Committee: International Education Leadership Knowledge Community (IEL KC)
Position: Chair, International Education Leadership (IEL) Knowledge Community
Term Dates: January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2026
The Chair of the International Education Leadership Knowledge Community (IEL KC) leads the IEL KC team in identifying and disseminating resources and knowledge that address the needs of international education professionals who lead internationalization on their campuses. The IEL KC frequently engages in pan-NAFSA collaborations and serves current and aspiring Senior International Officers (SIOs) and those international education leaders who are engaged in visioning, leading, and building commitment for internationalization by working at the nexus of administration, faculty, and international education services.
The IEL KC Chair reports to the NAFSA Board of Directors through the Vice President for Scholarship and Institutional Strategy (VP SIS). IEL KC activities contribute to achieving objectives set in NAFSA’s Strategic Plan and Standing Rules, specifically Standing Rule VII, Section A. This is a three-year term with a different role each year: Chair-Elect, Chair, and Past Chair.
Position updated January 2023
NAFSA is no longer accepting applications for this position. Please see www.nafsa.org/openpositions for other volunteer roles accepting applications at this time.
Major Functions and Responsibilities
Within the framework of NAFSA's Strategic Plan, this position will lead the IEL KC to achieve the outcomes described in Standing Rule VII, Section A by:
- Providing leadership for the conceptualization, development, and dissemination of quality resources, programs, events, and services that serve international education leaders.
- Providing leadership for articulating and promoting the theory, practice, and significance of effective international education leadership.
- Encouraging the development and cultivation of member-leaders, including the recruitment of potential members for open IEL KC team positions, and supporting the NAFSA Diversity & Inclusion Statement in outreach efforts.
- Bringing innovative people, concepts, structures, and ideas to NAFSA conferences and other educational programming.
- Reviewing IEL proposals for the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo
- Managing the work of the IEL KC team and support its completion of IEL KC deliverables in the annual work plans.
- Collaborating with NAFSA staff partner(s) to achieve these goals.
Chair-Elect (Year 1):
- Develop a strategically-driven work plan to guide the IEL KC in the following year, to include addressing the interests and needs of the IEL community at large.
- Meet and work with the IEL KC Communications & Engagement team to fulfill work plan items.
- Assist with organizational and project management duties and assume duties of Chair in their absence.
Chair (Year 2):
- Lead the planning and successful implementation of IEL KC activities to achieve outcomes of the work plan.
- Monitor progress of work plan activities and report status updates to the VP SIS twice a year.
- Partner with other team members, staff, and the VP SIS to refresh IEL KC priorities and initiatives as needed.
- Represent the IEL KC in its engagement efforts, especially leading up to and at the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo.
- Compose Chair Update messages to distribute to the IEL community at key points throughout the year.
- Meet and work with the IEL KC Program & Events team to fulfill work plan items, including the development and implementation of the Symposium on Leadership, a signature program at the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo.
Past Chair (Year 3):
- Meet and work with the IEL KC Resources & Networking Subcommittee to fulfill work plan items.
- Support the Chair and assist with organizational and project management duties as needed.
- Lead IEL KC diversity & inclusion outreach, recruitment, and engagement efforts.
Sample Projects
In recent years, the IEL KC Chair has coordinated IEL KC team projects such as:
- Representing and leading IEL at virtual and in-person events.
- Developing and implementing an annual work plan for the IEL KC in response to identified priorities and proposed initiatives.
- Creating opportunities and recruiting volunteers to contribute to the IEL community through service on subcommittees, task forces, and special projects.
- Facilitating and leading IEL open meetings, sessions, activities, and events at the conference.
Commitment
- Confirm for a three-year, nonrenewable term with assurance of NAFSA membership throughout the length of the leadership term.
- Dedicate three to five hours per month, depending on designated role and time of year.
- Prepare for and participate in leadership and team meetings, programs and events throughout the year, including the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo*, virtual events, as well as virtual conference calls and email communication with the IEL KC team and NAFSA Staff.
- Foster an inclusive environment in alignment with the NAFSA Diversity and Inclusion Statement.
*For the Annual Conference & Expo, NAFSA provides complimentary registration to the Chair and Chair-Elect. Any costs for travel to/from the Annual Conference & Expo, as well as meals and lodging for meetings before/during/after the conference, are the responsibility of the Chair/Chair-Elect/Past Chair and are not reimbursed by NAFSA.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- Experience as an SIO or in a role of leading campus internationalization.
- Demonstrated experience with effective strategic planning, management, networking, and delegation with strong coordination, analytical, oral and written communication skills.
- Demonstrated dedication to professional development for colleagues in the field.
- Willingness to adopt organization‐wide and strategic priorities, including perspectives on volunteer development and management.
- Ability to work effectively with a team and with NAFSA staff in an outcomes-based environment, with awareness and management of unconscious bias.
- Commitment to access and respond to e-mail in a timely fashion as well as communicate using online electronic tools/systems plus the online workspace structure.
- Recognized by peers for being energetic, innovative, and visionary.
- Ability to meet the volunteer commitment outlined and planning calendar deadlines.
- Previous engagement with IEL KC activities, or other NAFSA regional or national leadership experience, preferably within the last five years, is recommended.
