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World Learning at NAFSA 2007

A Recap of Events at the Association of International Educators Conference

Brattleboro, VT (June 6, 2007) - The 2007 NAFSA convention has come to a close. Befitting a conference whose theme was "Preparing Global Citizens," World Learning had a mighty presence in the committee room, in the presentations, and on the exhibit hall floor.

SIT faculty and staff currently hold important posts in the NAFSA organization and their work contributed to the success of this year’s conference. In its role as the leading association for international educators NAFSA creates Knowledge Communities that facilitate professional networking and promote best practices throughout the field. SIT Associate Professor Linda Drake Gobbo is the current chair of NAFSA’s Teaching, Learning & Scholarship Knowledge Community. NAFSA also conducts the Academy for International Education, a nine-month program providing an opportunity to share knowledge, expertise, and leadership within the international education community through multifaceted training and networking. Linda Drake Gobbo is a lead trainer in the Academy and SIT Associate Professor Sora Friedman is a Coach Trainer with the program. Friedman also serves as as the Region XI conference chair. SIT director of International Student and Scholar Services Janet Hulnick serves with NAFSA as the Vermont Representative for NAFSA’s Region XI, and Associate Professor David Shallenberger serves as Vermont whip.

SIT Faculty Richard Rodman, David Shallenberger, and Sora Friedman made presentations at the conference as did SIT Study Abroad representatives Ann Lee Grimstad Omondi, Laurie Black, and Rebecca Hovey. WLID was represented by Director of Training Colin Davies and Resources manager Dorothea Antonio who presented on the Community Connections program. World Learning President and CEO Carol Bellamy also got into the act on Friday when she made remarks at the closing plenary luncheon and introduced diplomat and former UN Security Council President Kishore Mahbubani.

SIT students also made their presence known. Aleks Nesic and Tasha Alexander, both PIM 65 IE students, presented Student Affairs for Dummies: Discover the Theory Behind the Practice an interactive short-course in the theoretical foundations of student affairs for international educators. Tasha says, "NAFSA was bigger than it has ever been this year with about 7,500 people in attendance. I enjoyed meeting people in the field, sharing my knowledge, and learning from others. Most importantly, I had the opportunity to see SIT alumna from my class PIM65. What a wonderful group of International Educators who I am lucky to have as my friends and colleagues."

Aleks also presented a poster session on the international service-learning internship program offered by the University of Florida, the institution where she is completing her practicum. Aleks says, "My experience at NAFSA was yet again great! I would recommend to all students to submit proposals and try and present either at regional or national conferences—the experience of collaborating with colleagues, getting feedback after the session and networking with professionals in the field is very important. And of course, reconnecting with SIT PIM-IE classmates, sharing our practicum experiences and seeing all of the amazing things each of them have done in the past year, once again reminded me of how great my graduate program was!"

Teneisha Ellis (PIM 65) presented a poster on a program that she started in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Creating a Cross-cultural program for Urban Youth: Global LAB’s cultural Education and Study Abroad Readiness (C.E.S.A.R.) provides opportunities for students who are under-represented in the study abroad community and was generated for her practicum. PIM 65 students Shannon Plath and Matthew Chagnon and PIM 66ers Kristin Labs and Took Visudtibhan collaborated on a report entitled Internationalizing the Campus: Profiles of Success at Colleges and Universities. The report was featured at NAFSA’s Teaching Learning and Scholarship Knowledge Community Booth. This resource is the first step in a series of activities designed to assist those engaged in internationalization implementation and research.

Finally, World Learning hosted a party for over 350 NAFSA attendees at the historic State Theater in downtown Minneapolis.Guests included sending school representatives, international educators, alumni attending the convention, and Minneapolis-area alums. Over one third of the attendees were alums! Guests enjoyed drinks and excellent food in the gilded two-level lobby while listening to tunes from the Putumayo World Music label. Look for Putumayo’s "World Hits" CD to be released on August 28, featuring World Learning as the non-profit partner.