The National Academy for International Education Inducts Inaugural Class of Members

Ring of green olive leaves logo next to National Academy for International Education text

23 international educators will focus on reducing inequities in the field

 

WASHINGTON D.C., Mar. 22, 2021 – The Institute of International Education (IIE) announces the National Academy for International Education, the first learned society dedicated to international education. The Academy is an honorary society and think tank made up of distinguished leaders actively engaged in shaping international education and generating knowledge to advance the field.

Twenty-three international educators from around the world were invited to join the Academy’s inaugural class. They represent the core tenets of the Academy including diversity of perspectives and a commitment to equity, collaboration, and pushing the boundaries of knowledge. Inductees are educators from higher education institutions and organizations of all sizes and represent countries from all over the world including Australia, Canada, China, Ghana, Japan, Taiwan, and the U.S.

The Academy’s mission is to galvanize a group of distinguished thinkers to shape and advance international higher education in ways that address global challenges and build a more peaceful, sustainable, and equitable world. Members of the Academy will dedicate this first year to further establishing its organizational structure and have already introduced collaborative projects under the theme of “Reducing Inequalities in and through International Education.”

“The National Academy for International Education provides a critical space for some of the most accomplished international education professionals to work together on pressing issues for our field,” said Allan Goodman, President and CEO of IIE. “The Academy recognizes these distinguished individuals and the role they play in shaping our world.”

A small group of international education leaders supported IIE in forming the initial framework for the Academy:

  • Fanta Aw, Vice President of Campus Life & Inclusive Excellence at American University
  • William Brustein, Special Assistant to the President for Global Affairs and the Eberly Distinguished Professor of History at West Virginia University
  • Susan Buck Sutton, Associate Vice President for International Affairs Emerita at Indiana University
  • Ahmad Ezzeddine, Associate Vice President for Education Outreach & International Programs at Wayne State University
  • Ross Lewin, Associate Vice President for International Affairs at the University of Maryland
  • Joanna Regulska, Vice Provost and Dean of Global Affairs at the University of California, Davis
  • Dawn Michele Whitehead, Vice President, Office of Global Citizenship for Campus, Community and Careers at the Association of American Colleges & Universities. These individuals continue to serve as members of the Academy and as a provisional Executive Committee.

Susan Buck Sutton, who helped spearhead the Academy’s formation noted “it is time to think broadly and boldly about the field of international education, to understand more fully what it might do, and to frame our programs and activities with new meaning. The National Academy for International Education promises to do just this. It honors individuals already engaged in such rethinking, draws attention to the ways their work benefits their institutions and society more generally, and pools their collective wisdom for a still brighter future.”

More information about the Academy and its inaugural class can be found at www.iie.org/Academy.

About IIE:

Established in 1919, IIE is a global not-for-profit that creates and implements international education programs, conducts research, and provides life-changing opportunities for students and scholars worldwide. IIE collaborates with a range of corporate, government and foundation partners across the globe to design and manage scholarship, study abroad, workforce training and leadership development programs. IIE has a network of 17 offices and affiliates worldwide and over 1,450 member institutions. Visit iie.org.

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