NAFSA at 75 years.

NAFSA at 75 YEARS

NAFSA President Benjamin Schmoker, left, and Senator J. William Fulbright, right, in 1956. Photo courtesy U.S. Department of State Exchange Photos.

OUR STORY

Connecting People and Changing the World
for 75 years

In 1948, NAFSA was created out of a commitment to shared values in action. Since then, the association has evolved to meet the needs of students and members, led the field of international education amid forces of change, and formed a community of like-minded professionals that spans generations, cultures, and the globe itself.

The NAFSA story is the story of its members, which number in the tens of thousands over the decades. Its strength lies in their collective perspectives, expertise, voices, and values. In the stories below, we reflect on and honor NAFSA’s past, and we look forward with optimism to the future—where every student has access to a global education.

What will NAFSA’s next chapter be?

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In one word, my NAFSA journey has been transformative…it has transformed my vision regarding this educational agenda, my own definition as an immigrant educator and former international student. It is a sea of potential opportunities, a transformative path, and a diverse community.

NADIA ALVAREZ MEXIA Assistant Professor of Practice & Director of Transborder Education Initiatives, University of Arizona
The energy at the conference was palpable

Samira Pardanani
Associate Vice President, Student Services and International Education, Shoreline Community College

My NAFSA Story Began in 1995 when I was finishing grad school at Bowling Green State University. I had been interning in the international services department and was invited to attend a conference that everyone seemed very excited about.

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We want to hear from you.

Throughout NAFSA’s 75th anniversary celebration, we are collecting stories, videos, testimonials, and photos. See more stories and learn how you can participate.

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THROUGH THE YEARS

1940s

Originally named the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers, NAFSA was founded at the Conference on International Student Exchange at the University of Michigan in 1948. The same year, the U.S. government made significant investments in international education, first with the U.S. Education and Education Exchange Act, also known as the Smith-Mundt Act, followed by the Marshall Plan to rebuild postwar Western Europe. To keep up with the quickly evolving field, the organization published the first NAFSA Newsletter.

NAFSA’s first office in DC, 1966 – 1991. NAFSA’s first office in Washington, D.C., from 1966–1991.
1950s

During the 1950s, NAFSA expanded its constituency to include English-language instructors, and in 1958 Congress passed the National Defense of Education Act, allocating more than a billion dollars to science education over the next 5 years.

NAFSA members David Rockefeller, Forrest Moore, Howard Cole, and “Jane Doe” gather at the 11th annual conference in New York City in 1959. Left to right: NAFSA members David Rockefeller, Forrest Moore, Howard Cole, and Jane Cecil gather at the 11th annual conference in New York City in 1959. Photo courtesy of NAFSA Archives
1960s

The 1960s was a decade of tremendous growth in the field of international education. In 1961, the United States established the Peace Corps and Congress passed the Fulbright-Hays Act, which remains the legislative basis for federally funded educational and cultural exchange. NAFSA launched the Field Service Program in 1963, a government-funded initiative that successfully professionalized the field of international education and formalized NAFSA’s knowledge communities for more than 40 years. To reflect its wider scope, NAFSA became the National Association of Foreign Student Affairs.

President Kennedy signing the Fulbright-Hays Act into Law, September 21, 1961. President John F. Kennedy signs the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act (Fulbright-Hays Act) on September 21, 1961. Photo courtesy of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, Massachusetts.
1970s

In the late 1970s, the first cohort of students arrived from China, marking a turning point in U.S.-China relations; China now sends more students to study in the United States than any other country. At the time, the top spot was occupied by Iran, but in 1979, the Shah of Iran was deposed, stranding 51,000 Iranian students in the United States. In December, the President’s Commission on Foreign Language and International Studies released the Perkins report, which emphasized the importance of foreign language skills and prompted U.S. institutions to increase capacity for international students and research.

NAFSA celebrated 30 years at the 1978 conference in Ames, Iowa. NAFSA celebrated its 30th anniversary at the 1978 conference in Ames, Iowa. Photo courtesy NAFSA Archives.
1980s

Growing Cold War tensions in the early part of the decade created a sense of urgency that affected international education and solidified NAFSA’s role as an adviser and advocate. On the regulatory front, NAFSA played a crucial role in Immigration and Naturalization Service reforms during the ‘80s and developed important provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. NAFSA also created standards for institutional policies and practices, as well as a code of ethics for international educators. To close out the decade, the first Member Interest Groups (MIGs) were created in 1989.

Entertainment at the 1987 Conference in Long Beach, California. Entertainment at the 1987 conference in Long Beach, California. Photo courtesy NAFSA Archives.
1990s

In 1990, to reflect the inclusion of study abroad and other areas of international education into its mission, the organization became NAFSA: Association of International Educators. The same year, NAFSA published the first issue of International Educator magazine and, a year later, launched the first version of its website. NAFSA produced its first Statement of Professional Competencies for International Educators, which defined the baseline of knowledge and skills for international educators, in 1996; it has been updated several times since. In 1998, NAFSAns gathered in Washington, D.C., to mark the association’s 50-year anniversary with the “Building Global Leadership for a New Century” conference. The end of the decade also brought NAFSA’s first call for a comprehensive international education policy in the United States.

