After operating its first year with an interim leader, Kansas University’s International Academic Accelerator Program now has a permanent managing director.

Amy Neufeld started this month leading the program, which aims to recruit students from around the globe and support them — academically, culturally and socially — in their first year at KU, with hopes they will stay at the university through graduation. The program is a partnership between KU and a private company called Shorelight Education.

Neufeld most recently was vice president of academic affairs at Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kan., which draws a number of first-generation U.S. citizens and migrant students and provides programs that help them acclimate to and succeed in the higher education system.

Amy Neufeld

She received a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in student affairs from Iowa State University and a doctoral degree in higher education administration from KU, she said. Her dissertation work focused on intercultural college issues, specifically student characteristics and college experiences that prepare students for a “pluralistic society.”

At KU, Neufeld said she looks forward to attracting international students but also, by having them here, enriching world views of the rest of the student body.

“Not only is it a great opportunity for international students to come here, but it really kind of changes the view for a student who may be from Kansas and not have that breadth of experience,” she said.

Todd Fritch from Shorelight Education had been interim managing director for the program, which KU announced in February 2014.

In June KU announced the hire of Roberta Pokphanh, former assistant dean of the Office of Graduate Studies, as permanent academic director for the program.