The Member Engagement Committee represent NAFSA members and serves as a conduit between the leadership of the association and those served by it. Per the NAFSA Standing Rules, Member Engagement Committee (MEC) members:
- Welcome and engage new members with quarterly outreach and at engagement events and programs during the annual conference.
- Support knowledge communities and national committees with their member engagement activities.
- Manage the portfolio of Member Interest Groups, providing on-going support of MIGs as appropriate throughout the year, and convening with leaders on a quarterly basis.
- Approve and dissolve MIGs according to the guidelines in the Guidance for MIG Leaders & Organizers
- Complete tri-annual reviews of MIGs in accordance with the Standing Rules. Offer guidance to MIG leaders to improve group engagement activities.
Leadership
Maki Natori
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University of British Columbia
Chair, Member Engagement Committee
Maki Natori is Director, Strategic Partnerships & Projects at the University of British Columbia’s International Student Initiative (UBC-ISI). Maki previously served on the NAFSA Canada MIG committee and as the BC Rep on the NAFSA Region I committee. She has presented at the BC Council for...
Amanda Broome
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Virginia Tech
Chair-elect, Member Engagement Committee
Amanda Broome is the assistant director of marketing and communications for international affairs at Virginia Tech, where she helps connect students to global learning opportunities through strategic communications. She brings over a decade of experience in higher education communications, community...
Seth Hall
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University of Virginia
Member at Large, Member Engagement Committee
Seth is a passionate international education advocate and has worked in the field for over 10 years. He currently serves as an International Student & Scholar Advisor at the University of Virginia and, prior to that, advised international learners at the University of Kentucky. In addition to his...
Sumie Song
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The GREEN Program
Member at Large, Member Engagement Committee
Sumie Song, Ph.D. is Director of Strategic Partnerships at The GREEN Program. She has worked in the field of international education for 13 years. She previously served as co-Chair of the NAFSA Sustainability Special Interest Group (SIG) and before joining The GREEN Program was Director of Global...
Ingrid Galinat
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Jacksonville State University
International Enrollment Management (IEM) KC, Region VII; Member at Large, Member Engagement Comm.
Ingrid Galinat is the Director of the Jacksonville State University (JAX State) International House and Programs in Alabama. She is an International Educator with over 20 years of experience, a relationship builder for international recruitment, partnerships and exchanges, global engagement...
Molly Heidemann
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Miami University
Member at Large, Member Engagement Committee
Molly Heidemann serves as director of International Student and Scholar Services at Miami University. She has led support for the international student and scholar community at Miami since 2008, building on a career that began at Indiana University in 2005. Molly has taken on numerous volunteer...
Robin Garcha
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IDP Education
Member at Large, Member Engagement Committee
Robin Garcha has over 16 years of experience in international education, specializing in partnerships, marketing and business development. Before joining IDP Education as Partnerships Director, she held key roles at ICEF and the BC Council for International Education. A marketer at heart, Robin...
Taya Carothers
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Northwestern University
Member at Large, Member Engagement Committee
Taya Carothers is the Manager of Northwestern University’s Qatar Support Office (QSO), where she liaises between NU’s international and domestic campuses. Her career in international education began at the University of Idaho as an International Student Advisor. She then became Associate Director of...