Supporting Value, Access, and Well-Being in Education Abroad

Santa Clara, California
​Santa Clara University 
Friday, January 30, 2026
10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. PST

Amidst times of funding cuts, shifting priorities, immigration and global mobility threats, education abroad professionals are increasingly called upon to demonstrate the value of global learning experiences. At the same time, they continue to navigate complex challenges around equitable access, student support, and fostering success for all students.  

This day-long Regional Seminar in Santa Clara gave participants the space to examine how global events and evolving geopolitical landscapes impact the education abroad experience and the mental health and well-being of students and practitioners. 

Hosted by Santa Clara University and The Forum on Education Abroad, the event was designed for early and mid-career education abroad professionals and faculty who lead programs or support international efforts in the region.

​Through interactive sessions and expert insights from public institutions, community colleges, private institutions, and international education organizations, participants developed frameworks for navigating external environmental influences, while upholding global learning values and advocating for education abroad opportunities.  

Read the Recap

Hosted by:

Sponsored by:

learning outcomes

By attending the Regional Seminar, you could expect to:     

• Develop and apply strategies to articulate the value of education abroad in ways that resonate with diverse stakeholders in contexts of limited funding and shifting priorities. 
• Explore practical tools, technologies, and practices to reduce barriers and create more accessible education abroad experiences for all students. 
• ​Learn to champion supportive practices for student well-being and the well-being of practitioners. 

Agenda & Location

Agenda
The following agenda is tentative and subject to change. ​

Time	Session	Speakers
10:00 a.m.	Welcome + The Day’s Agenda
10:15 a.m.	Session 1: Framing the Issue	Susan Popko
10:45 a.m.	Session 2: Future-Ready Programs Prioritize Wellbeing	Julie Pollard Sarah Spencer
12:00 p.m.	Lunch (included with registration)
1:30 p.m.	Session 3: Equipping the Next Generation: Tools for Fostering Global Learning and Dialogue When Tensions are High	David Wick Colette Plum Sara Branley Miloni Gandhi Keri Toma Loehrer
2:45 p.m.	Break
3:00 p.m.	Session 4: Strategic Advocacy for Education Abroad: Engaging Internal and External Stakeholders	Dan Waite Jaishankar Raman David Wick Marilyn Jackson
4:15 p.m.	Closing

Location
500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053
Robert F. Benson Memorial Center
Williman Room

Hotels nearby

• Sonesta Suites (Directly across the street from campus next to the Santa Clara Transit Center)
• AC Hotel by Marriott in Downtown San Jose
• De Anza in Downtown San Jose
• Mission Inn Santa Clara
• Hotel Valencia Santana Row

Public Transport
https://www.scu.edu/globalengagement/global-partnerships/global-partnerships-viewbook/delegation-and-visitor-resources/

Registration Rates

Making the ask to attend? Download our Letter to Your Manager template for a place to start!
Not sure if your institution is a Forum member? Check here.

Registration Period	Valid Dates	Pricing
Early Bird Registration	October 2 – November 20	Member: $349 Non-Member: $399
Regular Registration	November 21 – December 19	Member: $399 Non-Member: $449
Late Registration	December 20 – January 27	Member: $449 Non-Member: $499

Your registration includes lunch and a coffee break. Registration for this event closes on January 27, 2026.

session Details

Session I 
Framing the Issue 
Presenters: Susan Popko, Associate Provost for International Programs, Santa Clara University 
Description:  
As education abroad professionals, we are increasingly called to support students and programs in a world marked by complexity, conflict, and change. This framing session will set the tone for our day exploring how we can respond with intention, care, and strategy. This is especially important now, as our ability to adapt and support students meaningfully is critical to the future of international education.  
We’ll begin by examining the foundational tension between conflict and wellbeing in learning environments, and how trauma-informed, student-centered approaches can help us build more resilient and inclusive programs. From there, we’ll move into practical strategies for supporting students abroad as they navigate unfamiliar academic, cultural, and geopolitical contexts. This includes helping them distinguish between discomfort and danger, and encouraging engagement with diverse perspectives. Finally, we’ll take a step back to consider how we advocate for the value of education abroad itself. We’ll focus on equipping ourselves with language, strategies, and insights to make the case for international education in a rapidly shifting institutional and global landscape.  
Learning Outcomes: 
At the end of the session, participants will be able to: 

• Recognize the key challenges and opportunities currently shaping the field. 

• Identify strategies for engaging with diverse perspectives and navigating conflict in international education contexts. 

