NAFSA Blog

Plenary Connections: Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein

March 3, 2020

Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein challenges us to defend human rights. I am eager to hear his perspectives on realizing the vision to which NAFSA aspires in our Strategic Plan: "enlightened international relations, a globally engaged citizenry, and a more peaceful world." Having served 4 years as the United

International Educator cover images through the years

To Look Ahead, I Look Back

January 30, 2020

With the move from print to a fully digital International Educator, the one thing I thought I wouldn't miss was writing each issue's letter from the editor. As I've written about before, I tended to encounter writer's block when I sat down to write those notes. But with our inaugural all-digital

Trendspotting 2020: Populism and Xenophobia

January 22, 2020

The following is an excerpt from "Trendspotting 2020: Perspectives of Leaders in the Field" from the January 2020 issue of International Educator. Watching and interpreting future trends can help international educators define priorities and improve impact. But as Nobel Laureate Niels Bohr said,

11 Ways to Support International Students Experiencing Food or Housing Insecurity

December 13, 2019

International students are facing food and housing insecurities on campuses across the United States. Programs and resources, especially over school breaks, can help students to succeed. A 2017 study of basic needs insecurity across the University of California system found that 8 percent of

Taking Advocacy to Our Home Court

June 5, 2019

What is advocacy? Advocacy is action by one or many individuals to support and engage others for a common cause. Our action in advocacy began with NAFSA's Advocacy Day in 2015 where NAFSA Region III provided the opportunity for us to go to Capitol Hill to educate our members of Congress on

Take Action for Dreamers

June 4, 2019

Update: June 5, 2019 By a vote of 237 to 187, seven Republicans joined 230 Democrats yesterday in passing the Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6) in the U.S. House of Representatives. (Find out how your Representative voted.) The House Judiciary Committee voted recently in favor of provisions of the

Last Minute Tips for NAFSA 2019

May 23, 2019

NAFSA 2019 is just a few days away, and we've got you covered on the top things you need to know before you arrive in Washington, D.C. Logistics Whether you're flying in, driving or arriving by train, please be aware of the Metro map and schedule. A great app for smartphone users when getting around

D.C.'s Happiest Hour

May 20, 2019

There are 2,233 restaurants in the District and more than half of those offer happy hour specials. There’s really no better place to indulge in half-price, delicious bites and drinks. You can find everything from tacos to tapas, cocktails to chardonnay, and best of all, great company! We’ve broken

As Enrollment Continues to Decline, Members of Congress Speak Out for International Students

May 2, 2019

This is the time of year when all students, including international students, must commit to their college or university of choice for the fall. For international students, they are deciding whether to come to a school in the United States or study in a country with more welcoming policies and

Why the United States Needs a National Strategy to Promote Study Abroad

April 15, 2019

Karin Fischer, reporter for the Chronicle of Higher Education, asked why the United States needed a national strategy to promote study abroad. This is my response. The United States needs a national strategy to promote study abroad because study abroad strengthens our national and economic security