Karren Horan's job description includes helping college students plan their futures, not ensuring that they have one.

But the National American University admissions coordinator became a lifeline Wednesday for one of the university's prospective students.

On Wednesday morning, Horan called a prospective student but received only non-verbal sounds as a response. Horan hung up but was immediately called again by the student, a woman from Georgia.

The muffled noise she heard made her think the student had pocket dialed her. So, she hung up again.

Within seconds, her phone was ringing. This time Horan tried to find out more information. Although she could not understand the student, Horan assured the student she would call for help.

"I knew the way she was acting wasn't normal for her," Horan said.

From her desk in Rapid City, Horan tracked down the emergency dispatch center near the student's home in a suburb of Atlanta and requested a welfare check. Horan's co-worker stayed on the phone with the student as Horan described the situation to the Georgia dispatcher.

Emergency personnel were sent to the woman's home.