NAFSA's International Educator

This month, longtime member and previous NAFSA president Fanta Aw assumes the role of NAFSA's CEO and Executive Director. Originally from Mali, Aw came to the United States as an international student at American University, where she spent both her academic and professional careers to this point. Most recently, she was vice president of undergraduate enrollment, student life, and inclusive excellence. (Read more about Aw in NAFSA's press release announcing her appointment as CEO.)In this interview, Aw shares memories and pivotal moments from her time as an engaged NAFSA member and member-leader, what excites her about her new position, and her vision and priorities for both the association and the field of international education. Read the interview in the March issue of International Educator.

This episode of the IE  podcast brings you insight from four professionals in the field who are working to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in international education. You'll hear from:Jewell Winn, Tennessee State UniversityLysette Davi, Arizona State UniversityMarcus King, Prairie View A&M UniversityAdriana Smith, AIFS AbroadThey share their motivations, how they support students from diverse backgrounds, and how they create inclusive international experience for all students—particularly those who have been historically marginalized in higher education. Read these interview—plus on additional interview—in the February issue of International Educator.

NAFSA liaises with many different government agencies on behalf of, and in the interest of, its members and the students they serve. In addition, NAFSA advocates and works with Congress and the White House on a number of policy priorities. At the midpoint of the Biden administration, how are those government agencies and policymakers faring? In this episode of the IE Podcast, NAFSA's Steve Springer and Erica Stewart give a progress report—complete with letter grades—on these agencies, Congress, and the White House. Who gets an A+ and who needs improvement?NAFSA Resources and Links:NAFSA's priorities for the Biden administrationNAFSA regulatory news and announcementsRecorded session featuring USCISNAFSA Advocacy Day“What the White House National Security Strategy Gets Right—and Leaves Out” blog postNAFSA's advocacy campaigns and updatesInterview with Bertha Anderson, Chief of Public Engagement for the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman

To mark Hispanic Heritage Month, this episode of the IE podcast is a conversation with Lysette Davi at University of Arizona and Frances Santiago of University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez.They share their career journeys in international education, perspectives on diversifying the profession, challenges and successes in serving the Hispanic student population on their campuses, what international educators on all campuses can do to better serve these students, and more.

In this episode of the IE Podcast, we're going behind the scenes of the newly refreshed International Education Competencies 2.0 (IE Competencies 2.0) with Holly Hudson and Marcel Bolintiam. Holly and Marcel are two members of the Competencies Commission, the group of NAFSA members and leaders who were nominated by their peers to create the new edition of the IE Competencies. They give a glimpse into what's changed since 2015, when the original IE Competencies was published, why certain changes were made, how the commission approached this work, the value the IE Competencies 2.0 brings to the field, and how international educators in all knowledge communities can use the document in their everyday work. Find the IE Competencies 2.0 in the NAFSA Shop.

Conversations around sustainability in international education have increased in recent years, and there is a growing contingent of international educators who are mobilizing for action to address the climate crisis.One key voice is Ailsa Lamont, who is the director of Pomegranate Global, an international education consulting group that offers a range of climate action services. Based in Australia, Ailsa currently serves as president of CANIE, the Climate Action Network for International Educators, which she co-founded in 2020. She is also one of NAFSA's 2020-2021 Senior Fellows, a group that wrote the white paper titled Sustainability in International Education.In this episode of the IE Podcast, we spoke with Ailsa about: her background in international education and interest in climate change, and how they intersect; the biggest misconceptions and assumptions people in international education have about the climate crisis; the challenges when it comes to sustainability in international education, as well as the opportunities to address those challenges; and practical ways international educators can make a difference in addressing the climate crisis on their campuses.More information and resources:CANIEPomegranate GlobalSustainability in International Education“Environmental Sustainability and Internationalization: Challenges and Opportunities”“Creating a Path Forward: International Education, Climate Change, and Sustainability”

