IIE is looking forward to connecting with our colleagues at the 2025 AIEA Annual Conference in Houston, Texas. In addition to the panels and sessions led by IIE experts this year, join us at the IIE spotlight session on Monday, March 3rd, about how institutions and organizations can navigate shifts in international higher education.

The IIE delegation to AIEA includes:

• Jaclyn Assarian, Lead for Campus Initiatives, Higher Education Initiatives
• Julie Baer, Research and Learning Lead, Open Doors
• Lindsay Calvert, Director, IIENetwork and Center for International Opportunities
• Andra Jacques, Assistant Director, Fulbright Outreach and Recruitment
• Sylvia Jons, Director, Center for International Partnerships
• Mirka Martel, Head of Research, Evaluation and Learning
• Mary Karam McKey, Head, Corporate and Foundation Programs and Student Emergency Initiatives
• Michelle Pickard, Senior Director, Gilman International Scholarship Program
• Julie Taylor, Director of Academic Relations, Fulbright

IIE Sessions

Pre-conference Workshop: Developing an International Partnership Strategy
Sunday, March 2, 8:00am – 12:00pm CST

This workshop explores how your institution can develop a purposeful international partnership strategy that results in an effective portfolio of linkages that advance the institution, engage a wide range of faculty, staff, and students, and can be sustained over time.

• Sylvia Jons, Director, Center for International Partnerships, IIE
• Susan Buck Sutton, Fellow, IIE Center for International Partnerships; Executive Committee, National Academy for International Education
• Tim Barnes, Executive Director of International Partnerships and Research, University of Kentucky
• Stacy Burger, Director of Global Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives, Lehigh University

Connecting Dots: Are US Institutions Producing Career Success for International Students?
Monday, March 3, 11:30 – 12:30pm CST

Many institutions struggle to provide persuasive data to document their international students’ career outcome successes. This session will unveil data from the US Department of Labor and F1 Hire that confirms a compelling narrative around international students graduating from US institutions and finding valuable career opportunities. Our data reveals previously hidden insights into career pathways and identifies strategies institutions can employ to strengthen career-focused messaging for international student recruitment.

• Mirka Martel, Head of Research, Evaluation and Learning
• Ben Waxman, CEO, Intead
• Vivian Wang, Vice Provost for Global Engagement, University of Tulsa
• Andrew Chen, Founder, F1 Hire

SPOTLIGHT SESSION: Navigating Shifts in International Higher Education: Perspectives from IIE
Monday, March 03, 3:15 – 4:15pm CST

As international higher education shifts in a dynamic global world, it is important to consider the internal and external factors that organizations consider in their programs and decision making. This session will provide perspectives from three experts across the Institute of International Education to discuss the important role of partnerships, emergency programming, and research in times of change. IIE’s organizational experience in navigating change will shed light on our work supporting students, scholars, and institutions.

• Jaclyn Assarian, Lead for Campus Initiatives, Higher Education Initiatives
• Mirka Martel, Head of Research, Evaluation and Learning
• Mary Karam McKey, Head, Corporate and Foundation Programs and Student Emergency Initiatives

Advancing Leadership for Women in International Education: Best Practices and New Directions (RT)
Tuesday, March 4, 8:00 – 9:00am CST

This roundtable will explore best practices and innovative strategies for advancing women’s leadership in international education. No formal presentation will be given; the session emphasizes peer learning and collaborative action to develop actionable strategies for participants to implement at their institutions.

• Sylvia Jons, Director, Center for International Partnerships, IIE
• Joanna Regulska, Vice Provost and Dean of Global Affairs, UC Davis

Central Asia: Partnership Opportunities and Challenges in a Dynamic Region
Tuesday, March 4, 9:15 – 10:15am CST

Central Asian countries are increasingly investing in global higher education; Kazakhstan has recently established over 10 new universities, and Uzbekistan’s government has mandated internationalization of its higher education sector. Central Asia’s growing universities offer collaboration opportunities in fields ranging from energy to agriculture that are also critical to U.S. communities. Join a panel of U.S. and Central Asian experts to discuss the current landscape, opportunities, and challenges for higher education partnerships in this dynamic region.

• Sylvia Jons, Director, Center for International Partnerships, IIE
• Akram Umarov, First Vice-Rector, University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
• Joanna Regulska, Vice Provost and Dean of Global Affairs, UC Davis
• Heidi Manley, Director, USA Study Abroad

The Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) Award: A Global Experience for YOU!
Tuesday, March 4, 3:15 – 4:15pm CST

Andra Jacques is Assistant Director, Fulbright Outreach and Recruitment at IIE. Her career emphasizes building inclusive processes and accessible pathways to global experiences for all. Jacques received her bachelor’s in International and Peace Studies from Point Loma Nazarene University and her master’s in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding from CSU Dominguez Hills. Jacques was awarded a 2017 Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) award to South Korea and a 2023 Fulbright IEA grant to Japan.

• Chair: Andra Jacques, Assistant Director, Fulbright Outreach and Recruitment
• Dr. Yacob Astatke, AVP, International Affairs, Morgan State University
• Sheila Schulte, AVP, International Programs, University of North Georgia
• Dr. Reitumetse Obakeng Mabokela, Associate Chancellor, Vice Provost, Global Affairs and Strategies, University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign

Emerging Markets for Student Enrollment: What the Data Tells Us
Wednesday, March 5, 9:00 – 10:00am CST

As a well rounded student body is a key goal for many institutions, international student recruitment strategies should go beyond dominant places of origin and explore new horizons for recruitment. This panel will review trends in emerging international student markets, including Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia, looking at global student mobility data, prospective student data, and hearing from experts focusing on recruitment in these regions.

• Mirka Martel, Head of Research, Evaluation and Learning
• Elle Butler, Head of Marketing for North America, IDP Education
• Vern Granger, Director of Admissions, University of Connecticut

Bringing the Leadership In: Helping Presidents and Provosts Prioritize International Education
Wednesday, March 5, 9:00 – 10:00am CST

The last few years have shown that the values and assumptions underpinning the international education field are not as widely shared as we thought—especially among HEI leaders.; Even if leaders acknowledge its worth, it is a priority that faces stiff competition. Adding pressure, many states now demand justifying activities based on their local impact. Given this competitive environment, this panel suggests strategies for convincing leaders that international engagement is a worthwhile investment.

• Julie Taylor, Director of Academic Relations, Fulbright
• Richard W. Carter, Associate Vice President for Global Engagement, University of South Alabama
• Joël Gallegos, Associate Provost for International Programs, UNC Charlotte