Opening Plenary Panel

Global Employer Engagement: Strategies for University Success
Monday, October 14, 9 - 10:30 A.M.

In this dynamic session, we will explore the intersection of employer engagement, education abroad, and career development. We are excited to bring together global employers from diverse industries to share their insights on innovative strategies for collaborating with universities. Our focus will be on cultivating meaningful partnerships that enhance international internships, co-ops, and consulting projects, ensuring that students develop career competencies that are essential in today’s rapidly evolving global workforce.

This session will tackle some pressing questions higher education faces today: 

1. What are the emerging global trends in the workforce that universities should be preparing their students for?
2. How can universities better align their curricula with the needs of global employers?
3. What are the key cultural competencies students need to develop to succeed in a global work environment?

Join us for a thought-provoking session on these vital topics and more. With this industry lens, we aim to inspire actionable strategies to empower students for success in the global job market. Let’s shape the future of global learning together!

Plenary Speakers

Michael Palinginis
Group HR Manager, Lalizas S.A.

Michael Palinginis' Bio

​Michael Palinginis is the Group HR Manager of LALIZAS Maritime, a company, whose vision is to produce high quality products that ensure safety at sea. Michael brings over 20 years in various HR functions like, Strategic HR Leadership, Budgeting, Compensation and Benefits, Compliance and Talent Management. Michael holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management at the American College of Greece, and a Master’s Degree in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management at the London School of Economics. 

Domniki Diamantopoulou
Director, Career Development Office, Hellenic American College​

Domniki Diamantopoulou's Bio

As the Career Development Office Director of the Hellenic American University, Domniki guides students and alumni/ae from different academic fields and cultural backgrounds throughout their career paths by helping them assess their abilities and determine plans to achieve their goals, updating them on local and global job market trends, and assisting them in networking with prospective employers.

Previously, she worked as a foreign editor for some of the most influential Greek media outlets, such as “Athina 9.84” radio station, as well as “TA NEA”, “TO VIMA” and “Eleftherotypia” newspapers, where she also contributed to the Greek edition of “The New York Times”. During her years in journalism took up an interest in start-up entrepreneurship, innovation, and modern job market trends, while her work as a correspondent on various important international events helped her gain a global perspective in a wide range of topics from the economy to politics and intercultural communication.

Mario Vela
Assistant Vice-Provost, Career-Engaged Learning, University of Texas at San Antonio

Mario vela's bio 

Mario Vela is a visionary career development professional and double alumnus of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). As a sociology and philosophy graduate with a Master of Science in Sociology, Mario’s career journey has been deeply rooted in empowering individuals and fostering career opportunities.

Mario’s commitment to social impact began at the non-profit Family Service Association in San Antonio, where he started his professional career. He then served as the Director of Partnerships at the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE) in Chicago, a leading organization dedicated to advancing the employment and development of Latino professionals. Mario’s role at HACE involved cultivating strategic relationships and creating impactful programs for aspiring professionals.

Following his successful tenure at HACE, Mario joined the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in Chicago as the Director of Employer Relations. There, he played a pivotal role in establishing and managing over two-thousand global recruiting relationships, contributing to the sustained growth and success of the school’s career development initiatives.

In 2019, Mario returned to his alma mater, UTSA, as the Executive Director of the University Career Center, where he continues to make a significant impact on students’ and alumni career journeys. Currently, as the Assistant Vice-Provost of Career-Engaged Learning, Mario leads UTSA’s Classroom to Careers initiatives, driving innovation and bridging academic learning and professional success.

Mario’s vision for career development extends beyond his professional roles. He is the founder of the HSI Career Collaborative, a consultant, and mentor, engaging with students, professionals, and organizations to share his knowledge and inspire others to navigate their career paths with confidence. Mario’s dedication to social mobility has led him to actively support initiatives that promote opportunities for individuals in the workforce. Through his leadership, he strives to create a future where every individual can thrive and achieve their full potential.
With his experience and dedication to empowering individuals in their career paths, Mario is excited to share his insights and expertise at the CIGL opening plenary. 

Closing Activity and Celebration

Tuesday, October 15, 3:30 - 4:15 p.m. 

Presenters

Melissa Comiskey
Executive Director, Internship Programming, IES Abroad​

Melissa Comiskey’s Bio

​Melissa is the Executive Director of the Internship Programming department at IES Abroad, where she leads a team of talented professionals in expanding IES Abroad’s full-time global and virtual internship programs. She has 15 years of experience in the field of career development. Previously, she worked at the University of Chicago and at DePaul University, where she counseled students on career exploration and preparedness. She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Master of Education in Counseling with a concentration in College Student Development from DePaul University. 

Kate Moore, Ed.D.
​Principal and Co-Founder, Global Career Center (GCC)

Kate Moore's bio 

Dr. Kate Moore is an international educator energized by our changing world of work and how we connect campuses, communities, and companies across the globe. She built the Global Career Center (GCC) to partner with universities and colleges throughout the world, employers from a wide range of industries, and learners of all ages to connect employability and education through collaborative program development, comprehensive services delivery, and curated experiential education. Kate is committed to the fields of international education and workforce development, sharing knowledge and dialogue with the community through more than sixty presentations and publications.

​She authored the NAFSA book Internships, Service Learning and Research Abroad and was co-editor and contributor for the publication International Internships: Mission, Methods, and Models. Kate has decades of experience directly related to global internships and applied learning, including work within higher education, nonprofit management, workforce recruitment, government relations and civic engagement. She was honored as 2019 Mentor of the Year by Lead5050 and is a member of the GSD accelerator for female founders. Kate holds a BA in International Studies from American University, a MS in Nonprofit Management from Eastern University, and a Doctorate in Higher Education Management from University of Pennsylvania.

Melissa Torres
​President & CEO, The Forum on Education Abroad

Melissa Torres' Bio

Melissa Torres is The Forum’s President and CEO and has two decades of experience in higher education and program development. She previously served as Vice President for Academic Programs at IES Abroad where she supervised 36 international study abroad centers in Asia, Europe and Latin America. Her campus-based experience includes leading a variety of international initiatives for three institutions, including Brown University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and The Ohio State University. She worked as a change management consultant for Accenture, and most recently worked with a variety of colleges and universities to develop innovative, service-learning programs as Vice President of Institutional Relations at Global Vision International. 

​Melissa served as Chair of The Forum’s Outcomes Assessment and Research committee for three years, was a member of NAFSA’s Work, Internships, Volunteering and Research Abroad (WIVRA) subcommittee and a founding member of the Business International Studies Network (BISNet) Business Colloquium. She holds a BA in International Studies from Stonehill College and a Master’s degree in Global Education from The Ohio State University. She speaks Spanish fluently and has studied French, Irish Gaelic and Portuguese.