This month on the International Educator podcast is a two-part episode featuring conversations with contributors to NAFSA's recent book, Engaging International Alumni as Strategic Partners, and other experts on this topic.In Part 2 of the episode, Maria Gallo and Kevin Fleming discuss the intersection of transformational philanthropy and international alumni engagement. Maria and Kevin co-authored a chapter on this topic in Engaging International Alumni, and their conversation covers: the difference between transformational philanthropy and traditional philanthropy;why institutions should involved international alumni in philanthropy efforts;examples of success in this area;how the pandemic changed the way institutions leverage their international alumni networks; andtheir personal experiences that contributed to their expertise in this area.Register now!NAFSA is proud to offer a workshop around this topic at the NAFSA 2022 Annual Conference & Expo in Denver, Colorado.  Learn more about "The Hidden Power of International Alumni Relations," which will take place Wednesday, June 1, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.Resources and links:Engaging International Alumni as Strategic PartnersKeep in Touch EducationThe Alumni Way: Building Lifelong Value from Your University Investment Prosper Nonprofit Advisors“The Pots of Water Framework for Alumni Engagement” 

This month on the International Educator podcast is a two-part episode featuring conversations with contributors to NAFSA's recent book, Engaging International Alumni as Strategic Partners, and other experts on this topic.In Part 1 of the episode, Gretchen Dobson, who is one of the co-authors of the book, talks with Serge Sych from Central European University about partnering with international alumni to advance marketing, branding, and student recruitment goals. Their conversation covers:why institutions should leverage alumni in brand-building efforts and how to build a program to do so;successful tactics to engage alumni;the keys to creating a sustainable recruitment strategy;where to begin when starting from scratch; anda few do's and don't's Serge has learned along the way.Stay tuned for Part 2, a conversation about transformational philanthropy with Maria Gallo and Kevin Fleming.Register now!NAFSA is proud to offer a workshop around this topic at the NAFSA 2022 Annual Conference & Expo in Denver, Colorado.  Learn more about "The Hidden Power of International Alumni Relations," which will take place Wednesday, June 1, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

This episode is a conversation with Margaret Wiedenhoeft and Corrine Henke, the two co-editors of the forthcoming book NAFSA's Guide to Education Abroad, Fifth Edition. Given the changes in the field since the last edition came out in 2014, they discuss how those changes informed the contents of the new book, trends in education abroad, the chapters they think every international educator should read, and more.  

There is growing momentum in international education around advancing social justice, and these issues are rightly at the forefront of the important discussions happening across the field. Longtime NAFSA member LaNitra Berger, PhD, edited the book on it: Social Justice and International Education.In this episode of the IE podcast, Berger discusses how advancing social justice in international education became a passion of hers;changes she's seen in the field over the course of her career;the role international students play in the dialogue around racism; andbig and small ways to advance social justice in international education—from daily work on campuses to an overarching national strategy.Then, Berger answers questions from attendees at NAFSA's recent Summit for Diversity and Internationalization, and she shares more with us about the intersection of art history and international education.NAFSA Resources:Social Justice and International Education“International Students are Critical to Fighting Two Pandemics: COVID-19 and Systemic Racism” blog post“Centering Social Justice: NAFSA Resources to Advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion”Additional Resources:Irma Stern and the Racial Paradox of South African Modern Art: Audacities of ColorIrma Stern book launch video“Art, Race and the Future: A Conversation with LaNitra Berger,” Parenting for the Future podcast A Conversation with Maaza Mengiste 

This episode of the IE podcast is a conversation with Bertha Anderson, who is the Chief of Public Engagement for the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman). Many international educators in the United States are familiar with the CIS Ombudsman's office, and NAFSA regularly liaises with this and other government agencies on behalf of advisers who facilitate the goals of international educational exchange while ensuring institutional and individual compliance with applicable laws and government policies. In this episode, Anderson discusses the mission of the CIS Ombudsman, how the office works with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and her office's policy priorities. She also shares about her own journey and experience in international education, what she enjoys most about her job, and what to expect from the CIS Ombudsman's office this year.More information:Office of the CIS Ombudsman Outreach page where DSOs can sign up to receive electronic announcements and find summaries and materials from previous engagementsOnline Filing for Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, for F-1 Students Seeking Optional Practical Training webinar

