IIE at NAFSA 2026

Make It Real: Turning Partnership Vision into Action Pre-Conference Workshop

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. EDT

International partnerships hold tremendous potential—but turning vision into reality requires intentional coordination, strategic alignment, and sustained commitment. This workshop equips international educators with practical frameworks to initiate, evaluate, and sustain comprehensive partnerships that are global by design. You’ll explore strategies for aligning collaborations with institutional priorities, coordinating across your university to build a unified approach to global engagement, and ensuring partnerships deliver mutual benefit and long-term impact. Through hands-on activities, you’ll develop actionable approaches you can implement immediately to strengthen partnership development and management at your institution.

• Lead: Sylvia S. Jons, Director, IIE Center for International Partnerships

Workshop: The Career Connection: Aligning Study Abroad with Career Readiness

2:00 – 6:00 p.m. EDT

Studying abroad changes students—but can they articulate how it prepares them for their careers? This workshop equips international educators with research-based strategies and practical tools to intentionally embed career readiness throughout the study abroad life cycle. Bringing together researchers and experienced practitioners, you’ll explore evidence on the career impact of global learning, examine how to design programs that integrate career competencies across predeparture, on-site, and reentry phases, and develop concrete approaches to help students translate international experiences into professional skills that employers value. Through hands-on activities, you’ll leave with frameworks for advocacy, program design tools, and strategies for building campus partnerships that position study abroad as essential to career preparation.

CTW Trainers:

• CTW Lead Trainers: Julie Baer, EdM, Deputy Director of Research, Evaluation & Learning, IIE
• Paolo Daniele, MPA, Director, Graduate Professional Development, University of Oregon
• Caroline Cully Garbers, PhD, Associate Director, Georgia Tech

Why Not Africa? Reimagining Global Education Pathways and Partnerships

4:15 – 5:05 p.m. EDT

This session explores global education pathways that expand access and strengthen collaboration across higher education. It highlights how African and U.S. universities are moving beyond traditional study abroad through 2+2, 3+1+1, 4+1, 1+1, and full in-country degree models, reimagining partnerships to drive mutual growth, innovation, and impact.

Presenters

• Chair: Fatou Kine Badiane-Toure, Regional Manager (REAC), West & Central Africa
  EducationUSA
• Phil Agbeko, CEO, Hilltop Global Group, LLC
• Marilyn Owusu, EducationUSA Adviser, EducationUSA Ghana
• Haley Williams, MPS, Senior Director, Global Affairs and International Student Services, Fort Hays State University

The Power of Data-Informed Storytelling

4:15 – 5:05 p.m. EDT

It is widely known that data is key to sound decision-making, but data also lacks meaning without skillful interpretation. Join this session on how to bring data to life with powerful stories that can move the needle for institutional decision-making and success.

Presenters:

• Chair: Lisa A. Maroni, M.Ed., Regional Manager (REAC) for East and Southern Africa, EducationUSA
• Megan Mankerian-Stem, MS, Founder and Executive Director, Global Leaders Collective
• Blair Thomson, Senior International Officer, University of Mississippi
• Pieter Vermeulen, MBA, Senior Director, International Recruitment, University of North Texas

Activating International Alumni to Drive Engagement, Visibility, and Outreach

1:00 – 1:50 p.m. EDT

Alumni are powerful yet often overlooked assets in global outreach. This session shares practical, budget-friendly strategies from Arizona State University and EducationUSA on engaging alumni as mentors, storytellers, and ambassadors to boost brand presence, support students, and connect with families and educators in culturally authentic ways.

Presenters:

• Chair: Lewis A. Cardenas, MR, Regional Manager (REAC), South Asia, EducationUSA
• Niky Chokshi, Senior Executive Liaison, Arizona State University
• Holly Singh, Assistant Vice President, International Relations and Initiatives, Arizona State University

Career Pathways in a Global Workforce: Why International Experiences Matter

3:30 – 4:20 p.m. EDT

This session explores how global internships affect students’ global skills development, making participants attractive candidates in a global workforce. International education leaders share findings on employability and global internships, highlighting successful program models and practices for managing effective employer relationships.

