2025 NAFSA Region XI Conference

 * Early Bird registration ends on October 10, 2025.

** NAFSA Special Members: Student/Retiree

** NAFSA Special Members: Student/Retiree

This year, we will be offering the following CEP NAFSA Preconference Workshop:

CEP NAFSA Workshops (Full day)

• F-1 Student Advising: Intermediate

** NAFSA Special Members: Student/Retiree

To learn more about the NAFSA CEP Workshops, please visit the NAFSA website. You can register to participate in these workshops as part of your conference registration.

The 2025 Region XI Conference is scheduled to begin on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 4th and last through the day on Thursday, November 6th.

Through the Online Planner, you can view the time, room, presenters, descriptions, and learning objectives of the sessions. You can also star the events you're interested in and create your own conference agenda to view on the mobile webpage at the conference! There is also information on Sponsors, Exhibitors, and more!

Schedule/Online Planner

Case Study Competition

Are you looking to flex your internationalization muscles? Want to tackle a complex international education scenario with a team? Join us for the 2nd Region XI Case Competition at the 2025 NAFSA Region XI Conference in Springfield, Massachusetts! 

Teams of 3-4 will receive the case on the first day of the conference, work together to develop solutions, and present their findings during a special session at the conference in the morning of the final day. The winning team will be announced during lunch on the final day of the conference. The estimated commitment for the conference is approximately 2-3 hours.

Space is limited and participation is on a first-come, first-served basis. For questions, contact Christian Wilwohl at [email protected]. 

Register for case study competition here

Conference Schedule At-A-Glance

NAFSA’s Signature Career Development Hub is a pop-up at our Region XI conference every year where attendees can gain essential skills, information, and resources to level up their career in International Education.

• Headshots: We are delighted to share that we will be offering free headshots at the conference! Headshots will be scheduled for November 5th - please ensure to indicate that you’re interested in headshots when you complete your registration for the conference.
• Resume Review Program: Looking to brush up your resume? Come receive feedback on your resume from your NAFSA colleagues! Looking for a way to give back to the Region? Sign up to be one of our Resume Reviewers! Career Development Hub provides both reviewers and reviewees with guides to assist them in the process. Resume Review will take place November 4th from 1-4pm. For more information about the Resume Review program, please contact Amanda Desai at [email protected].
• Career Resources: Do you struggle with small chat? Are you nervous to network? Are you looking for specific opportunities and skills to advance your career? NAFSA’s signature Career Development Hub will feature various resources to access anytime throughout the conference. Stop by to learn more about career development opportunities, and enjoy the Conversational Questions around the conference to network meaningfully with fellow conference attendees. 

Exhibitor and Sponsor Information

Expo Portal

Thank you for helping to support NAFSA Region XI! In a region rich with incredible international educators, we recognize that this year has brought its share of challenges. Your continued support through exhibiting and sponsoring remains vital to the success of our community and instrumental in empowering our members and their institutions.

We truly hope you will join us this year as Global Connections takes Center Court in Springfield, MA.

Expo & sponsorship sales opened on May 13 to NAFSA Global Partners and June 10 for everyone. 

Booth Details & Schedule:
Get in front of 300+ international education pros from across New England! This year’s exhibit hall is where all the action happens—think coffee breaks, meals, the welcome reception, and the grand finale—making it the ultimate center court of the conference!

Please find the following schedule for all exhibitors:

Exhibitor Hours:

Exhibitor booth includes:

• One (1) individual full-conference registration.
• One (1) 6 foot table with two (2) chairs.
• Visibility in the online conference program guide.

Shipments

Exhibitors may mail their boxes no more than one month before the start of the conference. More information to come.

Sponsors:

Sponsoring the Region XI Conference is a fantastic way to boost your organization’s visibility while being part of inspiring, impactful events all conference long! Below are just some examples of how your organization can make an impact while maximizing their visibility:

• Hotel Key Card Stickers - $250
• Exhibitor Bingo Card - $450
• Coffee Breaks (full/half) - $800/$400
• Career Development Hub (a fan favorite!) - $1,700
• Welcome Reception (full/half) - $650/$1300
• Social Event Beverage Package (Trivia): $600
• Social Event Food Package (Trivia): $1500
• 2 Hour Private Meeting Space: $200

Awards

NAFSA Region XI is seeking nominations for our 2025 Regional Awards that will be presented during this year’s Region XI Conference. See the list of awards.

There are so many amazing people in international education in Region XI!  We encourage you to take the time to recognize someone special in your sphere!  This is a way that you can have a positive and lasting impact on someone’s life as they are recognized for their achievements in the field of International Education!  Please, Nominate! Nominate! Nominate!

Deadline to nominate for 2025 is Friday, September 26, 2025. 

