Belinda A. Yeomans joined SAIS as director of admissions in January.

Yeomans, who holds a Ph.D. in political science from Stanford University, comes to SAIS from the Monterey Institute of International Studies, where she was enrollment manager for the Graduate School of International Policy Studies from 2004 to 2006. While Yeomans' academic expertise is in research and teaching, she has significant experience in admissions, marketing and outreach for educational institutions.

"Belinda Yeomans comes to SAIS with extraordinary academic and professional credentials," said Bonnie Wilson, associate dean for student affairs. "No job in the school is more important than that of director of admissions, and Belinda brings to this position exceptional intelligence, enthusiasm and strategic vision."

Yeomans attended the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, and received her B.A. from Harvard University. She earned a master's degree in East Asian studies from Stanford and an M.A. in political science from University of California at Berkeley. At Stanford, she was a teaching assistant to then-Professor Condoleezza Rice, who was a member of Yeomans' doctoral thesis committee.

What attracted you to SAIS?

SAIS is world-renowned for its high-powered faculty, whose expertise focuses on key issues in international affairs. However, SAIS attracts talent and quality at all tiers: faculty, staff, students and affiliated professionals. The caliber of personnel active in the SAIS community contributes to a level of excellence in graduate education and training second to none. It is an honor to work with such a unique and talented group of individuals.

What areas of expertise do you bring to SAIS, and what are your goals for the Admissions Office?

My formal educational and professional training is in research and teaching, with a focus on Northeast Asian security. However, my Monterey Institute job entailed work in all aspects of recruiting and admissions, development of new strategies for marketing and outreach, as well as student and faculty support throughout the academic year. It also increased my professional interaction with the faculty and student communities, which I found intellectually stimulating as it involved the need to thoroughly understand the numerous facets of providing a quality education at the graduate level. I look forward to using the skills I acquired ... to further enhance SAIS's already stellar reputation in international affairs. One way I hope to achieve this goal is by working more closely with faculty to build innovative recruiting programs ... to attract talented young professionals to our school.

How will you involve SAIS alumni and friends in the recruitment process?

SAIS graduates land such impressive and demanding jobs; we are fortunate that they generously donate their time and energy to contribute to our school's events and activities. I would like to continue the tradition of including alumni and friends in recruiting activities, but also to expand opportunities for prospective students to learn more about SAIS from these talented individuals. I look forward to working with the Alumni Relations Office to develop programs that will allow graduates and affiliates to more frequently interact with faculty, staff and current and future students.

Are there important trends in your field that you'd like to implement at SAIS?

An important trend is using technology to increase outreach to and interaction with prospective students. I hope to utilize advances in communication technologies to better engage with students interested in attending SAIS. These technologies give us the ability to provide information about SAIS in a timely fashion and in a more personable manner. ... The new technologies create the opportunity to implement new strategies for attracting the best and brightest students.

What do you consider your "hometown"?

I grew up in a military family, so I moved around frequently as a child. When my father retired from the Army, we settled in Salinas, an agricultural community on the central coast of California. That is my home.