Presenters:

• Chair: Mirka Martel, PhD, Head of Research, Evaluation & Learning, IIE
• Kelly M. Holland, M.Ed., Vice President, Strategic Communications & Engagement, AIFS Abroad
• Christopher Powers, MA, Assistant Vice President for International Initiatives, Towson University

Student-Centered Recruitment in a Competitive Market

3:30 – 4:20 p.m. EDT
In today’s competitive recruitment landscape with growing study destinations and limited budgets, innovative and cost-effective strategies are essential. This session highlights the value of student-centered recruitment plans and the benefits of multi-institution outreach to maximize impact and effectiveness.

Presenters:

• Ana Villavicencio, MPA, Regional Manager (REAC), EducationUSA
• Tracy L. C Koslowski, MA, Lecturer & Associate Director of Recruitment and Development, The University of Mississippi
• Ana Lucia Pro, Adviser, EducationUSA

Activating Fulbright on Your Campus: Practical Strategies to Recruit, Engage, and Advocate

10:30 – 10:55 a.m. EDT

The Fulbright Program remains one of the most powerful tools campuses have to advance global learning, institutional reputation, and student and faculty success—yet many institutions underutilize their greatest asset: the Fulbright alumni community.
This session brings together perspectives from the Fulbright Association and the Fulbright Program to share practical, campus-ready strategies for promoting Fulbright opportunities more effectively. Participants will learn how to activate alumni as ambassadors.
Designed for international educators at institutions of all sizes, this session will move beyond awareness-raising to offer concrete tactics that can be implemented immediately to strengthen Fulbright pipelines and deepen campus engagement.

Presenters:

• Tammy Hettinger, Executive Director, Fulbright Association
• Christina Rozek, Specialist, Fulbright Program, IIE

Crafting Connection Through Storytelling

12:30 – 1:20 p.m. EDT

Storytelling helps international educators make data personal and their mission more impactful. This interactive session offers practical tools and real examples to help participants find, shape, and share compelling stories. Learn how to strengthen engagement with students, partners, and stakeholders by bringing heart into communications.

Presenter:

• Karen M. Bauer, Master’s in International Education, Regional Manager for Middle East & Central Asia, EducationUSA, U.S. Department of State
• Shana Childs, MS, Director of Content Strategy, IIE
• Elizabeth Hendley, Editor in Chief and Director, Publishing Services, NAFSA
• Greg Holz, MBA, Assistant Director for Global Engagement, University of Central Missouri

Transforming English Language Program Mobility Data and Insights into Innovation

12:30 – 1:20 p.m. EDT

Join panelists from EnglishUSA and the Institute of International Education as they discuss Open Doors data, emerging trends in international student mobility, and implications for English language programs and institutions. Attendees gain timely insights on evolving recruitment patterns, as well as practical strategies to stay competitive in a rapidly changing global landscape.

Panelists:

• Cheryl Delk-Le Good, MA, Executive Director, EnglishUSA
• Julie Baer, EdM, Deputy Director of Research, Evaluation & Learning, IIE
• Daryl Bish, M.Ed., Assistant Director, English Language Institute, University of Florida
• Sandra Story, MA and Med, Regional English Language Officer (RELO), U.S. Department of State

Connection by Design: Turning Remote Team Building into Student Belonging

12:30 – 1:20 p.m. EDT

Drawing from successful strategies of remote teams, this session shows how international education leaders build community for new students before they arrive. It provides actionable ideas for designing inclusive, community-centered experiences that connect new students, making them feel welcomed from anywhere in the world.

Presenters:

• Chair: Melissa A. Deschamps, EdD, REAC: Regional Manager, EducationUSA
• Bailey Anne Corbin, Assistant Director, International Admissions, Iowa State University
• Marigold S. Holmes, PhD Candidate, Director, Office of International Admissions, Oregon State University

Internationalization in the MENA Region: Policies, Practices, and Pathways Forward

3:30 – 4:20 p.m. EDT

This panel explores internationalization across the Middle East and north Africa region through policy analysis and case studies from Egypt, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Qatar. Learn from national strategies and institutional innovations in mobility, partnerships, and balancing global engagement with local identity.

