Leadership Institute: Leading Education Abroad into the Future
Presented by The Forum’s Board of Directors
Saturday, March 23, 2024 

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Time: 8 AM- 3:30 PM |  Location: Boston University, Boston MA
Maximum Capacity: 30 people
Price: $400 

​Audience: Individuals in a variety of existing or emerging leadership positions across the landscape of education abroad

In the aftermath of the pandemic, the need for leadership and the creation of a new ed abroad leadership pipeline, has become increasingly apparent. Not only have leadership skills evolved in recent years, so too have the people doing the leading and the team members being led. From managing global health, economic, and environmental crises to supporting the mental health and wellness of our students and our teams, leaders are being asked to navigate increasingly complex challenges. With growing budget constraints and tectonic shifts in demographics and public opinion of the value of higher education, how we both manage and lead our teams is constantly changing. This event will bring together a select group of leaders with a rich variety of experiences to engage in dialogue and reflection on how we can all thrive in uncertain times.

Hosted by:

Join us to engage in an intimate event featuring expert facilitated discussions on four pressing leadership issues in the field:

1.Supporting and Retaining Study Abroad Staff

The State of the Field Survey highlighted the significant changes in recruiting, hiring, and retaining top talent in education abroad. How can new and seasoned leaders help mentor and encourage the next generation of education abroad professionals when facing reduced budgets, competition, and fallout from the global pandemic? What can we do to ensure our teams represent the diversity of students at our institutions and that is desired on education abroad programs?

Suggested Learning Outcomes:

• Strategies and tools for reaching diverse candidates
• Awareness of the importance of onboarding to retention
• Creating an inclusive and welcoming team
• Build an individualized professional growth plan for direct reports
• Having difficult conversations with staff

Resources

• State of the Field 2022
• A House Where All Belong

Facilitators

Enda Carroll

Enda Carroll is currently Associate Director of University of College Dublin Global and heads the Americas division of the office. She leads a team based in Dublin and the USA who are dedicated to the support and recruitment of students from the Americas.  Her position involves working in collaboration with UCD’s Schools and Colleges in the areas of academic program development and management of relationships with UCD’s key partners in the region.  In 2011, she established of UCD’s first North America Global Center in New York City with satellite offices in Chicago and Los Angeles.  She is an active contributor to study abroad strategy, initiatives and committees in Ireland at the national sector level.  She has served on the Forum on Education Abroad board for several years and was the first Chair to be based at a member institution outside the United States.  

John lucas

John Lucas is President and CEO of International Student Exchange Programs (ISEP), the world’s largest network of more than 350 member and affiliate colleges and universities from 55 countries cooperating to provide affordable international educational experiences for a diverse student population.  Prior to joining ISEP, John Lucas was the Senior Vice President for Academic Programs at SIT World Learning. He served as the chief academic officer for World Learning's graduate programs, SIT Study Abroad, and The Experiment in International Living, overseeing programs in more than 50 countries.  Lucas previously served as deputy director and associate vice president of academic programs for IES Abroad, where he served as the primary author of the IES Abroad MAP for Language and Intercultural Communication.  He also spent 12 years working abroad, directing international programs in Spain for IES, CIEE, and the Institute for Social and International Studies at Portland State University.  John holds a master's and doctorate degrees in Spanish linguistics from Penn State University and a master's degree in international and intercultural management from SIT Graduate Institute. ​​​

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2.Advocacy, Cultivating Relationships, and Managing Up

Education abroad relies on stakeholders across an institution or organization and beyond. Effectively managing up and creating buy-in when there are so many competing priorities makes it difficult to know where to start and how to navigate.

Suggested Learning Outcomes:

• Understand key stakeholder groups (Financial aid, registrar, advising, DEI/DEIB, Career Services, Athletics, Health Services, Housing, Risk Management, Community Standards, etc.)
• Explore strategies for managing up and across an organization
• Consider approaches for building effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders

Facilitators

martha johnson

​Martha Johnson is the Executive Vice President and Provost for CEA CAPA, a global education abroad provider.  She has worked in education abroad since 1991, most recently as the Assistant Dean for Learning Abroad at the University of Minnesota. Martha holds a PhD in American Studies from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England, and regularly presents at international conferences. She previously served in leadership roles, and has been active in, NAFSA, the Forum on Education Abroad, Diversity Abroad, the Global Leadership League, and the Fund for Education Abroad. She is currently serving as Secretary on the Board of Directors for the Forum

nicole stokes

​Nicole Stokes  brings over 25 years of academic and administrative experience along with a personal and professional commitment to promoting equity to her current role as Division Head (Dean) for Social Sciences and Professor of Sociology at Pennsylvania State University at Abington. Nicole is a political sociologist, and her scholarship consists of three distinct areas of research—citizenship studies and the nation-state; international migration; and political systems, nationalism, and public policy.
 
