Position: Coach, Regional Chair Cohort
Committee: Regional Chairs-Elect Cohort (2026), Regional Chairs Cohort (2027)
Term: January 2026 - December 2027
The Regional Chair Cohort Coach is appointed from members who have successfully completed a three-year term in a regional Chair Stream. The appointment will be made by the NAFSA Vice President for Professional Development and Engagement in consultation with the current Regional Affairs Committee (RAC) Chair and Chair-Designate.
The Regional Chair Cohort Coach serves two years: one (1) year with the 2026 cohort of regional Chairs-Elect and one (1) year with them in 2027 as regional Chairs. The coach works with the Chair-Elect cohort to foster collegiality and support their transition into their regional Chair role. As a former regional Chair, the coach will share perspectives on managing the work of a regional team, promote the sharing of best practices between regions, and provide on-going support and professional development. Towards the end of the second year of the term, in order to support the transition of the cohort from their chair year into their upcoming roles as Regional Affairs Committee (RAC) members, the coach will collaborate with the RAC Chair Designate.
For questions or additional information, please contact the NAFSA Regional Affairs team.
Position description updated August 2025.
Major Functions and Responsibilities
- Guide a cohort of regional leaders throughout two years of their three-year term on the regional chair stream.
- In collaboration with NAFSA staff, plan and lead onboarding meetings. Share and deliver training content to regional leaders.
- Lead monthly full-cohort calls and develop agendas for the calls in collaboration with NAFSA staff partner.
- Engage cohort members in 1:1 calls periodically throughout the year to field questions, support, and provide individualized guidance as needed.
- Generate dialogue across regions and consider emerging trends in the industry, in collaboration with Regional Affairs staff to address necessary skill areas for leaders.
- Observe and identify challenges and needs presented by the regional leader cohort so that they can be addressed in conjunction with NAFSA staff.
- Collaborate with NAFSA staff to develop chair stream training skills and modules.
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, Equity, and Inclusion Statement. An expression of leadership in this area includes:
- Engagement of the committee/team to identify and implement strategies for increased personal outreach, recruitment, onboarding for all; especially diversity-focused and underrepresented groups.
- Increasing accessibility and participation from underrepresented groups, individuals, and institutions.
- Expansion of educational content within the committees’ purview through intentional outreach and recruitment of diverse presenters and institutional types in partnership with various NAFSA groups.
Volunteer Commitment
- Estimated 5-10 hours per month to complete ongoing work, which includes the following:
- Prepare for and facilitate monthly full-cohort calls.
- Periodic 1:1 calls with cohort members throughout the year.
- Foster an inclusive environment in alignment with the NAFSA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement.
Required Qualifications
- Current NAFSA membership throughout length of the leadership term.
- Demonstrated commitment to NAFSA regional leadership, including completion of a successful three-year term in a regional chair stream.
- Strong leadership skills in communication, organization, and project management, with an interest in teamwork and collaboration.
- Willingness to adopt association priorities and perspectives on volunteer development and management.
- Strong management skills, including delegation and group facilitation; willingness to provide training in multiple modalities including in-person and online.
- An active interest in assisting colleagues with professional and leadership development.
- Ability to work effectively with a team and with NAFSA staff in an outcomes-based environment.
- Manage unconscious bias in the assessment and decision-making process.
- Ability to meet the volunteer commitment outlined and planning calendar deadlines.
- Institutional support for this volunteer commitment.
- [Preferred but not required] Ability to attend, and if applicable, travel to the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo and closest NAFSA Regional Conference for duration of the leadership term.
Benefits and Appreciation
NAFSA appreciates its volunteer leaders with a strategy that develops, celebrates, and supports them throughout the year:
- Each year, leaders in this role receive complimentary access to two NAFSA e-learning courses, during quarter 1 and quarter 4.
- Leaders in this role are invited to an invite-only appreciation reception at the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo.
- Leaders in this role are asked to attend online and onsite leadership community gatherings throughout the year, with themes focused on the NAFSA International Education Professional Competencies 2.0.
- Leaders in this role are recognized with special signage at the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo.
