school. I attended Pocatello High School from 1999-2001. I continued my education right here at Idaho State University. Most students want to leave the city they grew up in, but not me. Part of the reason I wanted to attend ISU was because my father did. I wanted to follow in his footsteps. I started college thinking that I wanted to go into Political Science because I was in student government in high school. It was a little different than I anticipated and my thoughts quickly turned to the health professions fields. I was hooked. The way I looked at it, everyone has health — it's either good health or bad health. I graduated in 2006 with a Health Education degree and soon after took this position in Enrollment Management. People often ask me why I have never left Pocatello to venture out. I always say "Why leave when everything I want is right here?"

Professional/ work interests:
My main goal here at ISU is to supply students with everything they need to succeed in and out of the classroom. I had a wonderful experience when I attended Idaho State and I want everyone to have the same opportunity. Yes, college is about getting an education for the future, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun while you are doing it! Students enjoy every aspect of ISU.

What is your best college search tip?
Choose a school that ACTUALLY has your degree that you are looking for. You would be surprised how many students "settle" for something that they don't really want to do because it is convenient or it's the "next best thing." Another tip would be to work with you recruiter or admissions counselor. We tend to know a few things about the admissions process so never hesitate to ask. That goes for you too Mom and Dad!

What do you learn from interacting with Idaho State students?
That the students here at ISU are a fun lovin' bunch but really know how to buckle down and get an amazing education. Whether it's intramural flag football or that anatomy and physiology test, ISU students give 110 percent in everything they do!

What do you value most about working at ISU?
The students! They keep me on my toes! Every student is different. Every need is different. One of the best parts of my job is helping a student with a problem or a concern and then being able to watch them learn from that experience. I also value the connections I make with students. It always puts a smile on my face to see a student who I helped around campus or at an ISU event.

What are your hobbies?
I love to mountain bike or crash … however you want to put it. I also like yard work. I know it sounds crazy, but the smell of freshly cut grass is one of my favorite things. I like football Saturdays in the fall. The lights, the action on the field, the amazing nachos and ice cream!

What is your favorite ISU tradition?
The tradition where all the incoming freshman buy me lunch at least once in the first two weeks of school. It's the first annual "Buy Josh lunchathon." Heard of it?

Joshua Whitworth

Title: Recruitment Specialist
Direct: (208) 373-1751
E-mail: whitjos5@isu.edu
Territory: Treasure Valley, North Idaho, Oregon, Washington

Education:
B.B.A. in Marketing from Idaho State University, 2004

Life before Idaho State University:
I grew up on a ranch in Mackay, a small rural town located next to the 9 tallest mountains in Idaho. Although I would never classify myself as a cowboy and you would never guess by looking at me, I can ride a horse, herd cattle, and cow tip with the best of them. My family is big on sport and athletics which led me to play football at ISU in 1999. I competed in football and obtained my degree in Business between the years 1999-2004. From graduation until now I have worked in various fields from Health Care IT, Ranch Management, to Real Estate and found myself many opportunities to use my athletic experience to coach high school students. The joy I found in coaching young athletes led me to this recruitment position at ISU where I can use my experiences to coach students how to get into college and reach their dreams!

What are your professional//work interests?
My interests have always been to help as many people as I can throughout my life. I want to learn something every day and try to apply it the next. I always believe that work should just be an extension of what one likes to do on a daily basis. I have a passion for education and helping people reach their goals. I am a constant student and interested in business, health, physics, and archeology just to name a few specific areas, but every day I get excited about something new!

What is your best college search tip?
In my opinion, the best search tip is to exhaust all options in researching your college interests. The internet is valuable tool, full of information on all aspects of college, but a campus tour, meeting with a professor, or sitting down with a recruiter are all invaluable experiences. So take the time and make sure you take advantage of all the resources available to you.

What do you learn from interacting with Idaho State students?
Anything is possible. College is such an amazing venue and if you, as a student, are motivated enough, ISU will give you all the tools you need to reach your dreams. I learn from them all the time that the difference between success and failure is simply the effort put forth.

What do you value most about working at Idaho State?
It is just exciting to be in the collegiate environment. Every day I am blown away by the level of students and their potential once they graduate from ISU! Seeing and interacting with students that have all the potential and drive to succeed just motivates me day in and day out. On top of coaching students about college, I get a lot of pride in working with my Alma matter. I hold a lot pride for ISU; it has provided me many opportunities and I believe it offers any student a fantastic opportunity to reach his/her dreams.

What are your hobbies?
Growing up in the mountains, I enjoy just any type of outdoor activities from backpacking to boating to exploring. Living in Boise gives me many chances to get out on trails with my mountain bike. I recently competed in an Adventure Race in Montana and might have found my new favorite sport since I cannot compete in football anymore. I enjoy being active, so you name it I will try once! I am also a constant student who loves to learn new things. I am constantly reading about some new topic I heard about throughout the day!

What is your favorite ISU tradition?
I have been involved with ISU for a good amount of time and have many traditions that I enjoy but my favorite is tailgating with all my friends from college at the homecoming game! It is always a good time. It is food, football, and good friends... hard to beat!