• Reflect on their role in advocating for the value of education abroad within their institutions and communities. 

 
Session II 
Future-Ready Programs Prioritize Wellbeing 
Presenters:  

• Julie Pollard, Director of International Health, Safety, and Crisis Management, University of California Education Abroad Program 

• Sarah Spencer, Founder, OnPoint Global Strategies & Coaching 

​Description: 
Conflict and wellbeing are essential for learning. How do we balance both? We’ll discuss trauma-informed approaches to creating and sustaining meaningful learning spaces for students and examine where and how we can refine education abroad policies, programs, and practices to foster well being. We’ll discover tools for aligning services to prepare students in navigating the conflicts and challenges they will encounter and resources for the staff performing this work. We’ll address current and upcoming trends in student and staff wellness, explore best practices in resource building and utilization, and tackle what partnership looks like under stress. We’ll strengthen our own reserves as practitioners while maintaining support for our students.  
Learning Outcomes: 
At the end of the session, participants will be able to: 

• Explain diverse approaches to wellness and wellbeing in education abroad. 

• Identify the aspects of education abroad that facilitate or inhibit wellness and wellbeing for both students and practitioners. 

• Practice building policies, programs, and practices that facilitate wellbeing. 

 
Session III 
Equipping the Next Generation: Tools for Fostering Global Learning and Dialogue When Tensions are High 
Presenters:  

• David Wick, Associate Professor and Chair International Education Management, Middlebury Institute of International Studies 
• Colette Plum, Assistant Dean of Study Abroad, University of California, Berkeley 
• Sara Branley, Director of Study Abroad, Santa Clara University
• Miloni Gandhi, Adjunct Faculty, Foothill College
• Keri Toma Loehrer, International Programs Manager and Communications Specialist, San Jose State University

​Description:
This session offers practical strategies for supporting students abroad in today’s complex global climate. Learn how to help students navigate today’s geopolitical landscape outside of the U.S., understand the difference between being unsafe and uncomfortable, engage with perspectives different than their own, and adapt to unfamiliar academic environments with regards to intellectual diversity and academic freedom. 
Learning Outcomes: 
At the end of the session, participants will be able to: 

• Explore somatic practices that ground and empower in encounters with difference. 

• Describe the dynamic of conflict as it relates to our work and student learning. 

• Build your tool kit for facilitating productive dialogue with your colleagues, students, and community partners. 

 
Session IV 
Strategic Advocacy for Education Abroad: Engaging Internal and External Stakeholders 
Presenters:  ​

• Dan Waite, Associate Vice Provost and Executive Director, University of California Education Abroad Program
  
• Jaishankar Raman, Executive Director of International Affairs, California State University
  
• David Wick, Associate Professor and Chair International Education Management, Middlebury Institute of International Studies ​
  
• Marilyn Jackson, Assistant Vice President for International Education, San Francisco State University

Description:
In this plenary panel style session, learn how to effectively advocate for Education Abroad amid today’s geopolitical and institutional challenges. This session will offer practical language, stakeholder strategies, and insights into current trends impacting EA. Explore how to address administrative concerns, adapt to changing student demographics, and make a compelling case for international education in uncertain times. 
Learning Outcomes: 

• Develop and apply strategies to articulate the value of education abroad in ways that resonate with diverse stakeholders in contexts of limited funding and shifting priorities. 

• Utilize The Forum on Education Abroad data in action plans and communication strategies 

 ​

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Speakers and Planning Committee

Sara Branley
​Director of Global Learning
​Santa Clara University (SCU) 

Read Sara's Bio

Sara Branley is the Director of Global Learning at Santa Clara University (SCU), where she has served since 2019 after joining SCU as Assistant Director in 2016. She brings over 20 years of experience in higher education, including 10 years in international education.

At SCU, Sara has led efforts to expand access and inclusion in study abroad, optimize financial frameworks, strengthen health and safety protocols, develop strategic global partnerships, and create innovative student programming. Prior to SCU, she worked in study abroad advising at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and in academic advising and career services earlier in her career.

​Sara studied abroad in Ireland as an undergraduate, an experience that continues to inspire her work in global learning. She holds an M.Ed. in Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs from the University of Southern California and served on the NAFSA Region XII Northern District board from 2015 to 2017.

