Educator Events
Build Your Expertise
Register to attend an upcoming webinar designed especially for international education professionals or watch a recording of a past webinar you may have missed. All events are 60 minutes or less.
Upcoming Webinars
Sri Lanka Webinar: An Inside Look at a Great Nontraditional Destination
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
4 p.m. Eastern | 1 p.m. Pacific
A semester in Sri Lanka is a rare chance to step into a different way of life, far from home. From studying the island’s 250k archeological sites to conducting research with the help of a faculty expert, the opportunities here are rich and unique.
Join us and be ready to pass on the information your students need. Christi Hoover, Regional Director for Asia & Pacific Operations, and Brittany Brooks, Enrollment Counselor, will be with us to field your questions.
NAFSA Region XII Lunch & Learn Series: Mental Health Trends Abroad
Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024
3 p.m. Eastern | 12 p.m. Pacific
This informative session will provide perspectives on advising students at all stages of the study abroad program life cycle. As a study abroad organization managing health and safety response abroad for thousands of students and hundreds of U.S. institutions across the United States, we’ll highlight new trends, resources and practical takeaways for advising students on successfully navigating mental health abroad.
Presenters: Jennifer Fullick, Ph.D., IFSA Associate Vice President for Health, Safety, and Wellbeing; Tyler D’Andrea, IFSA Director of Strategic Partnerships
Upcoming In-Person Events
NAFSA REGIONS I & II CONFERENCE
Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Oct. 6–10, 2024
Appreciative Advising: Strategies and Support Tools for Navigating Student Needs
Dive into the ways an education abroad office and a study abroad provider work to navigate student needs during their study abroad experience. Learn what strategies and support tools they use through practicing inclusive, appreciative, and coaching advising approaches. Experience how these methods are beneficial for student and advisor and how to ensure wellness is at the forefront for both parties. Walk away with examples of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts to ensure students are given an individualized experience that cares for their multifaceted identities.
Presenter: Brittany Books, IFSA Enrollment Counselor; Daniel Solomon, University of Denver
NAFSA REGION III CONFERENCE
Shreveport, LA
Oct. 12–16, 2024
Navigating Visas in Study Abroad: Managing Expectations in Changing Landscapes
We will explore crucial aspects of international visas and the evolving role of advisors. This session features insights into visa processes, advisor responsibilities, and practical case studies, equipping you with essential knowledge for successful study abroad experiences.
Presenter: Selena Rincon, IFSA Enrollment Counselor
NAFSA REGION XII CONFERENCE
Orange County, CA
Oct. 21–23, 2024
How Accessible Are We Really?
Access. Access! Access? Occam’s razor, a principle of the philosopher William of Ockham, gives precedence to simplicity: of two competing theories, the simpler explanation of an entity is to be preferred. We do much focused on increasing access to study abroad. In diving deep to analyze and solve for access, are we overlooking the most basic facets of accessibility? This session will explore the notion of access points, and will test on a fundamental level the accessibility of the experience and our offices. Join this interactive exercise to consider the basic accessibility of your education abroad opportunities, and to leave with actionable ideas that can immediately increase your target audience’s access to global learning opportunities.
Presenter: Tyler D’Andrea, IFSA Director of Strategic Partnerships; Michelle Ayazi, University of California, Berkeley
NAFSA REGION IV & V CONFERENCE
Schaumburg, IL
Oct. 29–Nov. 1, 2024
Navigating Visa Advising: Key Strategies for Study Abroad Advisors
Advising students during their visa application process can be overwhelming, especially when working with nuanced cases. As international educators, it is important to share knowledge and leverage each other’s experiences to best serve our students. During this session, we will evaluate a few case studies and share strategies for visa problem solving. I will also share some advising tools and resources that will facilitate the process.
