The International Enrollment Management (IEM) Knowledge Community (KC) addresses the needs of international education professionals working in admissions, recruitment, enrollment management, marketing, credential evaluation, intensive English programs, sponsored program administration, and overseas advising. This community provides its members with leading-edge knowledge and resources. The Annual Award for Outstanding Contributions to International Enrollment Management (IEM) honors a NAFSA member who has made exemplary contributions to the field of IEM for at least 10 years.
The nomination period for the 2026 Annual Award for Outstanding Contributions to International Enrollment Management will be announced in the fall. All IEM KC members are invited to submit nominations for the award.
2025 Award for Outstanding Contributions to International Enrollment Management
Congratulations to the recipient of the 2025 Award for Outstanding Contributions to International Enrollment Management, Derrick Alex!
Selection Criteria
The nominee must have:
- Demonstrated willingness to share knowledge, skills, and expertise with colleagues;
- Made exemplary contributions to the field in a variety of ways, including resource development, training, advocacy, and mentoring;
- Been professionally active in the field for over 10 years.
Nomination Procedure
Each nominee must have the following:
- One primary nomination form
- Two additional references (their names, organizations/institutions, daytime phone numbers, and e-mail addresses)
- A copy of the nominee's professional CV/resume
The recipient of this award will be announced by IEM KC leadership in conjunction with the NAFSA Annual Conference and Expo.
Questions? Please contact NAFSA's IEM team.
Recent Recipients
University of Houston
Derrick Alex has over two decades of experience in international enrollment management, focused on expanding global engagement and creating meaningful educational opportunities for students. His work is grounded in a commitment to ethical recruitment, inclusive access, and student success. As a...
Duke Kunshan University
A seasoned international educator, Jessica Sandberg, MA previously served as director of international admissions for Temple University and held earlier positions with Community College of Philadelphia and Vesalius College in Belgium. Sandberg appeared on the Chronicle of Higher Education’s...
EducationUSA
Based in Nairobi, Kenya, Lisa A. Maroni serves as the Regional Manager (REAC) for East and Southern Africa, for EducationUSA, a U.S. Department of State Global Network promoting U.S. Higher Education. In this capacity, she supports 33 EducationUSA advisers spread across 25 countries throughout the...
All Past Recipients
- 2025 - Derrick Alex, University of Houston
- 2024 - Jessica Sandberg, Duke Kunshan University
- 2023 - Lisa A. Maroni, Shoreline Community College
- 2022 - Cheryl Delk-Le Good, EnglishUSA
- 2021 - David Di Maria, University of Maryland - Baltimore County
- 2020 - Aleksander Morawski, Scholaro, Inc.
- 2019 - Emily Tse, International Education Research Foundation (IERF)
- 2018 - Cheryl Darrup-Boychuck, US Journal for International Enrollment Management
- 2017 - Bill Wallace, University of Alabama English Language Institute
- 2016 - Marjorie Smith, University of Denver
- 2015 - Evelyn Levinson, American University
- 2014 - Marty Bennett, CollegeWeekLive
- 2013 - Julie Sinclair, Michigan State University
- 2012 - Mary H. Reeves, Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA)
Criteria for Selecting Nominees
The nominee must have:
- Demonstrated willingness to share knowledge, skills, and expertise with colleagues;
- Made exemplary contributions to the field in a variety of ways, including resource development, training, advocacy, and mentoring;
- Been professionally active in the field for over 10 years.
Selection Information
Nominations are reviewed by the IEM KC Awards Selection Committee and its recommendation is sent to the IEM KC Chair for approval.
Please contact the IEM team if you have any further questions.
