2026 Award Winners Announced at The Forum’s Virtual Annual Conference

The Forum on Education Abroad is delighted to share that three major award winners were announced during the Closing Session of our virtual Annual Conference on Thursday, February 12:

• Award for Advancing the UN SDGs through Education Abroad
  • This award recognizes members who integrate economic, environmental, and social sustainability into their education abroad programs. Sponsored by Authentica.
• Award for Excellence in Education Abroad Curriculum Design
  • This award recognizes educators who develop innovative, high‑impact education abroad curricula. As the field’s only award for outstanding course design, it honors individuals or teams whose work enhances student learning and engagement.
• ​Award for Academic Achievement Abroad
  • This award celebrates the depth of scholarly work students accomplish while studying abroad, highlighting the critical thinking, creativity, and cross‑cultural understanding that emerge from rigorous academic experiences.

Award for Advancing the UN SDGs through Education Abroad   

​Winner: Arizona State University's College of Global Futures 

​We are pleased to announce Arizona State University (ASU)'s College of Global Futures as the 2026 award winner. “The College [of Global Futures] is dedicated to creating a sustainable, equitable and vibrant future for everyone on a thriving, healthy planet, and the mission is to foster learning, discovery and partnerships that drive informed, positive action, as we work together to build a better future,” said Dr. Mary Jane Parmentier, Deputy Director and Clinical Professor at ASU.

Award for Excellence in Education Abroad Curriculum Design   

​Winner: Juniata College | Course/Program: Chile: Southern Stars   

​The Forum congratulates the following educators:

• Dr. Amy Frazier-Yoder, Professor of Spanish, World Languages & Cultures Chair 
• Dr. Matthew Beaky, Professor of Physics and Astronomy 

Curriculum Award Winning Educators from left to right:  
Dr. Amy Frazier-Yoder, Dr. Matthew Beaky. ​

​Together, these educators have designed a program that integrates scientific inquiry with local knowledge, giving students a rigorous academic experience rooted in place. Their course, “Chile: Southern Stars,” demonstrates how interdisciplinary design can unite science and the humanities. Their approach—spanning astronomy, literature, and cultural studies— offers students insight into the interconnected environments, cultures, and narratives that define the region.

Award for Academic Achievement Abroad
​

Winner: Chris Gruschow
Project Title: “Structural brain abnormalities in patients with severe health anxiety: a cross-sectional MRI study” 
Discipline: Psychology
Program: DIS Copenhagen
Home Institution: Colorado College

Winners: Aimee Bousquet, Gabi Carttar, Ana Hoffman Sole, Robin Muse
Project Title: "Men o' War: Physalia spp. distribution in the South Pacific Gyre; Marine Biodiversity genomics study”
Discipline: Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Program: SEA Semester in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation
Home Institutions: University of New Hampshire, Barnard College, Cornell University, Boston University

We are thrilled to announce that we have a tie for the 2026 Award for Academic Achievement Abroad!

​Chris’s project, “Structural brain abnormalities in patients with severe health anxiety: a cross-sectional MRI study,” highlights the significant academic and research impact that education abroad can foster. During his semester with DIS Copenhagen, he complemented his coursework by contributing to pioneering research on health anxiety, co‑authoring a paper now published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research—an exceptional achievement for an undergraduate. His dedication continues beyond his time abroad, as he is now pursuing bioinformatics to build his expertise and further his work in the field. 

Aimee, Gabi, Ana, and Robin’s project, “Men o' War: Physalia spp. distribution in the South Pacific Gyre; Marine Biodiversity genomics study,” demonstrates how education abroad can foster resilience and collaboration. During their semester with the Sea Education Association, the students conducted novel research aboard an oceanographic vessel in the South Pacific, balancing life at sea with intensive scientific work. They emerged from this experience as confident scholars, well equipped to continue making significant academic contributions in their future research and careers.

As the students were announced during the Closing Session, they shared more about their projects, and the impact education abroad has had on their personal and academic development.

​Join us in Nashville, Tennessee, from March 11-13 at Annual Conference 2026 as we recognize even more outstanding leaders in education abroad. ​