Presenter: Eleni Katsarelas, IFSA Enrollment Counselor
NAFSA REGION VIII CONFERENCE
Lancaster, PA
Nov. 12–15, 2024
Strengthening your Intergenerational Workplace – Utilizing Data, Storytelling, and Values
We currently work in the most diverse intergenerational cohort that our workplaces have experienced. With five generations active in our workforce, sometimes generational stereotypes divide rather than bring together a team. In this session we’ll present data and research on workplace values and summative insights to strengthen your workplace dynamics across all age groups and career stages. Let’s discuss how these insights can support management, retention, and prepare for Gen Alpha to enter the workforce and higher education. Together, we will explore where individuals at this session are in their career journeys, and how they can utilize their current professional stage and the presented data and insights into their teams’ unique vision for long-term staffing and professional development.
Presenters: Marcy Dodson & Logan Beck, IFSA Institutional Engagement Team
Global Inclusion Conference
2024 Diversity Abroad Global Inclusion Conference
Washington, D.C.
Oct. 29–Nov. 1, 2024
Join the IFSA Team at Global Inclusion Conference in Washington, D.C. Make sure to visit our exhibit table, schedule a meeting with one of our team members, and attend sessions presented by IFSA team members.
Exhibit Table: To be announced
IFSA Team Delegates:
- Gretchen Cook-Anderson, IFSA Partner Engagement
- Tyler D’Andrea, IFSA Director of Strategic Partnerships
- Wayne James, Ph.D., IFSA Associate Vice President, Partner Engagement
- Emma Lynch, IFSA Student Engagement Manager
- Shomari Maynard, IFSA Institutional Engagement Senior Manager
- Josh Trowbridge, IFSA Operations Manager, England & Wales
Clearing for Take-Off: Tagging Barriers to Study Abroad through Inclusive Advising
How can we present the idea of study abroad before students decide against it? Providing spaces for prospective study abroad students to encounter their options where they feel comfortable and represented provides a sense of belonging. Learn what inclusive advising best practices three education abroad offices and one study abroad provider use to support their students in the predeparture phase of study abroad. From the way we greet students, to the scholarships we give out, to the alumni we engage to tell their stories; learn how to break down barriers and engage applicants. Join us as we help students juggle the many bags they balance as college students. Walk away with a mini tool-kit of student support resources.
Presenters: Emma Lynch, IFSA Student Engagement Manager; Ilana Aquil, Tulane University; Natalie Brady; University of Maryland; Nadir Ovcina, Whitman College
How Accessible Are We Really?
Access. Access! Access? Occam’s razor, a principle stated by the philosopher William of Ockham (1285-1347/49) gives precedence to simplicity: of two competing theories, the simpler explanation of an entity is to be preferred. The principle is also expressed as “Entities are not to be multiplied beyond necessity.” [Britannica] In education abroad, we think and talk and do much focused on increasing access to study abroad experiences for students, faculty and others. In diving deep to analyze and solve for access, are we inadvertently overlooking some of the most basic facets of accessibility to ed abroad guidance? This session will explore the notion of access points, and will test on a fundamental level the accessibility of the experience, our programs, our processes, and our offices. Join us for an interactive exercise to consider the basic accessibility of your organization’s education abroad opportunities, and to leave with actionable ideas and tools that can easily and immediately increase your student body’s access to global learning opportunities.
Presenters: Tyler D’Andrea, IFSA Director of Strategic Partnerships; Angela Schaffer, Fund for Education Abroad; Ebony Majeed, Hampton University
Diversifying Diplomacy: Collaborative Study Abroad Approaches to Ignite Careers in Global Affairs
In 2022, foreign service officials of color made up just under 30% of the agency’s officers. Diversity in our diplomatic ranks remains an important factor in an interconnected world where a new global majority has emerged. This roundtable session will gather various stakeholders to offer ideas on innovative study abroad programming designed to cultivate and catalyze a strong pipeline of students from diverse backgrounds into global affairs careers and the Foreign Service. Be in the room for in-depth views from the State Department, a study abroad provider accelerating students’ career exploration and intercultural growth, an HBCU on the frontlines of cultivating young diplomats, and a nonprofit that unites cities and young people globally.
