Shana Kay Watson

Shana Kay hails from the garden parish of St. Ann in the beautiful Caribbean Island of Jamaica! Originally an International Student to the US, Shana Kay completed her Associate degree in Marketing at the Moneague College before transferring to Monroe University in New York to complete her bachelor's degree in business administration; and later her Masters (MBA) in 2008 from the same institution. Her passion for working with international students was evident as she started volunteering in the International Office the first month of starting school! A thirteen-year career there included being the front liner for recruiting students from Jamaica, breaking into graduate international markets and launching Asia Operations to recruit students from that region.

Shana Kay worked in two other New York institutions prior to moving to Connecticut. At New York Film Academy, she continued enrolling international students and at Pace University, she travelled and recruited from Africa and Europe.

Her last role before joining Yale University was at a neighboring institution, Quinnipiac University. There, she was in charge of recruiting New York City scholars, managing Community Based Organizations and coordinating Multicultural Outreach Initiatives. In this role, she helped to grow the diversity numbers and was the first person to host an International recruiting event for Quinnipiac in Jamaica.

Shana Kay loves to travel! She goes back home as often as possible. Her passion developed at a young age when she spent summers in other Caribbean islands and even did study abroad in Cuba while in high school. Outside of work, you can find her at the beach, exploring the outdoors, cooking and entertaining in her catering business and taking care of and spoiling her two beautiful daughters Shadale Grace and Jayda Rose.

Shana Kay is thrilled to be an Adviser in OISS and is looking forward to sharing her international journey and experiences with the staff, students and scholars at Yale.