Miloni Gandhi, Ph.D.
​Adjunct Faculty
Foothill College

Read Miloni's Bio

Dr. Miloni Gandhi is an international education practitioner, consultant, and global learning strategist with more than a decade of cross-border experience spanning the United States, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Pacific. Her career is defined by a commitment to building globally connected institutions, expanding equitable access to learning, and strengthening international partnerships through innovative program design, research, and capacity-building.

Dr. Gandhi’s has spent extensive periods abroad, including academic and professional placements in Hawaii, Japan, India, Spain, Singapore, Latin America, and Central Asia, where she deepened her understanding of intercultural communication, community-embedded learning, and international development systems. These formative experiences shaped her professional philosophy: that high-quality global education depends on sustained cultural humility, locally grounded perspectives, and collaborative leadership across borders.

As Founder of Experience International LLC, Miloni leads complex, multi-country consulting projects with bilateral and multilateral partners such as The Ministry of Education Peru, HAUS.fi (Finland), the European Union, and regional ministries in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Her major recent work includes:

- Ministry of Education Peru (2024) - Contributing policy research, framework analysis, and capacity-building recommendations to advance the internationalization of public universities in Peru.

- HAUS–EU Central Asia C4CA Project (2025) - Leading qualitative research, digital-skills gap assessments, stakeholder engagement, training module design, and capacity-building strategies for five Central Asian governments.

- Digital Skills & E-Learning Readiness Assessments (Central Asia) — Designing cross-country COM-B and FAP frameworks, gap-severity indexes, and platform readiness analyses to support EU-aligned governance and sustainable digital-learning ecosystems.

- Policy Advisory & Internationalization Consulting — Supporting institutions such as the East West Center on strategic planning, global engagement models, international partnerships, and experiential learning.

Dr. Gandhi also brings extensive experience in teaching global studies, developing international curricula, and mentoring students in intercultural communication, global citizenship, and comparative education. Her academic and professional lens is deeply shaped by time spent living and working abroad, participatory field research, and a passion for creating globally connected, socially responsible learning environments. She also teaches Ethics of AI and Internships.

​Across all roles, Dr. Gandhi’s work centers on ensuring that learners, educators, and institutions gain the global competencies, digital skills, and intercultural fluency needed to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.

Marilyn Jackson, Ed.D.
Assistant Vice President for International Education, San Francisco State University

Read Marilyn's Bio

Marilyn Jackson, Ed.D., is the Assistant Vice President for International Education at San Francisco State University (SFSU), where she oversees study abroad, international student services, and global partnerships supporting both inbound and outbound students.

Dr. Jackson has 30 years of experience in international education and has been part of the SFSU community since 1999. A former study abroad student who spent two years in Tübingen, Germany, she holds a bachelor’s degree from Vassar College and a master’s degree from Tufts University, both in German language and literature. She earned her doctorate in international and multicultural education from the University of San Francisco, where her dissertation examined the experiences of African American study abroad students.

She is a Fulbright International Education Administrator Award recipient to Germany and a participant in the DAAD Germany Today program. Dr. Jackson has presented nationally and regionally on diversity, equity, and the role of media in education abroad. An active member of NAFSA’s Black and Multi-Cultural Professionals in International Education (BMcPIE), she relaunched the group’s mentor program in 2022 and co- developed the Lift as We Climb: Promoting Black and African American Leaders in International Education session, which has been part of the NAFSA annual conference since its debut in 2014.

She is delighted to join this seminar, especially at this time, and looks forward to the opportunity for dialogue and collaboration.

Colette Plum, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean of Study Abroad
​​​University of California, Berkeley​​​
​

Read Colette's Bio

Dr. Colette Plum is the Assistant Dean for UC Berkeley Study Abroad. She holds various leadership roles at UCB and UC systemwide to influence and implement internationalization strategy and promote student mobility and global academic cooperation. Colette is responsible for study abroad strategic planning, promoting and sustaining institutional partnerships, operations, program development, student recruitment and advising for outbound student mobility and inbound international dual degrees. Colette conducted research in China as a Fulbright Scholar in Sichuan, and has lived, researched and taught extensively in China as resident faculty at study abroad centers, including the Stanford Center at Peking University, the Hopkins-in- Nanjing Program and the Council for International Education Exchange’s Nanjing Study Center. She holds a dual bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Anthropology from the University of California San Diego, a master’s degree in East Asian Studies from Stanford University, and a PhD in Chinese history from Stanford University.

Julie Pollard
Director of International Health, Safety, and Crisis Management, University of California Education Abroad Program ​

Read Julie's Bio

Julie Pollard is the Director of International Health, Safety, & Crisis Management for the systemwide education abroad program of the University of California (UCEAP).

