Honoring Advocacy and Innovation at Annual Conference 2026 Closing Celebration

3/19/2026

To conclude an inspiring Annual Conference 2026, The Forum on Education Abroad recognized outstanding leadership, advocacy, and innovation during the Closing Celebration Luncheon held in Nashville on Friday, March 13.

The luncheon honored recipients of several distinguished awards, including the Peter A. Wollitzer Advocacy Award, the Ron Koehn Conference Grant Award, the Loren Ringer Award for On‑Site International Educators, and the second annual InnovateEA pitch competition.

Dr. Dawn Wood Honored with the 2026 Peter A. Wollitzer Advocacy Award

Dr. Dawn Wood, Dean of Global Learning at Kirkwood Community College, was named the recipient of the 2026 Peter A. Wollitzer Advocacy Award. Presented by Forum Council Chair Dr. Vanessa Nichol‑Peters, the award honors Dr. Wood's leadership in building one of the nation's premier community college study abroad programs and expanding access through one of the largest scholarship initiatives in the country.

Dr. Wood's sustained advocacy, mentorship, and service to The Forum's CIBER Consortium for Education Abroad and Community Colleges for International Development (CCID) highlight her lasting impact on the field. Dr. Nichol‑Peters praised Dr. Wood's commitment, describing her as "a tireless advocate for expanding access, a mentor who uplifts others, and a thought leader whose work continues to influence institutions across the country."

Dr. Xia (Amy) Zhang Receives the 2026 Ron Koehn Conference Grant Award

Dr. Xia (Amy) Zhang recognized as the recipient of the 2026 Ron Koehn Conference Grant Award.

Dr. Xia (Amy) Zhang, Associate Professor of Accounting and International Program Coordinator at Alabama A&M University, was recognized as the recipient of the 2026 Ron Koehn Conference Grant Award, which honors Dr. Zhang's dedication to advancing education abroad.

In addition to the Ron Koehn Conference Grant Award, 16 colleagues received travel grant funding to attend Annual Conference 2026. Through the CIBER Consortium for Education Abroad, travel funding was also provided to 14 colleagues from two‑year institutions, with support from several Centers for International Business Education and Research (CIBERs), AIFS, and the Gertz‑Pellicane Foundation. Together, these grants help ensure broader access to professional development opportunities across the education abroad community.

Dr. Meredith Hyde Named Recipient of the 2026 Loren Ringer Award for On‑Site International Educators

After recognizing award recipients who had been announced during the virtual portion of this year's Annual Conference in February, the Loren Ringer Award for On-Site International Educators was presented to Dr. Meredith Hyde, Director of Tufts in London and Oxford. For over 20 years, Dr. Hyde has played a leading role in expanding and strengthening study abroad opportunities in the U.K. through university partnerships and initiatives that broaden access and participation.

This award recognizes on-site educators who go above and beyond in serving students, their institutions and organizations, and the education abroad community at large in service of The Forum's mission. Encouraging collaboration among various stakeholder groups, recipients are respected leaders recognized for their relationship- and consensus-building.

Dr. Meredith Hyde on stage at Annual Conference 2026.

InnovateEA Pitch Competition Spotlighted Equity, Access, and Inclusive Innovation

The Closing Celebration Luncheon closed with the highly anticipated InnovateEA pitch competition, bringing together a range of ideas addressing challenges across education abroad. While varied in focus, many of the projects intersected with broader conversations around access and equity, offering practical perspectives on the field's evolving priorities.

Participants developed their proposals over time with guidance from expert mentors, whose support helped refine both ideas and approaches. Five finalists then shared their work in Nashville through five‑minute pitches, which were evaluated on innovation, impact, achievability, exemplification of the Standards of Good Practice, and dynamic delivery, with audience members casting live votes at the end.

Ultimately, "Wheelchair Riders Change the World!" by Kevin Sullivan, Assistant Director of Education Abroad at Case Western Reserve University, along with Ashley Holben, Project Specialist, and Susan Sygall, CEO and co‑founder of Mobility International USA, was selected as the winning pitch and received a $5,000 award.

The proposed initiative expands access for wheelchair riders through scholarships while empowering participants as leaders and advocates. Combining in‑person and online experiences with a peer ambassador approach, the project seeks to extend its impact across the field of international education.

Kevin Sullivan announced as the winner of the 2026 InnovateEA Pitch Competition.

Reflecting on the recognition, Sullivan shared his gratitude for the support behind the project and its mission. "I am incredibly humbled and honored that our international education colleagues put their vote of confidence behind our project to increase the participation of students with physical disabilities in study abroad," he said. "Studying abroad is one of the most impactful experiences an undergraduate can have, and more students with physical disabilities deserve access to that opportunity."

The Forum congratulates all winners and finalists recognized during Annual Conference 2026! Be sure to subscribe to the Forum News for updates on next year’s award cycle.