In November, during International Education Week, NAFSA released its annual analysis of the economic contributions of international students and their families to the U.S. economy. This year's analysis showed that the nearly one million international students studying at U.S. colleges and universities contributed  28.4 billion dollars to the country's economy and supported more than 300,000 jobs. NAFSA has been conducting this economic analysis for over 20 years, and Rachel Banks and Jason Baumgartner are the brains behind the operation. Rachel is the Senior Director of Public Policy and Legislative Strategy at NAFSA, and Jason is the founder of JB International.In this episode of the IE podcast, Jason and Rachel talk about COVID's affect on this year's data and notable findings, under reported takeaways from the Open Doors report and NAFSA's analysis, the history of the analysis, and how it's evolved over the years. More information:NAFSA's International Student Economic Value Tool

Efforts to diversify the field of international education have accelerated over the past few years, and Ogonna Owu, MA, and Gretchen Cook-Anderson, MA, have had front-row seats to the changes and challenges. In this episode of the IE podcast, Owu and Cook-Anderson discuss positive changes in the field in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion; the areas still in need of improvement; how employers can attract and retain staff from underrepresented backgrounds; why  diversifying the field of professionals is important for getting a more diverse student population to participate in study abroad; and more.Find more information on:The NAFSA RISE FellowshipNAFSA Award for Impact in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in International EducationNAFSA resources for inclusion, diversity, equity, and access

In this episode of the International Educator podcast, we talk with David Di Maria, EdD, author of the recent NAFSA publication Achieving More With Less: Lean Management in the International Student Office.Di Maria discusses the eight most common types of waste found in most international offices; how to identify and eliminate waste; challenges to implementing new processes; how to know when the time is right to make changes; and how many concepts of wastefulness are consistent across cultures and industries.Learn more in  Achieving More With Less: Lean Management in the International Student Office, available in the NAFSA shop, and watch Di Maria's author talk about the book.

Like so many around the world, NAFSA has been watching events unfold in Afghanistan over recent months and weeks, as the United States has withdrawn from the country. This episode of the IE podcast features a conversation with a scholar from Afghanistan who is pursuing a master's degree at a university in the United States.  He shares his experience of watching developments in the situation in Afghanistan while studying in the United States, his concerns for his family and the Afghan people, his own encounter with the Taliban, his views on the future, and more.Regulatory updates, resources, and other information related to Afghanistan and Afghan students and scholars:NAFSA: "Information Resources for Assisting Afghan Students and Scholars"IIE: Afghanistan Crisis Response New York Times: "How to Help Afghan Refugees and the Relief Effort" Scholars at Risk letter to U.S. Secretary of State Anthony BlinkenEditor's note: Due to security concerns, we have omitted the student's name and several other identifying details.

In this episode of the IE podcast, Sandra Rincón, MSc, and Gretchen Dobson, EdD, co-authors of Engaging International Alumni as Strategic Partners, give a primer on how international educators can include international alumni as key stakeholders in internationalization efforts.As higher education institutions around the world continue to reimagine their internationalization strategies, international educators are tapping into an often underused recruitment tool: international alumni. With an understanding of the cultures of both their home countries and the countries where they chose to study, international alumni can uniquely convey their personal experience to prospective students.Learn more in Engaging International Alumni as Strategic Partners, available in the NAFSA Shop.

In this episode of the IE podcast, NAFSA's Director, Regulatory Practice Liaison Steve Springer breaks down the 2021 Spring Regulatory Agenda. In addition to giving important context for this edition of the agenda, we discuss five key takeaways, including the withdrawal of proposed changes to duration of status, SEVP fees, reforms to practical training, and more.  Overall, this edition turns away from restrictionist policies and is more supportive of international education, says Springer—changes that were not anticipated this soon from the Biden administration but are nonetheless worth celebrating. We also talk about the recent improvements and positive signs in stakeholder engagement from many government agencies. For more details about the regulatory agenda, visit NAFSA's Adviser's Manual.

Networking, mentoring, and learning from peers are hallmarks of the field of international education. These elements also play an important role in career development and professional growth. Hear from two pairs of NAFSA members—one a mentor-mentee relationship, the other a peer-peer connection—about how the personal side of professional development has made a difference in their lives. Read more in the June issue of IE at nafsa.org/ie.

As the Biden administration marked 100 days in office on April 30, the milestone took place during a whirlwind week for U.S. State Department announcements, travel advisories, and other updates and happenings that affect international students and scholars in the United States.In this episode of the International Educator podcast, Dan Berger, an immigration attorney based in Massachusetts, gives his perspective on the first few months of the Biden administration and the implications for the field. He also discusses what international educators can expect from government agencies in the next few months, the negative effects of uncertainty, and his wish list for the rest of 2021.