As a passionate advocate for global education and increased access and belonging in higher education, Nicole serves on several boards and committees committed to equity and inclusion. These include the American Council on Education Women's Executive Leadership Council, Delaware Valley-Philadelphia Chapter of the Fulbright Alumni Association, the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences (CCAS) and the Public Policy Committee for the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE). ​

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3.When Things Get Difficult: Resiliency and Self Care

Moving into a leadership role means taking on more responsibility, making hard decisions, and being accountable in a crisis or emergency. This discussion will examine strategies for navigating tough situations and finding support when things get difficult for you and/or your team.
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Learning Outcomes

• Identify and approach trustworthy advisors and mentors
• Own and grow when mistakes are made
• Recognize when events are beyond your control
• Put your own oxygen mask on first: making care for yourself a priority​ ​

Facilitators

Enda Carroll

Enda Carroll is currently Associate Director of University of College Dublin Global and heads the Americas division of the office. She leads a team based in Dublin and the USA who are dedicated to the support and recruitment of students from the Americas.  Her position involves working in collaboration with UCD’s Schools and Colleges in the areas of academic program development and management of relationships with UCD’s key partners in the region.  In 2011, she established of UCD’s first North America Global Center in New York City with satellite offices in Chicago and Los Angeles.  She is an active contributor to study abroad strategy, initiatives and committees in Ireland at the national sector level.  She has served on the Forum on Education Abroad board for several years and was the first Chair to be based at a member institution outside the United States.  

nicole stokes

​Nicole Stokes  brings over 25 years of academic and administrative experience along with a personal and professional commitment to promoting equity to her current role as Division Head (Dean) for Social Sciences and Professor of Sociology at Pennsylvania State University at Abington. Nicole is a political sociologist, and her scholarship consists of three distinct areas of research—citizenship studies and the nation-state; international migration; and political systems, nationalism, and public policy.
 
As a passionate advocate for global education and increased access and belonging in higher education, Nicole serves on several boards and committees committed to equity and inclusion. These include the American Council on Education Women's Executive Leadership Council, Delaware Valley-Philadelphia Chapter of the Fulbright Alumni Association, the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences (CCAS) and the Public Policy Committee for the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE). ​

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4.Financial Literacy: Budgeting and Financial Models

Budgeting and financial models are not the motivation for most people to choose into education abroad as a career, yet no organization or institution runs without revenue. Financial literacy is a critical component in advocating for the resources you and your team need to. We will explore the critical financial skills most important to develop for leadership roles in the field.
 
Learning Objectives:

1. Make an effective financial argument for what you need
2. Know the financial literacy skills you need and how to develop them
3. Hire and grow these competencies within your team.

Facilitators 

John lucas

John Lucas is President and CEO of International Student Exchange Programs (ISEP), the world’s largest network of more than 350 member and affiliate colleges and universities from 55 countries cooperating to provide affordable international educational experiences for a diverse student population.  Prior to joining ISEP, John Lucas was the Senior Vice President for Academic Programs at SIT World Learning. He served as the chief academic officer for World Learning's graduate programs, SIT Study Abroad, and The Experiment in International Living, overseeing programs in more than 50 countries.  Lucas previously served as deputy director and associate vice president of academic programs for IES Abroad, where he served as the primary author of the IES Abroad MAP for Language and Intercultural Communication.  He also spent 12 years working abroad, directing international programs in Spain for IES, CIEE, and the Institute for Social and International Studies at Portland State University.  John holds a master's and doctorate degrees in Spanish linguistics from Penn State University and a master's degree in international and intercultural management from SIT Graduate Institute. ​​​

mark eckman (Special guest)

Mark Eckman began his career in education abroad in 2007 at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (UWM), and later that year he took on the role of Assistant Director of Global Student Services at St. John’s University in Queens, NY. While at St. John’s he was part of an effort to dramatically increase participation in education abroad programs, the result of which was a 400% increase over his four-year tenure at the institution.
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Mark returned to UWM in 2011 as the Director of Study Abroad in the Center for International Education’s Study Abroad Office. During his time at UWM, Mark expanded access to programs for students, created a more robust emergency response protocol, engaged faculty program leaders from traditionally underrepresented academic areas, and positioned UWM as a leader in international education within Wisconsin.

In 2017 Mark stepped into the role of Senior International Officer, providing oversight and leadership for the Center for International Education. As SIO he worked to strengthen the connections between incoming and outbound students, and facilitated strategic planning and coordination of international education initiatives across the institution.
Mark joined the International Programs Office in 2019, as the Director of Education Abroad. In this position he is responsible for all outbound international education programs, including semester and exchange programs, as well as faculty-taught programs.