The cover of the first International Educator magazine. The cover of the first International Educator magazine. Photo courtesy NAFSA Archives.
2000s

In 2000, President Clinton signed a memorandum calling for a comprehensive international education policy, and the U.S. Departments of State and Education collaborated on the first International Education Week. A year later, the aftermath of September 11 sharpened the country’s focus on international expertise, prompting Congress to increase funding for Title VI and Fulbright-Hays—but also renewed scrutiny of international students in the country. In 2003, the U.S. government implemented the Student Exchange and Visitor Information (SEVIS). The early aughts saw the creation of the NAFSA Academy for International Education and the Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization—two programs that became NAFSA permanent NAFSA fixtures. In 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the landmark Paul Simon Study Abroad Act to help make study abroad a more integral part of higher education—still a key legislative priority for NAFSA.

Sen. Paul Simon, speaking at the NAFSA conference in 1995. Sen. Paul Simon, speaking at the NAFSA conference in 1995. Photo courtesy NAFSA Archives.
2010s

In 2015, following President Obama’s announcement of a renewed relationship with Cuba, NAFSA launched the Cuba Engagement Initiative to build partnerships between U.S. and Cuban institutions and called on Congress to permanently lift the travel ban and trade embargo. That same year, NAFSA membership hit the 10,000-member mark—a pivotal moment for the association and its identity. NAFSA also strengthened partnerships with national and regional international education organizations around the globe, specifically in the Global South. In 2017, President Trump signed an executive order banning entry to the United States by citizens of seven countries, causing confusion for international students and advisers. In response, NAFSA built coalitions, advocated to roll back and prevent policies and actions detrimental to international education, and frequently publish regulatory updates. The same year, NAFSA participated in the viral #YouAreWelcomeHere campaign to assure international students that U.S. campuses are “diverse, friendly, safe, and committed to student development.”

NAFSA 2015 in Boston, MA. The 2015 NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo in Boston, Massachusetts. Photo courtesy NAFSA Archives.
2020s

By March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic began to impact higher education institutions, reducing U.S. study abroad participation by 99 percent in the summer of 2020 and international enrollment in U.S. institutions by 46 percent in the fall. The following year, the U.S. Departments of State and Education released a joint statement of principles in support of international education. NAFSA hosted its first virtual annual conferences in May 2020 and 2021 before gathering in person for the NAFSA 2022 Annual Conference & Expo in Denver. The field began to see signs of recovery in 2022 in both study abroad and international student enrollment numbers.

NAFSAns gather in Denver, Colorado, in 2022 for the first in-person conference since the pandemic began. NAFSAns gather in Denver, Colorado, in 2022 for the first in-person conference since the pandemic began. Photo courtesy NAFSA Archives.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Black and white image of an old TODAY show marquee
Thirty-eight cities in the United States and Canada have hosted NAFSA annual conferences in the association’s 75-year history, including Portland, Oregon, in 1990. Photo courtesy NAFSA Archives.
11 Members of NAFSA's delegation to China
In 1988 a fourth delegation from NAFSA visited China. Photo courtesy NAFSA Archives.
Older woman showing off a book at a desk
Lily von Klemperer proudly displays The New Guide to Study Abroad, which she co-authored. Photo courtesy NAFSA Archives.
Two people holding up a flag that says NAFSA remembers, with the names of those lost to the AIDS epidemic
At the 1996 annual conference, NAFSA members honored those who had passed away from AIDS. Photo courtesy NAFSA Archives.
Black and white image of three women smiling at a party
Katherine Bang (Donovan), center, one of NAFSA’s founders, with unidentified members. Photo courtesy NAFSA Archives.
Black and white image of three people at a banquet sitting at a table with a sign that says region III
Region III at the annual conference in 1975. Photo courtesy NAFSA Archives.
Image of NFASA's old letterhead
NAFSA Newsletter masthead, 1952. Photo courtesy NAFSA Archives.
Black and white image of two people blowing candles out on a large cake
NAFSA celebrates 40 years. Photo courtesy NAFSA Archives.
Black and white image of an old TODAY show marquee
11 Members of NAFSA's delegation to China
Older woman showing off a book at a desk
Two people holding up a flag that says NAFSA remembers, with the names of those lost to the AIDS epidemic
Black and white image of three women smiling at a party
Black and white image of three people at a banquet sitting at a table with a sign that says region III
Image of NFASA's old letterhead
Black and white image of two people blowing candles out on a large cake

SHARE YOUR STORY

Help write NAFSA's next chapter.

As we look toward the next 75 years, we need you—your voice, your expertise, and your passion for making the world a more peaceful and globally connected place. There are many ways to contribute, starting with joining NAFSA or renewing your membership. You can also make a tax-deductible donation to support NAFSA’s work, and join us to advocate for federal, state, and local support for international education. Thank you for contributing to NAFSA’s story for the next 75 years.

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