Committee: Education Abroad Knowledge Community (EA KC)
Position:   Coordinator, Leadership Cultivation and Co-Chair for the Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion Education Abroad 
Term Dates: Two-year term, renewable for one term (maximum of 4 years) 

The Education Abroad Knowledge Community (EA KC) supports the efforts of professionals in direct service, management, and strategy positions who create and support education abroad programs and develops resources, tools, and model practices. The EA KC Leadership Cultivation Coordinator focuses on model resources to support EA professionals in leadership cultivation, resource development, and diversity and inclusion initiatives to continue their endeavors on behalf of EA students and in accordance with NAFSA International Education Professional Competencies for education abroad. The position also serves on behalf of the EA KC as the vice chair of the Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion in Education Abroad.

Position updated June 2019

Applications are not currently being accepted.
Major Functions and Responsibilities
  • Maintain attentiveness to model practices for EA, diverse student populations, academic disciplines, and nontraditional country destinations by observing, prompting, and participating in online discussions forums and reading NAFSA.news.
  • Attend leadership meetings at the Washington Leadership Meeting (WLM) and NAFSA annual conferences, participate in conference calls, execute other assignments received from the chair, and represent the EA KC at annual and regional conference activities when appropriate.
  • Contribute to the annual Work Plan, in coordination with the EA KC chair-elect and in accordance with NAFSA’s Strategic Plan.  
  • Advocate for the creation of timely resources, especially on diversity and inclusion.  
  • Understand EA KC Work Plan objectives and has an ability to engage members and discuss these efforts with the community at large.
  • Serve as vice chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee and facilitate the development of assigned Work Plan items to ensure effective communication with the EA KC.
  • Have strong familiarity with NAFSA’s EA resources. Serve as the point of contact to the EA KC and members, bringing awareness of appropriate resources and locating them.
  • Connect leadership, diversity, and inclusion issues in the field to existing resources and support the development of needed resources by the EA KC and its subcommittees.  
  • Participate in leadership cultivation for the EA KC, its subcommittees, and other NAFSA leadership roles. 

 

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

 
NAFSA: Association of International Educators is a professional association driven by its Strategic Plan as established by the Board of Directors.  The success of the association depends on the productive engagement of three key constituencies: the Board, member-leaders, and staff.  Member-leaders are advocates for the association’s mission, vision, values, diversity and inclusion, and ethical principles. They align their work closely with the Board through its vice presidents and with staff to carry out the Strategic Plan. Member-leader roles are guided by objectives assigned by the Strategic Plan, by outcome accountabilities outlined in the Standing Rules, and by position descriptions for specific roles.

Relationships
  • This position collaborates closely with other NAFSA leaders to enhance work efforts across the association. 
  • This position partners closely with the NAFSA staff partner assigned. Effective relationships reflect and include responsiveness to phone calls, email correspondence, timely delivery on responsibilities, open communication, and mutual respect among other characteristics. 
Commitment
  • This is a two-year term, renewable once for a maximum term of 4 years. The estimated time commitment is 10 hours per month.
  • EA KC members prepare for and attend the WLM in January. (Funding for attendance at WLM is provided by NAFSA, including air and hotel.)
  • EA KC members prepare for and attend leadership meetings at NAFSA annual conferences.
  • EA KC members commit to visibility and engagement during meetings, events, and activities at NAFSA annual conferences.
Qualifications
  • Previous volunteer/presentation experience with NAFSA at the local, regional, or national level
  • A minimum of 3 years’ professional experience in education abroad
  • An active interest in assisting colleagues with professional and leadership development
  • Demonstrated experience in encouraging diversity and inclusion in education abroad programs  
  • Effective oral and written communication skills
  • Willingness to adopt organizationwide perspectives and EA KC strategic priorities
  • Demonstrated strategic planning, management, networking, and delegation experience
  • Ability to work effectively with a team and with NAFSA staff in an outcomes-based environment
  • Commitment to manage unconscious bias in the assessment and decisionmaking processes
  • Valid NAFSA membership through the length of the leadership term