In honor of Homer Higbee and Marita Houlihan

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Sherif Barsoum Headshot
2023 Recipient Sherif Barsoum

This award recognizes a current NAFSA member who has shown leadership in associational activities or sustained stewardship of the field. The award honors imagination, personal enterprise, or creative contributions to professional development through leadership, mentorship, program development, training, writing, or research. NAFSA welcomes nominations from the United States and from the international education community worldwide.

The Award for Distinguished Service to NAFSA honors Marita Houlihan and Homer Higbee, two early trailblazers in international education. Marita Houlihan pioneered in the establishment and administration of the Fulbright international student exchange program in the 1940s and 1950s. She was also instrumental in the development of the U.S. government program for improving the cultural and academic experiences of privately sponsored students through grants to universities and institutions which share this goal. Homer D. Higbee was awarded NAFSA life membership, and served as NAFSA president (1970-71), chair of the Field Service Steering Committee, and on the boards of trustees/directors of numerous professional organizations. His landmark study of foreign student advising on American campuses in 1961 provided the first comprehensive profile of NAFSAns as a professional class.

In 2020, the former Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Field in Honor of Marita Houlihan and the Award Distinguished Service to NAFSA In Honor of Homer Higbee were merged to create the NAFSA International Education Award for Distinguished Service to NAFSA in honor of Homer Higbee and Marita Houlihan. As recommended by the NAFSA Board of Directors, one Award for Distinguished Service to NAFSA can be given each year.

Nominations for the 2024 awards closed on February 1. Nominations for the 2025 awards will be accepted in fall, starting during International Education Week.

Sherif Barsoum

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Sherif Barsoum Headshot
New York University
Sherif Barsoum has been in the field of international education for more than 29 years. He is currently the senior associate vice president for global services at NYU. Prior to NYU, Barsoum held positions at The Ohio State University and Vanderbilt University. Originally from Cairo, Egypt, Barsoum...

Daniel Whitmer

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Daniel Whitmer
Indiana University Bloomington
Chair, Member Engagement Committee
Daniel Whitmer is the associate director of Sponsored Student Services in the Office of International Services at Indiana University, Bloomington. Before IU, Daniel worked at Vincennes University where he was director of International and Multicultural Student Affairs. His overseas experiences...

Katherine S. Hammett

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Katherine Hammett
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Member at Large, Member Engagement Committee
Katherine S. Hammett has more than 30 years in U.S. higher education, having held international education positions within student development and academic affairs at a number of institutions. She currently serves as senior director of the Center for Global Engagement at Rose-Hulman Institute of...
Criteria for Nomination
Benefits and Recognition
All Past Recipients for the Award for Distinguished Service to NAFSA in Honor of Homer Higbee and Marita Houlihan
All Past Recipients for the Award for Distinguished Service to NAFSA in honor of Homer Higbee
All Past Recipients for the Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Field in Honor of Marita Houlihan