Presenters: Gretchen Cook-Anderson, IFSA Partner Engagement; Shomai Maynard, IFSA Institutional Engagement Senior Manager; Tonija Hope, Howard University
You Belong Here: Weaving DEIB into the Tapestry of Your Organization
At IFSA, we know we aren’t alone in seeing pushback on DEIB and we all noticed a passing trend of performative DEIB programs following events in the U.S. in 2020 and during the pandemic.
“You Belong Here” (YBH) is one facet of IFSA’s enduring commitment to Inclusive Excellence since 2015. The YBH Team is focused on staff professional development and retention, internal processes, policies, and other actions that impact inclusivity within our organization. Now in its fourth year, we will share elements of our YBH program that set our focus on inclusivity to endure for the long run. In this session, we will spark conversations that will share practices, acknowledge challenges, and provide mutual learning opportunities.
Presenters: Wayne James, Ph.D., IFSA Associate Vice President of Partner Engagement; Josh Trowbridge, IFSA Operations Manager, England & Wales
The Forum Conference
The Forum 2025 Annual Conference
Toronto, Canada
March 19–21, 2025
Join the IFSA Team at The Forum Annual Conference in Toronto. Make sure to visit our booth and schedule a meeting with one of our team members. Full details coming late 2024.
Exhibit Table: To be announced
IFSA Team Delegates: To be announced
NAFSA Conference
2025 Annual NAFSA Conference & Expo
San Diego, CA
May 27–30, 2025
Join the IFSA Team at the annual NAFSA Conference in Washington, D.C. Make sure to visit our booth (1140) and schedule a meeting with one of our team members. Full details coming early 2025.
Exhibit Booth: 1140
IFSA Team Delegates: To be announced
Available On Demand
Advising for IFSA Programs
Advising for IFSA Australia and New Zealand Programs
New to advising for IFSA Australia or New Zealand programs, or just need a refresher? Join IFSA to learn details about Oceania program locations, academic offerings, and the unique support and cultural engagement opportunities we provide on-site. This webinar will help you guide your students to the right IFSA program to meet their goals and allow you to articulate how they can make the most of their time abroad.
Advising for IFSA Oxford and Cambridge Programs
The University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge are two of the most prestigious universities in the world, with unique educational opportunities for students. Join IFSA and special guests from Whitman College (WA) and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor to review the key details of the IFSA Oxford and Cambridge programs and discuss advising strategies for helping students develop competitive applications.
Advising for IFSA Prague and Tech Career Accelerator Programs
With an expanded curriculum across four programs, IFSA’s semester-length programs in Prague offer students the opportunity to experience a city that is leaning boldly into the future and the ability to gain the professional skills most desired by employers. Join us to learn about the new name of the Reimagining Europe in Prague program plus our three new program options. IFSA will present the newly designed social science and computer science classes, our two vibrant host institutions, customized internship placements, and the daily life that students can experience in this exciting capital city!
Advising for IFSA’s Tech Career Accelerator Program
Join IFSA leaders for a discussion of the IFSA Tech Career Accelerator program. This program was intentionally designed in consultation with computer science faculty from partner universities across the US. This webinar will explain the program structure, course offerings, experiential learning activities, and extracurricular experiences available on this unique program. Located in Prague, this program is an ideal choice for students looking to remain on track with their computer science degree and engage with an international tech community while spending a semester in a European capital.
Advising for Non-Traditional Locations: Peru
Join the Director for Peru Programs, as we discuss advising for the IFSA Peru program. He will cover some of the dimensions of the culture, an overview of the educational system and teaching traditions, and what students can experience in their daily life while living and studying in this country. The session will include dedicated time for discussion of how to effectively advise students about the IFSA Peru program.
Advising for IFSA Rome Programs
How do the IFSA Rome programs differ from what is already out there? Join IFSA Rome Resident Director Francesco Burzacca, Ph.D. as he explores the structure of the five IFSA programs in Rome and shares the intentional program components that will bolster student engagement and success on these academically rigorous programs.
