Director of International Admission retires

Director of International Admission Alex Schleper is set to retire after 21 years of service to the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University.

Schleper possesses a calm and welcoming personality that makes him connect with people from different countries and backgrounds effortlessly. According to a few CSB+SJU international students, as one of the first people that international students meet when deciding to attend the colleges, Schleper’s impact on their adult lives cannot be understated.

Tony Liang, a SJU alum who first met Schleper in 2009, had his first student mentor job because of Schleper.

“At that time, I was working in the Reef cafeteria as a cook, and I had always dreamed of having an office job on campus. His invitation meant so much to me—I immediately said yes. That was the beginning of not only my first office job but also a friendship and a working relationship that I’ve cherished ever since,” Liang said via email.

Sarah Moraes Stuart, a CSB alum, was able to attend college thanks to Schleper’s commitment to talk to her sponsor who provided a scholarship to her.

“[Schleper] impacted my sponsor’s decision directly and changed my life forever. The most miraculous key. That’s how I would describe [Schleper]…a good friend, a blessing to anyone around him,” Stuart said via email. Arthur Hank, a SJU sophomore commented that he felt welcomed by Schleper’s hospitality.

“From the moment I met him, he was very welcoming and managed to convey the Benedictine value of hospitality, which made me appreciate the institutions even more. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be here today,” Arthur Hank, an international student and SJU sophomore, said via email.

Schleper graduated from Saint John’s University in 1987 and worked at Saint John’s Prep for 15 years before getting a job at CSB+SJU at the precursor of the Multicultural Center. He worked at the Multicultural Center for a few years before becoming the director of international admission for the past 13 years.

Schleper said that interacting with students was the thing he liked the most about his job as the director of international admission.

“I really liked the direct interactions with students and their parents from all over the world, either electronically or in person when I met with them in their home countries. The best days were when new students and parents would first come to campus in the fall. I felt a lot of joy in welcoming them to the US, Minnesota and CSB+SJU when we could show the Benedictine value of hospitality. I also enjoyed the opportunity to travel to many places outside the US,” Schleper said.

Schleper said that he needed to develop some specific core skills and personal qualities that were necessary to succeed in this role.

“To enjoy meeting people from different backgrounds and cultures, patience, flexibility, a positive mindset, to see opportunities to make connections despite challenges that come up, to be a good listener and to have an openness to an adventure,” Schleper said.

CSB+SJU Admission will direct this role to Sarah Simpson, who has been working as the associate director of enrollment marketing for CSB+SJU Admission for over 20 years. Schleper will work a couple of hours a week to assist her with the transition.

Schleper’s retirement does not mean that he will be disconnected from the community from now on. It is only a new beginning of another phase in his life where he will continue to contribute to the community in a different way.

“I will work half-time in the Saint John’s Abbey Cemetery Office. Therefore, I will get to stay connected with Saint John’s and Saint Ben’s while also having more time with family, sporting and music events, reading and volunteering,” Schleper said.