International Educator spoke with two medical professionals—one from China via Canada, the other from Brazil—who are working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hear their stories of professional and personal challenges and what it's been like to work in medicine during this historic time. (Read the stories of six other international students and scholars at nafsa.org/ie.)

Amid a year of budget tightening, revenue shortfalls, and staff stretched thin, international offices are feeling the effects of decreased international student enrollment and the COVID-19 pandemic. In this environment, understanding the budget workings and processes on campus can help international educators get a realistic picture of their financial footing. International Educator spoke with Lynne Schaefer, MBA, who has more than 30 years of experience in finance at higher education institutions and is currently vice president for finance and administration at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC). Schaefer shares what international educators need to know about the budget process, who really makes decisions about competing priorities, common misconceptions about finance on campus, and more.

Following a challenging 4 years for international education in the United States and a contentious election season, many professionals in the field were relieved when Joe Biden was sworn in as president. In his first few weeks in office, there has been a steady stream of executive orders and other actions from the White House. What do they mean for international education? And what else does NAFSA hope to see from the Biden administration and Congress? To put the news in context, International Educator spoke with Jill Allen Murray, MPA, NAFSA's deputy executive director of public policy, about her team's to-do list for the new administration and signs of hope less than a month into Biden's presidency. (Read the interview here.)

There is no one-size-fits-all pathway to leadership, and that is especially true across the field of international education. International Educator asked nine leaders in the field about their leadership journey, turning points in their careers, qualities they think good leaders should cultivate, and skills that will be critical as international educators and institutions emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. (Read the full story.)

Ravi Shankar has served as the president and chair of NAFSA's board of directors since January 2019, the culmination of decades of involvement as a NAFSA member and member-leader. Bringing his deep experience in international education, Shankar reflects on 2020 and what's in store for the field for 2021 and beyond—including how NAFSA's revised Strategic Plan frames the organization's vision for the future. Shankar says the updates, which center on three themes of educate, advocate, and innovate, were considered and made in real time as COVID-19 swept the globe, rendering profound effects on international education. Currently the assistant vice provost and director of international services at the University of Rochester, Shankar will end his term the president and chair of NAFSA's board of directors this month. (Read the story.)

At a time when many institutions face both budget cuts and staff reductions, international education leaders have had to ask their teams to perform different tasks, take on new responsibilities, shift workloads, and increase flexibility. Cross-training not only provides an important professional development opportunity for international educators but also contributes to the sustainability of the international office by promoting efficiency and making the best use of resources. An added bonus: In addition to breaking down silos within international offices, cross-training between the international office and the rest of the institution makes internationalization efforts on campus more sustainable. (Read the story.)

Edward Alden, MA, is an author, journalist, and professor, as well as the Bernard L. Schwartz senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. Specializing in U.S. economic competitiveness, trade, and immigration policy, Alden sees how economics and foreign policy intersect with higher education. International Educator spoke with Alden about the long-standing bipartisan support for international students in the United States, the country's eroding competitive edge compared with other top destination countries, U.S.-China relations and the implications for international education, and more. (Read the story.)

What began as a social media movement to welcome international students to the United States has become a tangible commitment to bring those students to U.S. campuses. Meet five recipients of the inaugural #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarships. (Read the story.)

Since late May, as protests against racism and police brutality spread across the United States, conversations in the public and private spheres have spurred many international educators to confront their own biases and actions. International Educator spoke with five professionals in the field to discuss their experiences as Black international educators and why talking to international students about racism is important. Listen to the podcast to hear from Kaloki Nabutola, PhD; Andrew Gordon; Tonija Hope Navas, PhD; Michael Reid; and Jewell Green Winn, EdD. (Read the story.)

As international educators continue to experience unprecedented uncertainty, they are undergoing change on multiple levels: in their personal lives, in their communities, in their careers and professional lives, and as global citizens. How can the international education community deal with these changes on a collective and individual level, as well as consider what might be next for themselves and the field? International Educator spoke with life and career coach Elisabeth Kingsley, MBA, about this uncertainty and the opportunities that the COVID-19 pandemic and the current movement related to racial justice offer in this collective moment, as well as ways to be in “the neutral zone” together. (Read the story.)