Advising for IFSA Spain Programs
With two locations in Spain, IFSA gives your students the ability to find precisely what they are looking for in a study abroad and internship experience — in Spanish or English. Available in Seville and Barcelona, IFSA programs are intentionally designed to broaden our participants understanding of Spanish culture and maximize their interactions with their host community. Learn key details of the programs to highlight in your student advising sessions.
Custom Programs
Faculty-led Programs Made Easy
IFSA is pleased to share our exciting Ready to Go! faculty-led program templates. Featuring opportunities in Buenos Aires, Edinburgh, London, Prague, Shanghai, and Sydney, these templated programs include co-curricular activities, logistical, and health and safety support, and can be tailored to your institution’s learning objectives and faculty plans. Danny Gibbons discusses how Ready to Go! programs can enable you to quickly deliver faculty-led programming on your campus.
Strategies for Developing Faculty-led Programs
IFSA’s Custom Programs Team is pleased to share insights on working with faculty to successfully develop impactful custom programs. In this presentation, we will share tools and strategies to make the program development process simpler and more efficient and introduce IFSA’s new Ready to Go! program templates which enable you to jumpstart faculty-led programming on your campus. (Presenters: Jill McKinney, Director of Global Engagement at Butler University; Anne Frey, Education Abroad District Manager at Portland Community College; and Emily Beck, IFSA Senior Director of Custom Programs)
IFSA General
A Regional Approach: IFSA Health and Safety
Join us for an overview of IFSA’s innovative approach to Health and Safety. Tania Gonzalez, IFSA Health and Safety Regional Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean, will walk us through real-world examples to introduce and illustrate our comprehensive and customized approach. We will share an overview of the Regional Health and Safety Model at IFSA and discuss tackling tough questions from students and parents.
IFSA Pro Tips
Short engaging refreshers on working with IFSA, our programs, and our processes. Perfect for new and experienced advisors alike! We’ll spend a few minutes reviewing some basics and then open things up for Q&A based on what you need to support your students as they consider and apply for programs.
IFSA 101
Join us for an introductory webinar on IFSA. In this session, we will discuss the commitments that frame IFSA, what’s included in IFSA programs, the student application process, IFSA scholarships and grants, demonstrations of our Advisor Portal and CHART: Searchable Course Database, and more! This session is perfect for new advisors or folks looking for a refresher on IFSA offerings.
IFSA 102
Join Margaret McCullers, IFSA Director for Strategic Initiatives, to discuss IFSA program and academic updates that have occurred during the pandemic. Discussion will include IFSA’s approach to Spanish language instruction in Latin America, new models for semester and short term programs, including the Career Accelerator program structure, IFSA customized Health and Safety support, and IFSA’s efforts to promote equitable access to study abroad programs.
IFSA Biosciences Career Accelerator
From pharmaceuticals to forensic science, bioscience majors have a wealth of career options. Now students can explore them all, continue critical coursework, and gain experience that stands out on a resume—all in a city known worldwide as a hub for bioscience innovation. Join IFSA Academic Affairs and the IFSA London Team to learn about the new IFSA Biosciences Career Accelerator program.
IFSA Tech Career Accelerator
Helping computer science majors get career-ready, this program teaches the skills today’s employers want as students complete essential computer science coursework, developed and launched in partnership with elite U.S. universities and STEM colleges.
IFSA Career Accelerator Program Q&A
IFSA Career Accelerator programs are designed to help students prepare for life beyond college. By blending study abroad with career preparation, Career Accelerator programs provide the most complete skill set available today, giving students a competitive edge in sea of job applicants. Stop by this Q&A session to speak with the IFSA team about this new innovative program structure.
IFSA Student-Centered Learning
Join Dr. Ray Casserly, IFSA’s new Director for Global Learning and Assessment for a virtual event to discuss the IFSA vision for student-centered, future-focused learning that emphasizes inclusive intercultural growth. This event is for campus-based staff, please use your institution email to register. Those that register will receive a recording of the session following the event.