2025 NAFSA Region XI Awards Nomination Form

Travel Grants

2025 NAFSA Region XI Conference Grant

NAFSA Region XI will be awarding travel grants to a select number of individuals to attend the Region XI Conference in Springfield, MA, on Nov. 4-6, 2025.

To apply for a conference travel gr,ant please complete the application form by end of day Friday, September 19, 2025, including uploading a copy of your resume and personal statement.

Conference travel grant recipients will receive up to the cost of conference registration (excluding pre-conference workshops), or the equivalent in travel cost reimbursements.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: Friday, September 19, 2025

Travel Grant Application Form

If you have questions about the application or grants, please contact Andrea Popa, Special Projects Chair ([email protected])

Travel To and Around Springfield

Please see the official Springfield website for various transportation methods. 

Travel with CANIE

This year, we are partnering with the Climate Action Network for International Educators (CANIE) Americas Chapter to make climate-conscious choices when traveling to Portland. Learn more about why and how at https://canie.org/take-action/travel-with-canie. 

How can you participate in #TravelwithCANIE? 

Once you’ve made travel arrangements to Springfield, tell us your plans so we can calculate our cumulative impact!

Request a Letter of Invitation 

All attendees traveling to the US from abroad can request a visa letter of invitation via the link above. 

All requests submitted by Wednesday, October 1st will be screened, but not all requests will be approved. Please allow one week from your date of submission for delivery. If approved, an invitation letter on official letterhead will be issued to you as a PDF document, and will be e-mailed to the address you provided.

Please check with your local U.S. consulate to allow sufficient time for visa processing. Your request for a letter of invitation to attend a NAFSA regional conference does not guarantee that you will receive a visa.

NAFSA is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, or religion. NAFSA does not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. All communication should be appropriate for a professional audience, including people of diverse backgrounds and cultures. Sexual language and imagery are not appropriate for the conference. Participants violating these rules may be asked to leave the conference at the sole discretion of NAFSA’s management. If someone makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or unwelcome, or if you witness unacceptable behavior, please inform the Regional Conference Planner, who will inform NAFSA staff, so that we may resolve any concerns. If you or another event participant witnesses or is a party to imminent physical danger or distress, promptly alert the appropriate security, law enforcement, or emergency medical authorities. This Code applies to all NAFSA members and event attendees in all NAFSA meeting venues, including the regional conference, ancillary events and social gatherings, whether officially sponsored by NAFSA or not and whether held in-person or virtually.

Conference registration and/or workshop registration may be canceled with full refund less a 10% processing fee, any time up until four (4) weeks prior, October 7, 2025, to the conference start date.

A 50% refund is available for conference registration and/or workshop registration provided written notification is received between four (4) weeks, October 7, 2025, and two (2) weeks prior, October 21, 2025, to the conference start date.

No refunds will be granted after October 21, 2025. In the case of emergency/extenuating circumstances, special requests may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the regional leadership team following the conference.

NAFSA follows COVID-19 safety protocols as required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and local ordinances in the conference location, which currently do not require proof of vaccination or masking. Should the mandates change, NAFSA reserves the right to adjust conference attendance policies accordingly.

NAFSA strongly encourages COVID-19 vaccination and boosters, as vaccines are recommended as a proven way to prevent the threat of critical illness. Many attendees may still choose to wear masks indoors, and we ask that all attendees respect those who elect to do so. NAFSA recommends attendees self-test before leaving home for the conference. If you feel ill on-site, please remain in your hotel room and test to determine your health status.

By registering for this event, you agree to the collection of contact and demographic information in accordance with NAFSA’s Privacy Policy. This includes any information unique to you that is available in the individual's NAFSA profile. NAFSA will share limited information (name, title, organization, state, and country) in the official attendee list. NAFSA may further share your contact information according to your selected “Communication Preferences” in your MyNAFSA and in accordance with NAFSA’s Privacy Policy.

Your data will be collected and utilized for NAFSA: Association of International Educators, organizer of this event, to allow your access to the event as well as its digital platform, CadmiumCD. Additionally, you agree to the sharing of your contact information with the trainers, coaches, and other program participants for the purpose of fulfilling the program for which you have registered. As a condition to participation, attendees consent to be recorded.

NAFSA is committed to providing universal access to its products, services, digital content, and events and, in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, will honor requests for reasonable accommodations made by individuals with disabilities. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs so we ask that requests for accommodations be made as early as possible, preferably at least three weeks in advance of the regional conference start date, through the registration process, if possible. Or, you can contact [email protected] for accommodation requests. Every reasonable effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in an effective and timely manner, but services are subject to availability, and further, NAFSA may not be able to grant accommodations requests that place an undue burden on it or that fundamentally change the nature or structure of the goods or services.