Annual Conference 2026: Telling the Story of Education Abroad

From March 11-13 in Nashville, Tennessee, The Forum on Education Abroad’s Annual Conference brought together international educators from across the globe for three days of learning, connection, and celebration. Anchored by this year’s conference theme—Telling the Story of Education Abroad--the conference marked a meaningful milestone as The Forum celebrated 25 years of impact.

While highlighting the countless opportunities to learn and share during the Annual Conference, Tracey Conner Bradley, Chair of The Forum’s Board of Directors and Assistant Vice Chancellor at the Tennessee Board of Regents, also recognized the turbulent times we’re living in and the challenges they bring to our work. “Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the devastating situation in Gaza, and the newest war in Iran, just to name a few of the conflicts besieging our world. That’s precisely why gatherings like this matter: to connect, collaborate, and be reminded that we are not alone,” said Bradley. ​

Melissa Torres, President and CEO of The Forum, added: “We’re living through real challenges that shape our programs and our students’ hopes. What they see on their screens may or may not reflect the facts or reflect the complex nature of the issues we face. That’s why education abroad is so important,” said Torres. “Our field is resilient, creative, and committed, and as we’ve done before, we will navigate this moment together.”

​Live Music, Memorable Announcements & More
​ 
The conference began with three pre-conference workshops and the Woolf Symposium, offering participants the opportunity to explore timely topics in depth and engage in focused discussion before the full conference officially opened.  
​
We kicked off the Annual Conference on Wednesday in true Nashville fashion with a live country music performance by The Frontmen’s Richie McDonald (former lead singer of Lonestar), setting an energetic and welcoming tone.  ​

During the Welcome and Networking Event, we paused to reflect and celebrate with a 25th anniversary video thank you, honoring the people, partnerships, and collective efforts that have shaped our work over the past quarter century. To celebrate The Forum’s anniversary, we gave away 25 vouchers for a free Forum publication, toolkit, workshop, or a 25% discount to a future Forum conference. In addition, Texas A&M University was awarded a free Customized Workshop through Forum Consulting, supporting continued professional growth beyond the conference. 

We were also proud to announce the Community College Access Scholarship (CCAS), a new scholarship for community college students, reinforcing our commitment to access, equity, and expanding pathways into education abroad. Special thanks to the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) for supporting the scholarship with a $50,000 commitment. 

Programming Highlights
​​​

Over the course of the conference, attendees had the opportunity to participate in 90 concurrent and poster sessions, selected from a competitive pool representing a 20% increase in session proposals over the previous year. As Dr. Sara Easler, Annual Conference Committee Chair and Assistant Dean of International Programs & Partnerships for the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, mentioned, “You’ll notice a few themes woven throughout the program: innovation with purpose; collaboration across disciplines, sectors, and perspectives; and the courage to ask difficult questions in pursuit of stronger practice and greater impact. These threads are reflected in our speakers, our sessions, and in this community.” 

Together, this year’s Annual Conference sessions highlighted emerging ideas, practical strategies, and thoughtful critiques, demonstrating the field’s commitment to continuous learning and meaningful change. 

Community-building and storytelling were central throughout the event. At our Welcome and Networking Event, attendees heard from storytellers from across the education abroad community who shared how they first became involved in the field. They included: 

• Felicia Hankins, Assistant Director, Tennessee Board of Regents 
• Natalie Maramena Lulia, Regional Director Americas, Middle East and Europe (Acting), Education New Zealand 
• Dana Turchaninova, Head of the Department of International Relations and European Integration, National Aerospace University «Kharkiv Aviation Institute» 
• Michael McRay, Founding Host, Tenx9 Nashville (facilitator) 

Their stories invited reflection, sparked conversation, and encouraged participants to share their own journeys with one another. The celebration continued at the Opening Reception, where a Dolly Parton impersonator made a special appearance, adding Nashville flair and a sense of fun to the evening. 

One of the week’s most consistently popular offerings, our Newcomer Information Session, once again welcomed first-time attendees, introducing them to The Forum on Education Abroad and creating space to connect with more experienced participants and build early relationships. 

Celebrating Those Who Move the Field Forward 

The Annual Conference concluded with a lively Closing Celebration Luncheon, where we recognized Meredith Hyde, D. Phil., and Dawn Wood, Ph.D., the recipients of Loren Ringer Award for On-Site International Educators and Peter A. Wollitzer Advocacy Award, respectively.  
​
Read more about our award winners.

We also joined the broader community in recognizing 25 Years of the Gilman Program and 250 Years of U.S. Achievement, underscoring the enduring role of education abroad in advancing opportunity and global engagement. Pioneering Institution Grant recipients were announced on Thursday at the Annual Conference, which included: 

• Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Kentucky  
• College of DuPage, Illinois  
• Georgia State University 
• Michigan Technological University 
• Northern Arizona University 
• Roosevelt University, Illinois  
• Southeast Missouri State University 
• The University of Alabama 
• The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga 
• Wingate University, North Carolina ​

​
During the Closing Celebration Luncheon, we spotlighted innovation in action. Attendees heard live pitches from the five finalists in our InnovateEA: Igniting Change in Education Abroad competition, culminating in the selection of a winner, Wheelchair Riders Change the World!, in real time—an energizing and fitting close to a week focused on creativity, courage, and impact.  ​

Congratulations to Kevin Sullivan, Assistant Director of Education Abroad, Case Western Reserve University; Ashley Holben, Project Specialist, Mobility International USA; and Susan Sygall, CEO/Co-Founder, Mobility International USA for their award-winning initiative. "Wheelchair Riders Change the World!" is a bold new initiative to increase the number of wheelchair riders participating in international education and to enhance the experiences they have abroad. Wheelchair Riders Change the World! provides scholarships to self-identified wheelchair riders to have an international education experience consisting of both in-person and online components.  

With Gratitude, We Look Ahead 

We are deeply grateful to our conference committee, sponsors, exhibitors, volunteers, presenters, attendees, and The Forum team for making this event such a success. Your generosity, insight, and engagement brought the theme of storytelling to life in powerful ways. 

Looking ahead, we are excited to announce that next year’s Annual Conference will take place in New York, New York, from March 10-12, 2027, with virtual programming preceding the in-person event.  
​
We look forward to continuing the conversation together next year. ​