She has twenty years of experience in international education, operational experience in over 80 countries, and spent ten years in Turkey working in private sector study abroad operations for the Knowledge Exchange Institute.

Pollard is a member of Pulse and has presented at OSAC, NAFSA, Forum on Education Abroad, EAIE, AIEA, URMIA, and EURIE on health, safety, and security topics in international education programming.

​She is a Forum Council member serving through 2028 and co-editor of the 5th Standards in Action Book published by The Forum, Convergence of Litigation, Policy, and Standards: Building the Informed Practitioner in Education Abroad Risk Management.

Susan Popko, Ed.D.
Associate Provost for International Programs
​Santa Clara University
​

Read Susan's Bio

Susan Popko is Associate Provost for International Programs at Santa Clara University. She has over 28 years of experience working in international affairs and joined Santa Clara University in July 2011 as the founding chief international officer. She works with faculty and staff in departments across the University on global partnerships and initiatives, global learning, global health, safety and risk and international enrollment strategy. She oversees Global Engagement, including Education Abroad and International Students and Scholars. Her career in international education includes roles at a number of universities including Occidental College, Pomona College, Arcadia University, Pitzer College, Claremont Graduate University and Scripps College. Dr. Popko is a leader in international and higher education and has served in leadership roles on national boards including the Forum on Education Abroad and the Fund for Education Abroad, as well as numerous national advisory boards and committees. She is both an AIEA Neal Presidential Fellow and two-time Neal Presidential Fellow Mentor, as well as an AIEA Senior Advisor. She holds a doctorate in Education from Santa Clara University, bachelors and masters degrees in Music from St. Olaf College and University of York, Great Britain, respectively.

Jaishankar Raman, Ph.D.
Executive Director of International Affairs
​California State University​
​

Read Jaishankar's Bio

As the Executive Director of international affairs, he oversees a portfolio that includes the systemwide study abroad programs, administers all campus agreements and MOUs, acts as a liaison between campuses and the Chancellors office for policy matters. He is the designated systemwide senior international officer in the Chancellor’s office for the 22 universities of the California State University system.

​Prior to joining CSU, Dr. Raman was the Assistant Provost for International Affairs at Valparaiso University, Indiana and Professor of Economics. Dr. Raman has a B.A. in Economics from the University of Bombay, an M.A. from Fordham University, and a Ph. D from the University of Notre Dame in International Economics and Economic Development.

Sarah Spencer
Founder
​OnPoint Global Strategies & Coaching
​

Read Sarah's Bio

Sarah E. Spencer is the founder of OnPoint Global Strategies & Coaching, empowering global educators with customized team and leadership development, executive and career professional coaching and project-based solutions. Sarah is also the co-founder of the Global Leadership League, where she currently contributes to thought leadership, training programs and volunteers on its executive board. She held a variety of leadership positions at the University of St. Thomas and continues to play an active role in higher education with trainings and presentations, after serving on diverse committees and elected board positions, including the Forum on Education Abroad, NAFSA, and advisory boards. ​​She is also co-editor of the first and second editions of NAFSA's The Guide to Successful Short-term Programs Abroad.

Keri Toma Loehrer, Ed.D.
International Programs Manager and Communications Specialist ​
​San Jose State University

Read keri's Bio

Keri Toma Loehrer, Ed.D. is the International Programs Manager and Communications Specialist at San José State University, where she develops co-curricular programs that help international students connect, engage, explore, and thrive. Having worked in higher education for two decades as both faculty and staff, Keri is passionate about supporting student success both in and out of the classroom. Keri earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership, focusing her research on intercultural learning, student leadership development, and the international student experience. She also holds a Masters in Teaching Foreign Language, a Masters in International Education Management, and a certificate in Language Program Administration from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Keri is an active NAFSA member, having served at both the regional and national levels. Most recently, Keri served as the 2025 Chair of the NAFSA Regional Affairs Committee. She looks forward to returning to the NAFSA Region XII leadership team as the 2026 Chair Elect.

Dan Waite, Ph.D.
Associate Vice Provost and Executive Director
​University of California Education Abroad Program

Read Dan's Bio

Dan Waite is a scholar-practitioner recently appointed the Associate Vice Provost and Executive Director of the University of California Education Abroad Program, which serves the ten campuses of the UC system under the UC Office of the President. He previously served as the Executive Director of the Rutgers Global – Center for Global Education at Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey. Dan’s work has focused on ensuring that all students have access to opportunities for global learning including international study, internships, service, and research. Under his leadership the Center at Rutgers developed an award-winning portfolio of access-focused programming including Access the World, Passport to the World, and the Global Learning Staff Fellows Initiative.