IFSA Life
IFSA LIFE: Australia and New Zealand
IFSA programs in Australia and New Zealand are ripe with opportunities for your students no matter what their future goals may be! Connect with the IFSA Team in Australia and New Zealand to learn more about programs and the student experiences available in this region! You learn about your students will connect with local cultures, housing options, and more! Refresh your advising talking points for programs in this region with this virtual event, you may even win a prize during our live event!
IFSA LIFE: Ireland and Northern Ireland
Meet the IFSA team working on the Emerald Isle during this virtual event. Suzi Breslin, IFSA Director for Ireland and Northern Ireland Programs, will share information about the IFSA student experience in Ireland and Northern Ireland. We are excited to share information about academics, Irish identity and culture, housing and more! This event is great for advisors looking to connect with our IFSA team in Ireland, strengthen advising talking points for IFSA Ireland programs, and even have a virtual sneak peak of the IFSA Ireland office! Join us for the live event and you may even win a prize!
IFSA LIFE: Latin America and Caribbean
Join Diana Arízaga, IFSA Regional Director for Latin American and Caribbean, and Tania Gonzalez, Regional Manager for HSS Latin America, to learn about the wide variety of cultural experiences and opportunities students have access to within IFSA Latin America and Caribbean programs! Resident staff will talk through what a typical week can look like for an IFSA student at each IFSA site within this region. Our team will share details about language, food, housing, academics, student support, health and safety, and more! This session is for advisors looking for a taste of all the variety and different cultural experiences IFSA programs within Latin America and the Caribbean have to offer.
IFSA LIFE: UK
Join the Director for England and Wales Programs and the Director for Scotland Programs as they describe an average day in the life of an IFSA student in the UK—even though there is nothing average about an IFSA study abroad experience! The variety of options in the UK give your students the ability to find precisely what they are looking for in a study abroad experience. Learn key details about IFSA staffing, housing options, academics, student support, health, and safety that students have access to during their program.
Leadership Series
LEADERSHIP SERIES: Partnering with Career Services for Enduring Impact
As education abroad providers work to cultivate the long-term impacts of study abroad, we may be overlooking an important partner. On campuses everywhere, career service centers focus on leveraging four-year degrees for professional careers. How can we team up with them to make study abroad part of this conversation? Join us for an intriguing look at how innovative efforts could help give education abroad a more integrated role in higher education outcomes. (Presenters: Godlove Fonjweng, Ph.D., Executive Director of International & Intercultural Programs, Prairie View A&M University; Joseph Catrino, Executive Director of Career & Life Design, Trinity College Connecticut; Judy Hopkins, Internship Development & Career Coach, Washington State University)
LEADERSHIP SERIES: Articulating the ROI of Education Abroad
Higher education is under increasing pressure to validate the return on investment (ROI) of a college degree. A growing body of research has shown education abroad’s relevance to the critical value higher education seeks to provide, including degree completion, deeper learning, and career readiness among others. However, most outcomes are incidental benefits for which programs were not originally designed. This discussion explores how we might demonstrate the value of studying abroad differently as we design for intentional outcomes. (Presenters: Holly Hudson, Ed.D., Texas A&M University; Gary Rhodes, Ph.D., California State University at Dominguez Hills; and Jennifer Summerhays, Trinity College-Hartford)
LEADERSHIP SERIES: Cultivating Women Leaders
This Women’s History Month, join a discussion on women’s leadership in international education. Built on a legacy of white male leadership styles, how can we leverage the strengths of women’s leadership in today’s work? From how women get started in this field to how they navigate their career journeys as they rise, this session explores how women support each other, pay equity, advocating for oneself and the role men can play in leveling the playing field. (Presenters: Lily Lopez-McGee, Ph.D., Diversity Abroad; Sarah E. Spencer, M.A., OnPoint Global Strategies & Coaching)
LEADERSHIP SERIES: A Paradigm Shift in Study Abroad Advising Structures
As champions of education abroad we endeavor to help students find the program that best meets their goals, and our advising structures play a key role in our efforts. Should advising be organized by program location, academic major, type of program, or something else? How are campuses approaching advising given pandemic staff cuts or consolidated budgets? Presenters will host an interactive discussion on the pros and cons of different advising structures and offer advice for campuses considering a switch. (Presenters: Mandy Brookins, Depauw University; Dongming De Angelis, Rice University; and Andra Jaques, University of California—San Diego)
LEADERSHIP SERIES: The Sustainability of our Practices
This moderated panel discussion explores the sustainability of our practices, a provocative and dynamic topic for our field as we address ongoing global challenges and consider the alignment of our work with our values. This webinar interrogates some of the long-term practices of our field like paper-based advising materials, in-person student events versus remote/asynchronous options, evolving partnership strategies, flights and carbon production and impact on local host country communities. Join us for a robust discussion on how we as a field can address the fact that our work is inherently resource heavy and put forward ideas to reconsider our longstanding practices.