Presenters:

• Cesar Wazen, MA, Director of International Affairs Office, Qatar University
• Tiffani Nutter, Director of International Affairs, Prince Sultan University
• Awder Ahmed, PhD, Professor, Sulaimani Polytechnic University
• Karen M. Bauer, Master’s in International Education, Regional Manager, Middle East & Central Asia, EducationUSA, U.S. Department of State

Redesigning Orientation: Enhancing Global Campus Engagement Through Communication Shifts

4:45 – 5:35 p.m. EDT

Exploring how to redesign orientations to reflect expanding communication on global campuses, this session engages staff and faculty in aligning goals for students, hosts, and institutions. By fostering inclusive and meaningful connections, participants support deeper engagement and cultural adjustment across diverse communities.

Presenters:

• Chair: Carissa McCarthy, MA, Assistant Director for Student Engagement and Special Populations, Rutgers University- Rutgers Global-ISSO
• Farah F. Cherif D’Ouezzan, Master’s, Founder & General Director, Center for Cross-Cultural Learning (CCCL) Morocco
• Carol Kigozi, Advisor, Fulbright Foreign Student Program, IIE

Resilient Recruitment Markets in Turbulent Times

9:00 – 9:50 a.m. EDT

This session explores which international markets continue to see growth in student demand and enrollments in U.S. institutions despite global and geopolitical challenges. Utilizing data from the Institute of International Education’s Open Doors and IDP Education’s demand data, speakers examine the markets demonstrating the most resilience and the factors driving their growth.

Presenters:

• Elle Butler, MS, Director of Marketing, USA, IDP Education
• Vern Granger, MA, Director, Undergraduate Admissions, University of Connecticut
• Lisa A. Maroni, M.Ed., Regional Manager (REAC) for East and Southern Africa, EducationUSA
• Mirka Martel, PhD, Head of Research, Evaluation & Learning, IIE

Strengthening US-Latin America Educational Exchange

9:00 – 9:50 a.m. EDT

This panel examines the benefits, barriers, and potential of knowledge exchange between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean. The session also explores practical strategies to build sustainable partnerships in the region that can generate mobility, foster innovation, and support sustainable development.

Presenters:

• Chair: Julie Baer, EdM, Deputy Director of Research, Evaluation & Learning, IIE
• Giselle Dubinsky, Regional Manager (REAC) for NCAC Region, EducationUSA
• Liliana Morachis, Associate Director for International Recruitment Initiatives, Arizona State University

Designing Global Insight: Transformative Learning Through Fulbright IEA Awards

9:00 – 9:50 a.m. EDT

The Fulbright International Education Administrator (IEA) Awards empower professionals to build strategic global partnerships and advance campus internationalization. Attendees learn from past awardees to India, South Korea, and Taiwan, as well as discover the Institute of Education’s program insights on how to apply, leverage the experience, and transform institutions.

Presenters:

• Maggie Mahoney, EdD, Director of Global Engagement, University of Houston
• Whitney Longnecker, MA, Health and Safety Manager, Texas A&M University
• Jen Murray, Assistant Director, Fulbright U.S. Scholar Outreach and Recruitment, IIE
• Kyle Rausch, EdD, Vice President, Academic Partnerships, CEA CAPA Education Abroad

Global Launchpad: Study Abroad to Fellowships to Career Success Pipeline

10:30 – 11:20 a.m. EDT

Study abroad professionals and alumni will explore strategies to build a pipeline from study abroad to fellowships to successful careers. The session covers a variety of practices, including integrated messaging, campus collaboration, alumni engagement, and strategic initiative alignment to amplify the long-term impact of global experiences.

Presenters:

• Chair: Andra Jacques, MA, Assistant Director, Fulbright Outreach and Recruitment
• Samuel Watson, MA, MS, AI Research Assistant | Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship Alumni Ambassador | East-West Center Affiliate | University of Hawaii at Manoa Laboratory for Advanced Visualization and Applications | US Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs | East-West Center
• Tessa Zanoni, M.Ed., Director, PDSO/RO, Office Of International Affairs, North Park University
• Jacqueline Quevedo Ledermann, MA, Diplomacy and International Relations, Assistant Director, Global Academic Programs and Instructor of Globalization Studies/Honor’s College Affiliated Faculty, University at Albany, SUNY

The Impact of Country Partnerships on U.S. Study Abroad Engagement

11:40 a.m.–12:30 p.m. EDT

Global partners of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program from Germany, New Zealand, and Portugal share strategies for recruiting and engaging U.S. students in study abroad programs. Panelists highlight the benefits of country partnerships as a long-term strategy for study abroad, offering best practices and outlooks on internationalization trends.