A retirement celebration for Lelia Crawford, director of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) at Emory, will be held Thursday, May 22. The reception, which is open to the Emory community, will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Dobbs University Center’s Winship Ballroom. RSVP »

Crawford will retire in August after 35 years of service to the university.

"Lelia has been a passionate and pioneering supporter for international students and scholars at Emory," says Philip Wainwright, vice provost for international affairs. "Her advocacy work has made Emory more diverse and inclusive, and she has played a pivotal role in the university's transformation into an international community."

During Crawford’s tenure as director of ISSS, the number of international students and scholars at Emory has grown dramatically. The university’s international student body has more than doubled over the last decade to 2,400 students, now making up 16 percent of the overall student population. 

Crawford first joined Emory in 1979 as assistant dean for campus life before becoming the founding director of the Office of Minority Student Programs and developing the Multicultural Outreach and Resources at Emory (MORE) program.

She has served on numerous councils, commissions and task forces at Emory. In 2002, she received the university’s Award of Distinction for her outstanding contributions to the Emory community.