Committee: International Education Leadership Knowledge Community (IEL KC)
Position: Member, Focus on Conferences and Planning (three openings)
Term Dates: Two-year term, renewable for one term (maximum of 4 years)
The International Education Leadership Knowledge Community (IEL KC) addresses the needs of senior international officers (SIOs), 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.
This position will assist in the development of the Symposium on Leadership, a NAFSA Signature Program of the IEL KC, as well as with other conference programming to support the needs of SIOs.
Position updated June 2019
Major Functions and Responsibilities
- Serve on the IEL planning team for the Symposium on Leadership and assist with the development of the theme, potential speakers, and the most effective format to deliver the topic. The planning team will participate in conference calls August through May to ensure the program is of the highest quality.
- Lend a critical eye to the needs of SIOs and leaders in internationalization in other aspects of the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo, such as the IEL Networking Center topics, workshops, the IEL KC Update Meeting, etc.
- Ensure that the IEL KC conference offerings meet the needs of SIOs from all institution types.
- Represent the IEL KC team at the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo by facilitating events, such as Networking Center meetings and by participating in the IEL KC Update Meeting.
- Encourage new and experienced SIOs to get involved with the IEL KC.
- Work on other IEL KC team projects as needed.
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 will communicate regularly with the IEL KC team to ensure high-quality offerings are provided for the IEL KC audience throughout the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo.
- This position works closely with the senior director and associate director of NAFSA’s Academic Affairs and Internationalization staff unit.
Commitment
- Devote 1 to 2 hours per week. The busiest times are in the fall and early winter.
- Participate in conference calls and email communication with IEL KC leadership and staff.
- Prepare for and attend the Washington Leadership Meeting in late January. (Travel and per diem provided by NAFSA.)
- Prepare for and attend preconference meetings at the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo in late May (at own expense).
Qualifications
- Experience as a SIO or international education leader
- Knowledge of existing IEL KC programs
- Demonstrated skill in leading a committee and managing committee work
- Excellent communication and leadership skills
- Previous attendance at the Symposium on Leadership is helpful, but not required
- Willingness to adopt organization wide perspectives and IEL KC strategic priorities
- Willingness to adopt association priorities and perspectives on volunteer development and management
- High strategic planning, management, networking, and delegation experience
- Strong coordination, analytical, oral, and written communication skills
- Ability to work effectively with a team and with NAFSA staff in an outcomes-based environment
- Commitment to access and respond to email in a timely fashion, as well as to communicate using online electronic tools/systems in an online workspace.
- Willingness and ability to travel for participation and representation at NAFSA meetings
- Ability to manage unconscious bias in the assessment and decision making processes
- Recognition by peers for being energetic, innovative, and visionary
- Valid NAFSA membership through the length of the leadership term
- Ability to meet the volunteer commitment outlined and planning calendar deadlines
