Telling Our Story: ​Annual Conference 2026—Virtual and in Nashville

Join us virtually from February 11–12 and in Nashville, Tennessee, from March 11–13, for Annual Conference 2026. Known for having the top professional development opportunities from education abroad experts, attendees can expect valuable networking opportunities with conference goers and exhibitors, inspiring sessions, and actionable learning. Pre-conference workshops, sessions, and posters will tell the story of education abroad while addressing a wide range of topics that help education abroad professionals prepare for pressing and trending topics in the field. ​

View the Full Schedule Now

What to Expect in 2026

We’re building on the best of 2025, with more sessions than ever before, offering ample opportunities to learn, connect, and innovate. Highlights will include:

• Pre-conference workshops
• Concurrent sessions beginning Wednesday afternoon
• The second annual InnovateEA pitch competition

Participate in Our #ForumEAinBoots Social Media Campaign

If you're attending this year's Annual Conference in Nashville, let your social media communities know! Use hashtag #ForumEAinBoots and tag The Forum on Education Abroad on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram to join the fun!

Sample Posts Here

​Be sure to subscribe to our weekly newsletter, the Forum News, so you don’t miss any updates about Annual Conference 2026.  

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Virtual Programming Spotlight

Learn more about our virtual Opening Session and Plenary that tackle some of today's most pressing challenges for our field and for the world:

Opening Session | ​Recognizing the Career ROI of Study Abroad

​Date: Wednesday, February 11
Time: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. CT

In this opening virtual session, we’ll reflect on the past year in education abroad and chart what comes next.

Guided by new research that captures the life-changing impact of study abroad, we’ll spotlight key findings on skill-building and career outcomes: critical thinking, adaptability, and cross-cultural communication among them.

​Explore what drives success and how we can better leverage this evidence to strengthen programs, partnerships, and the story of impact.

Plenary | Resilience and Renewal: Ukraine’s Higher Education in the Midst of War

Date: Thursday, February 12
Time: 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. CT

​The ongoing war in Ukraine has placed extraordinary strain on the country’s higher education sector, challenging institutions to sustain teaching, research, and international partnerships under conditions of displacement and uncertainty.

This plenary session explores how Ukrainian universities are navigating these realities—preserving academic continuity, supporting students and faculty, and reimagining their role in rebuilding society.

​Through firsthand accounts and collaborative dialogue, we will examine strategies for maintaining global engagement during crisis and identify opportunities for solidarity and partnership that strengthen higher education in Ukraine now and in the post-war future.

More details about both sessions, including presenter information, can be found in the Full Schedule.

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Thank You to Our 2026 Conference Committee

Special thanks to our Conference Committee for their guidance as we prepare for the Annual Conference 2026.​

• Sara Easler, The University of Tennessee (Chair)
• Brigitte Anderson, University of Pikeville
• Raquel Alexandra Arouca, University of Missouri
• Megan Avellana, The University of Texas at San Antonio
• Jeff Badger, Council of American Overseas Research Centers
• Sara Botsch, Austin Peay State University
• Christy Brady, University of Kentucky
• Megan Buntin, Northeastern University
• Christian Canizales, Georgia State University
• Theresa Castillo, Pellissippi State Community College
• Sarah Chenworth, CRCC Asia
• Michele Domenech, Gaston College
• Giti Farudi, Xavier University of Louisiana
• Chrissie Faupel, Appalachian State University
• Irma Gibson, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU)
• Nick Gozik, Elon University
• Rhonda Gregory, Volunteer State Community College
• Kim Griffin, APUNE
• Kathleen Griffiths, Uwtsd
• Gabriela Guzman, Pima Community College
• Aparajita Jaiswal, CILMAR, Purdue University
• Abbey Jones, Northern Virginia Community College
• Azim Khan, GlobalEduBridge
• ​Chelsea Kindred, Academic Programs International (API)

• Thomas King, Southwest Tennessee Community College
• Justin Kumamoto, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
• Bethany Kuwitzky, Texas Tech University
• Nikki Letawsky Shultz, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
• Laura Livermore, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
• Angela Luedke, UNC Wilmington
• Vaidas Lukosius, Tennessee State University
• Jillian Madden, Vanderbilt University
• Raven McKenzie, College of Southern Nevada
• Kamryn Moore, Saint Louis University
• Vanessa Nichol-Peters, Marist Italy
• Stephanie Rojas Miller, University of Northern Iowa
• Tammy Rosner, University System of Georgia
• Yasamin Sharif, CEA CAPA
• Kirsten Sheppard, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Kimberly Strozewski, North Carolina State University
• CJ Tremblay, Alethea Global Cooperative (Past Chair)
• Joshua Ull, EF Education First International, Ltd.
• Aisling Wakefield, University College Dublin
• Tracy Weber, Bryn Mawr College
• Xia Zhang, Alabama A&M University
• Audrey Bistline, The Forum on Education Abroad
• Elizabeth Frohlich, The Forum on Education Abroad, [email protected]
• Genesis Jardinico, The Forum on Education Abroad