LEADERSHIP SERIES: Redesigning Education Abroad for Inclusive Excellence
This webinar launches the You Belong Here Series, a monthly discussion exploring critical topics to fulfill the promise of inclusion in education abroad. Based on the forthcoming book A House Where All Belong: Redesigning Education Abroad for Inclusive Excellence (The Forum on Education Abroad, 2021), presenters will foster a discussion on why the field has not achieved better outcomes on achieving inclusion in education abroad. The two editors of the book and the principle architect of the concept Inclusive Excellence come together for a powerful discussion on our field’s most critical work. (Presenters: Alma Clayton-Pedersen, Ph.D., Emeritus Consulting Group; Nick Gozik, Ph.D., Elon University; and Heather Barclay Hamir, Ph.D., IFSA President & CEO)
LEADERSHIP SERIES: The Future of Nontraditional Locations
Study abroad programming in nontraditional locations holds value for a wide range of stakeholders both in the U.S. and in host communities, yet the pandemic has left some programs vulnerable. While IFSA maintains its commitment to programming in non-traditional locations, the ripple effect of other closures could undermine our collective access to non-traditional perspectives and intercultural exchange. This discussion examines the importance of study abroad programming in nontraditional locations to our future. (Presenters: Nicole Desjardins Gowdy, Director of Study Abroad at Pomona College, and Heather Thompson, Director of Education Abroad at the University of Texas at Austin)
LEADERSHIP SERIES: Reviewing Your Institution’s Approved Program List
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, study abroad leaders at US institutions are taking a closer look at their list of approved programs. From location, to risk mitigation, to addressing systemic racism to overall costs, there are so many factors to consider. Join members of IFSA’s NAC Executive Committee to discuss this timely and complex topic. (Presenters: Martha Johnson, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, and Cori Filson, Skidmore College)
LEADERSHIP SERIES: Pandemic-Era Practices with Staying Power
The pandemic has brought about many creative solutions to advising, partner meetings, conferences and fairs that were traditionally held in-person. The sudden transition to virtual created challenges, yet some education abroad offices have also found unexpected benefits with virtual advising and events. What will best serve our students and offices in the future? Join us as we explore what pandemic-era practices can be retained and what should shift as we look towards a new normal in education abroad. (Presenters: Sue Mennicke, Associate Dean for International Programs at Franklin & Marshall College, and Alisha Cardwell, Director of Study Abroad at Brandeis University)
You Belong Here Series
YOU BELONG HERE: What We Can Learn from HBCUs
The first IFSA You Belong Here Series event of 2022 examines successful approaches of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in education abroad. Drawing from ideas highlighted in the forthcoming book The Half Yet to Be Told: Study Abroad and HBCUs edited by Andre Stevenson and Keshia Abraham, this discussion goes beyond eliminating barriers and takes a page from the experts on leveraging strength-based approaches to serving Black students for extraordinary outcomes. (Presenters: Keshia Abraham, Ph.D., The Abraham Consulting Agency; Marisa Gray, Morgan State University)
YOU BELONG HERE: Advancing Inclusive Practices through Appreciative Advising
The next edition of the IFSA You Belong Here Series explores inclusive practices within an established model of appreciative advising. Inclusion begins from our first engagement with students. Appreciative advising provides a framework to engage all students around their strengths, meeting them where they are and building trust early in the advising process. Based on a chapter in the forthcoming book, A House Where All Belong: Redesigning Education Abroad for Inclusive Excellence (The Forum on Education Abroad, 2021), this session highlights practical examples of how practitioners can implement appreciative advising techniques in their student support strategies, transforming the advising experience for students and advisors. (Presenters: Opal Leeman Bartzis, Ed.D., Michigan State University; Diana Arízaga, IFSA Regional Director for Latin America)
