Academy Coaches Positions

In collaboration with NAFSA Staff and Academy Chairs:

• Facilitate the recruitment and selection of trainees
• Guide trainees in developing a personal learning plan
• Work with other coaches to deliver an Academy Workshop
• Encourage trainees to refine and achieve their learning goals for the program
• Foster connections among trainees within the trainee cohort and Academy class
• Facilitate regular individual and cohort conference calls and other meetings
• Respond to questions trainees have or direct them to resources or colleagues
• Advise trainees on building their schedule at the NAFSA Annual Conference
• Provide feedback on trainees’ Academy assignments
• Teach trainees how to navigate the virtual and actual world of NAFSA
• Serve as Academy liaison to their regional team

All NAFSA leaders are expected to foster an inclusive environment and seek to learn and understand the multicultural perspectives of the committee/team, our constituents, and stakeholders to align with the NAFSA Diversity and Inclusion Statement. An expression of leadership in this area includes:

• Engaging the committee/team to identify and implement strategies for increased personal outreach, recruitment, and onboarding for all, especially diversity-focused and underrepresented groups
• Increasing accessibility and participation from underrepresented groups, individuals, and institutions
• Expanding educational content within the committees’ purview through intentional outreach and recruitment of diverse presenters and institutional types in partnership with various NAFSA groups

On average, 10-15 hours per month will be needed to complete ongoing work, which includes the following:

• August 2026: Virtual Academy coach orientation
• September - November 2026: ongoing virtual onboarding and training for coaches, coordination of trainee marketing and recruitment through various outlets, including attendance at the 2026 regional conference
• November - December 2026: Trainee application review
• January - February 2027: welcome and onboarding of trainees, holding initial one on one calls with cohort members, establishing schedule of cohort calls for the year, providing feedback on learning plan drafts
• March - May 2027: preparing for and delivering an Academy workshop with co-presenters, advising trainees on conference schedule, learning plan revisions, participating in the Academy events at the Annual Conference
• June - August 2027: Guiding trainees through their summer focus projects, providing feedback on trainee progress presentations
• September - December 2027: Preparing for and participating in Academy sessions at the regional conference, preparing for and facilitating the conclusion of the Academy experience with and for their cohort.
• Ongoing: participating in virtual coach training sessions throughout the course of the Coach term (approximately 12 trainings).
• Ongoing: Individual and cohort coaching of trainees through one on one calls, emails, cohort calls, in-person meetings.

Term

The position is an 18-month term, renewable for multiple years at the discretion of the Regional Leadership.

Benefits

As coach, you will have the opportunity to enhance your leadership skills, build marketing and networking expertise, hone training delivery skills, share knowledge and expertise, support the professional growth of your trainee cohort, connect with coaches and trainees from your own as well as other NAFSA regions, contribute to the development of skilled international educators, and give back to the international education field.

Additionally, Academy Coaches will receive complimentary NAFSA Annual Conference registration to attend the conference alongside their cohort of Academy trainees.

Support

Academy Coaches receive the following support:

• Specialized training focusing on six coaching proficiencies
• Ongoing coaching guidance and support through virtual training sessions
• Support of a community of Academy coaches across regions through the Academy Coach cohort
• Development and coordination of the overall Academy program by Academy leadership team
• Support and recommendations by the Academy leadership team as needed and/or requested by coaches

Please note: Travel to/from the NAFSA Annual Conference, along with meals and lodging for meetings before/during the conference, is not covered. Other operating expenses members incur in offices/at home, such as copies, phone calls, etc. are not reimbursed. 

Required Qualifications

• NAFSA member
• 5+ years of experience in the field of international education
• Demonstrated interest in supporting the development of colleagues
• Strong network in international education
• Desire to coach 4-6 trainees over the 12-month trainee program
• Strong interpersonal skills including active listening, advising, and ability to help trainees identify, refine, and achieve personal learning goals
• Commitment to taking part in the full 18-month term
• Interest in or experience with training or presenting
• Demonstrated support from your institution to participate in all required Academy events
• Familiarity with virtual communication platforms, e.g., Google Hangout, Zoom, etc

Desired Qualifications

• Prior service in NAFSA volunteer roles or leadership positions
• Previous Academy participation or involvement
• Previous or current NAFSA Trainer Corps experience

Selection Process

Applications will open between April 15 - June 14, 2026. NAFSA staff will forward your application to the NAFSA chair stream for your region. Each region recruits and selects its Academy coach(es) and the regional chair stream appoints its regional Academy coach.