Meet the International Admission Staff

• Dino Pruccoli, Director
• Antonia Creteanu, Associate Director
• Sarah Sucher, International Recruiter

Name: Dino Pruccoli
Title: Director
Email: dpruccol@depaul.edu
Phone: 312.362.5620
Hometown: Birmingham, MI
College Degrees:
-BA in International Area Studies from Michigan State University- East Lansing, MI
-MS in Marketing Communications from Illinois Institute of Technology- Chicago, IL

My recruitment areas: Europe, Africa and the Middle East

What has been the most rewarding part of working in international admission at DePaul University?
I know that students are nervous about applying to universities in the US. It's a different system with many moving parts. I enjoy helping students navigate the application process by improving internal processes and communication to quickly inform students of their admission status.

What piece of advice would you give an international student who is beginning the university search process?
When developing your list of universities to consider, remember the best university is the one that meets your academic, social and personal needs and interests. I think the most important criteria include quality of academic programs, location, costs and campus culture. This will help make editing your list to a manageable number of applications so you can continue to concentrate on your academic work.

What is your favorite thing about living in the city of Chicago?
Public Transportation! I don't have a car and love riding the bus or a train. It's environmentally friendly, affordable and makes going places a little more exciting. Most buses and trains that I use run 24 hours a day.

If an international student is curious but unsure about attending college in a city as large as Chicago, what would you tell them?
Explore Chicago's 77 distinct community areas and diverse neighborhoods and find the one that fits you best. Other than attending class, doing homework and possibility work or internship, you're going to be spending most of your time in your neighborhood. Make sure you like it and feel comfortable living there.

Name: Antonia Creteanu
Title: Associate Director, International Admission
Email: rcretean@depaul.edu
Phone: 312.362.6542
Hometown: Constanta, Romania
College Degrees:
-BA in Translation from University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
-MA in Multicultural Communication from DePaul University, Chicago, IL

My recruitment areas:Asia, Oceania & Australia

What has been the most rewarding part of working in international admission at DePaul University?
Sharing my experience as a former international student to smooth out the path for the newly applying and enrolling international students.

What piece of advice would you give an international student who is beginning the university search process?
Three pieces of advice:
1. Start the search and application process early! You will get the best of everything (scholarships, orientation, housing, registration, etc.)
2. No two schools are alike! Do your homework about each school you are interested in, because majors, selectivity, application requirements, deadlines, tuition, scholarship processes, can be very different from school to school.
3. Go for the right fit! Just because a certain school is highly regarded does not necessarily mean it is a good fit for you. Make sure that you understand and like the geographical location.

What is your favorite thing about living in the city of Chicago?
First and foremost, the diversity. Chicago is a mini-universe - you can drive for half an hour and be in a different country altogether. This also means great food, great street festivals, great music, great fun all though the year. Secondly, Chicago is one of the most friendly big cities I have ever encountered - people are genuinely friendly, respectful, and helpful.

If an international student is curious but unsure about attending college in a city as large as Chicago, what would you tell them?
A big city like Chicago comes with a lot of perks: a big university network, great arts, sports, and entertainment, great opportunities for internships and jobs after graduation. Everybody has heard of Chicago - that means great name recognition wherever life takes you after graduation!

Name: Sarah Sucher
Title: Assistant Director
Email: ssucher@depaul.edu
Phone: 312.362.6521
Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa
College Degrees:
-Bachelor of Science in Speech Communication, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX
-Master's of Education in Higher Education, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL

My recruitment areas:the Caribbean, North America, South America, and Central America

What has been the most rewarding part of working in international admission at DePaul University?
The most rewarding part of working in international admission is the interactions I have with students' families. Seeing how the opportunity for studying in the US impacts not only the student applying but their entire family: parents, grandparents, siblings and even their community. I am grateful for the chance to work with wonderful families all over the world.

What piece of advice would you give an international student who is beginning the university search process?
I would encourage students to take an active role in investigating colleges/universities they wish to apply to. Often times I am contacted by parents on behalf of their son or daughter. While I am happy to speak with parents and answer their questions, I also want to hear directly from the student. By working directly with the student I have a chance to discuss with them if DePaul University is the right fit for the type of university experience they are looking for.

What is your favorite thing about living in the city of Chicago?
I have two favorite things: 1. All the alternatives for food! Every type of cusine imaginable can be found in the city which is great for our students who may be looking for flavors from their home countries. 2. O'Hare and Midway Airports- having two airports makes it very easy to travel to and from Chicago visiting family, friends and prospective students all over the world!

If an international student is curious but unsure about attending college in a city as large as Chicago, what would you tell them?
Most desirably a student would be able to visit before applying but I know that isn't possible for everyone. Chicago is a large city made up of many small neighborhoods. Students can make the city smaller and more manageable by looking at it in those terms. The city can be as big or as small as you make it depending on how much you want to explore!

• Karen earned her B.A. in Geography and Environmental Management from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN and is currently pursuing her M.S. in Public Service Management from DePaul University.
• The Data/Document Manager coordinates all international undergraduate files from time of application to when they are ready to be reviewed by Dino, Antonia and Sarah.

• Ariana earned her two B.A. in Business Administration and Sociology from Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj Napoca, Romania and is currently pursuing her M.S. in International Public Service from DePaul University.
• The Imaging Clerk scans all undergraduate application documents and mails out admission letters and I-20 documents.