YOU BELONG HERE: Inclusive Faculty-lead Program Design
The next installment of the IFSA You Belong Here Series is dedicated to exploring how to create a sense of belonging for students and advance inclusion through faculty-led program design. With a majority of study abroad students participating on short-term programming each year, this work is more critical than ever. From addressing intragroup dynamics to key program elements like excursions and extracurriculars, presenters and participants alike will have the opportunity to share tactics and strategies to move us toward a more inclusive norm. (Presenters: LaNitra Berger, Ph.D., Senior Director of Fellowships at George Mason University; Danny Gibbons, Resident Director for Peru, IFSA)
YOU BELONG HERE: Applications as Tools for Inclusion
Application processes and policies often create unintended barriers for students in the beginning stages of the study abroad cycle. Based on the chapter Dismantling Exclusive Practices: Applications as Tools for Inclusion in the forthcoming book, A House Where All Belong: Redesigning Education Abroad for Inclusive Excellence (The Forum on Education Abroad, 2021), the presenters will highlight practices which are often exclusionary, building awareness and offering alternative ideas and strategies for study abroad practitioners who support students in the planning stages of an education abroad experience. (Presenters: Jeremy Gombin-Sperling, Fulbright Diversity & Inclusion Liaison Western Hemisphere Programs/Ph.D. Candidate at University of Maryland; Qimmah Najeeullah, Director of Programming & Training at Peace Corps Malawi/Ph.D. Student at University of Maryland; Taylor Woodman, Ph.D., Internationalization Specialist and Affiliate Assistant Professor of International Education Policy, University of Maryland)
YOU BELONG HERE: Fostering Inclusion through Organizational Culture and Hiring Practices
The second installment of the You Belong Here Series discusses how our ability to be inclusive is only as strong as our own capacity to be nimble organizations, where an inclusive organizational culture shapes priorities, hiring practices, policies and behavior. Based on the chapter Inclusion Begins with Us: Developing Inclusive Organizational Cultures and Hiring Practices in the forthcoming book, A House Where All Belong: Redesigning Education Abroad for Inclusive Excellence (The Forum on Education Abroad, 2021), this session dives into the internal, reflective work necessary to address implicit biases that negatively impact inclusivity within organizational cultures and covers strategies for recruiting, onboarding, and retaining diverse talent. (Presenters: Aileen Bumphus, Ph.D., the University of Texas at Austin; Patricia Izek, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities; Heather Barclay Hamir, Ph.D., IFSA)
YOU BELONG HERE: Designing Programs to Make Good on the Promise of Belonging
This webinar makes the case for designing equity-minded education abroad programs intentionally to foster inclusive excellence and belonging. Presenters share research highlights, model practices, and a design process. The webinar is informed by the chapter Equity-Minded Program Design for Inclusive Excellence from the forthcoming book A House Where All Belong: Redesigning Education Abroad for Inclusive Excellence (The Forum on Education Abroad, 2021). This discussion offers a program design model aligned with The Forum on Education Abroad Standards of Good Practice related to equity, diversity, and inclusion. (Presenters: David Wick, Ed.D., Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey; JoAnn Doll, Prestigious Awards & Education Abroad Assistant Coordinator at East Tennessee State University; Alexandra Ramos Lopez, MIIS Alumna; Anna Mei Gubbins, MIIS Student; Hayley Singleton, MIIS Student)