Committee/KC: Teaching, Learning and Scholarship Knowledge Community (TLS KC)
Position: Member, Intercultural Communication and Training (ICT) Subcommittee
Term Dates: January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2027
The Intercultural Communication and Training (ICT) Subcommittee is charged with creating and maintaining resources, facilitating discussions, and promoting the TLS KC in coordination with the TLS KC team under the leadership of the ICT Subcommittee Chair. This work is on-going as the committee works to prepare and post new materials regularly while existing resources need to be kept up-to-date. The ICT subcommittee is especially focused on supporting those interested in intercultural learning theory, cross-cultural counseling/advising theory, and intercultural training techniques.
Last Updated: August 2025
NAFSA is not currently accepting applications for this position. Visit NAFSA Volunteer Leadership to learn about available opportunities.
Major Functions and Responsibilities
Within the framework of NAFSA’s Strategic Plan, the subcommittee will:
- Review existing resources and develop new resources to enhance the offerings including providing assistance in drafting text of resource introductions and descriptions.
- Identify and post timely discussion topics on the TLS network.NAFSA community (including announcements of new resources, documents, events, calls for proposals, etc.), reply to subscribers’ postings, and recruit members to participate in online discussions.
- Assist the ICT Subcommittee Chair with planning and delivery of the Next-Generation Strategy Development Challenge at the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo.
- Review TLS proposal submissions for the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo.
- Promote TLS at NAFSA events and other relevant professional meetings and encourage participation.
- Help identify critical trends and issues in current research and practice on intercultural communication and training and key people who might serve in an advisory role to NAFSA.
- Review and make recommendations on updates to/viability of the ICT Toolkit.
- Provide updates for the TLS KC leadership team meetings regarding discussion topics and resources that need creating, updating, creating, or retiring and other areas where the team could assist in promoting participation in TLS.
Sample Projects
In recent years, the subcommittee has contributed to projects and events such as:
- Virtual and in-person open meetings for international education professionals.
- Seeded discussions and provision of related resources on the TLS networks.
- The Next-Generation Strategy Development Challenge at the annual conference.
- The development, and subsequent revision, of the ICT Toolkit.
Commitment
- Confirm for a two-year term, renewable once upon agreement with the Intercultural Communications and Engagement Coordinator, for a maximum term of four years.
- Dedicate 3-5 hours on average per month to ongoing e-mail correspondence, projects, subcommittee conference calls, etc.
- Participate in ICT Subcommittee meetings (minimum 4 per year) and e-mail communications.
- Review TLS proposal submissions for the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo.
- Assist the ICT Subcommittee Chair with planning and delivery of the Next-Generation Strategy Development Challenge at the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo.
- Endeavor to attend TLS meetings, events, and activities at the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo.
- Foster an inclusive environment in alignment with the NAFSA Diversity and Inclusion Statement.
Qualifications
- Demonstrated experience with or researching resources in the field of international/global education.
- Demonstrated experience working with or researching emerging scholar-practitioner needs and their impact on the field of international education.
- Ability to work effectively with a team in an outcomes-based environment.
- Willingness to adopt organization-wide perspectives and strategic priorities.
- NAFSA membership through the term of service is appreciated.
Benefits and Appreciation
- Volunteers in this role are recognized in a letter from NAFSA’s CEO.
- Volunteers in this role receive a certificate of appreciation at the conclusion of their volunteer service.
- Volunteers in this role are named on any resources developed by this subcommittee.