​Dan has 25 years of experience in international higher education, working at the intersection of a passion for experiential learning pedagogies and for creating transformative spaces where learning and community-building thrive across boundaries of difference. He has created study abroad programs in the Caribbean, Ghana, South Africa, China, and South Korea. Dan’s current research is focused on the history of black student-activists who studied abroad in 19th-century Europe and how a re- examination of the field’s roots might inform a contemporary reimagining of the education abroad field. His Global Learning Labs model of programming is designed to allow students and faculty to collaborate with peers around the world on ongoing research projects (Labs) that address grand global challenges.

​Dan earned a Ph.D. in Social Sciences and Comparative Education at the University of California, Los Angeles, where his research focused on the sociology of higher education and emerging models of experiential learning. His master’s degree in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education and Luce Foundation funded research explored the historic development of area studies programming in U.S. higher education. Dan has also studied and conducted research abroad in his home country of Antigua & Barbuda, as well as South Korea, and China.

Dr. David Wick
Associate Professor and Chair International Education Management
Middlebury Institute of International Studies

Read David's Bio

Dr. David Wick studied in Mexico, France, Germany, Austria, and the UK, taught in Hungary and France, delivered workshops in Azerbaijan, France, Georgia, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey, and was a Fulbright Scholar on the 2011 International Education Administrators’ Program in India.

Professionally David directed study abroad and exchange programming at 3 U.S. universities for over 20 years. In 2016 he began his current role as Associate Professor and Chair of the International Education Management program at the Middlebury Institute in Monterey, California. He teaches graduate courses on educational equity and social justice, student learning and development, and program design and assessment.

​He researches and publishes on equity and inclusion in international education. He serves in leadership roles for Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad and the Future Nobel Laureates Scholarship Program. He received the 2025 Forum on Education Abroad Peter A. Wollitzer Advocacy Award.

Audrey Bistline
Administrative & Events Coordinator
The Forum on Education Abroad
​

Read ​Audrey's Bio

As The Forum’s Administrative Assistant, Audrey is responsible for supporting office operations and serving as the first point of contact for inquiries and visitors. Audrey was born and raised in Brittany, France. She studied English, Spanish, and contemporary dance before earning a bachelor’s in psychology from the Université de Bretagne Occidentale.

​Audrey lived the abroad experience by visiting and discovering Polynesia, the West Indies, and the United States all before the age of 25. She has spent the last twelve years living and working in both the United States and France. Prior to joining The Forum, she assisted clients in the travel and tourism industry in the Languedoc Roussillon region of France.

Pato Lin-Steadman 
Director for Programs and Training 
​The Forum on Education Abroad​ ​

Read ​Pato's Bio

Dr. Patricia (Pato) Lin-Steadman serves as Director of Programs and Training, a role that allows her to combine her background and passion for education abroad with her other diverse professional experiences (teaching, professional development, trainings, and liaising with higher education professionals) to help promote and further develop The Forum’s mission. Born and raised in Argentina to Taiwanese parents, and then immigrating to the U.S. for college, Pato’s entire life has been an experience in living, studying, and working in diverse cultures. Her college experiences instilled in her a passion for helping students thrive while studying in foreign countries. In addition to being an international student herself, she also participated in other study abroad opportunities, including studying briefly in England, Jamaica, and Taiwan.

Pato has worked in international education across three different institutions and taught university courses in cultural adjustment and ESL. She completed her Master’s in International Studies, and her doctoral dissertation focused on evaluating changes in several factors of intercultural attitudes and awareness among students who studied abroad, providing valuable insights into factors which promote optimal outcomes for student experiences before, during, and after their foreign study.

In her professional work, Pato’s portfolio has included developing focused trainings for higher education staff who work with foreign students, facilitating study abroad opportunities for students, boosting overall campus internationalization, and directing intercultural exchange programs.

Most recently, Pato worked at Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA) as the Associate Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Through this role, she built valuable relationships with higher education leaders across the country, and she led a diverse portfolio of educational programs and initiatives.

Pato holds a B.S. in Elementary Education, an M.A. in International Studies, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. She speaks fluent English, Spanish, and Chinese.
​
She is also a Certified Professional in Education Abroad.