Life Membership is awarded each year to NAFSAns in recognition of their career achievements in advancing the goals of the Association and of international education and exchange. Individuals become eligible for nomination at the time of their retirement from professional responsibilities in the field of international education.
Life Membership is not automatically granted to members who attain emeritus status. Life Membership is automatically conferred upon past Presidents and Chairs of the NAFSA Board of Directors upon retirement from professional responsibilities in international education, with a notification to NAFSA's Vice President for Professional Development and Engagement.
Life Members receive regular membership privileges and a waiver of annual dues and Annual Conference registration fees. Multiple Life Membership Awards may be bestowed each year, subject to Board approval.
Nominations for the 2024 awards closed on February 1. Nominations for the 2025 awards will be accepted in fall, starting during International Education Week.
2024 Recipients
Rice University
Dr. Adria L. Baker worked 40 years in international education. She retired from Rice University after 27 years, as associate vice provost for international education, and led Brasil@Rice for a decade. She taught in Mexico City, was a graduate fellow at the University of Costa Rica, and worked at the...
University of Arkansas
Michael Freeman is the director emeritus of International Students and Scholars at the University of Arkansas. When the director, he advised scholars on employment related permanent residency, H and J issues, supervised a fantastic team of creative and dedicated professionals and developed models to...
Swarthmore College
Patricia C. Martin retired in 2023 as the director of off-campus study at Swarthmore College where she also developed and coordinated international travel risk management for all college international student programs. Prior to that she worked in international education for twenty-two years at the...
Michele Stelljes retired from The Houston Methodist Hospital and Research Institute in 2023 after a career in academic and HR immigration service there and in the Texas Medical Center colleges and universities for 33 years. Michele was a NAFSA member-leader throughout her career. Member of Trainer...
Criteria for Nomination
The nomination for Life Membership must highlight the following:
- The primary nominator must be a current NAFSA member. Individuals may not self-nominate.
- The nominee has been a NAFSA member for at least 20 years.
- The nominee must have publicly announced their retirement from professional responsibilities in international education at the time of the nomination. Nominations will be considered within 24 months of the retirement date.
- The nomination must include the nominee's resume or CV.
- Nominations must include two additional letters of support, each from a NAFSA member addressing a different perspective on the nominee's accomplishments.
- The nomination documents achievements in the following areas:
- Election or appointment to multiple NAFSA national leadership positions
- Important and lasting contributions to the field of international education and exchange over the duration of their career
- Positive influence on the lives or careers of participants or professionals in the field
Nominations that do not comply with the award criteria or nomination procedures will not be considered. NAFSA does not bestow posthumous Life Membership Awards.
Benefits and Recognition
Awardees will receive:
- Waivers of annual membership dues and annual conference registration fees, per the NAFSA Standing Rules
- Recognition at a NAFSA Annual Conference
- Acknowledgement on signage at the NAFSA Annual Conference and on the NAFSA website
- A video interview to be hosted on the NAFSA website
- An opportunity to review Career Center proposals for a future annual conference, and for all future conferences
- A framed recognition plaque to display at their home or office or a donation made in their honor to a charity in partnership with NAFSA
- An invitation to write a NAFSA blog post on their connections to international education, NAFSA leadership, etc.
