To share our appreciation, NAFSA wants to spotlight member-leaders who share their time and talents with NAFSA. Thank you for your ongoing partnership and passion in international education.
We would love to feature you in an upcoming leadership spotlight. Please send a photo and short paragraph (up to 150 words) about your experience in NAFSA leadership roles. Share how you became involved and how volunteering in NAFSA has assisted your career or community.
2018 Leadership Spotlights
BJ Titus
BJ Titus served as an editor of NAFSA's By Example e-publication, a Region IV EA Liaison, and now serves on the EA Knowledge Community. In 2015, he was awarded the Lily von Klemperer Award that honors those who encourage other professionals and who maintain the highest standards of professional ethics while sharing their skills, knowledge, and expertise with all colleagues.He was also recognized for a Best Presentation at Regional NAFSA: for his presentation on "Beyond Rainbow Flags: Advising GLBT Students" and has presented many times at the NAFSA Annual Conference.
Titus' mentorship to other EA professionals, editing of a major publication, and presentation of informed and skilled presentations lead the field forward.
Cory Owen
Corey Owen first started by volunteering on the Local Arrangements Committee for a regional conference back in Region III and was hooked immediately. She loved working with others from across the field on projects and learning about different perspectives. Owen has mostly worked in small offices and appreciates the amazing opportunity to learn from others through her role at NAFSA. Since then, Owen served on both regional and national teams and is always looking for ways to give back to NAFSA!
Owen believes networking with colleagues across the globe is just such an important part of her career. She loves hearing about how colleagues from different institution types implement regulatory changes and enjoys getting ideas from institutions that are similar to her own. When she first got to Juilliard, Owen felt a lot of changes had to take place and considered herself lucky that she could rely upon her network of NAFSAns to help with guidance as she took on my first PDSO role.
Matt Beatty
Matt was active in StudyMN and NAFSA regions before his involvement as Chair of IEM KC. Matt's commitment to his colleagues and students is invaluable to the international education community. His knowledge of the field and ability to lead the KC team has resulted in effective professional development activities for the IEM & NAFSA community.
Margaret Wiedenhoeft
Margaret has been involved with NAFSA for many years prior to her Past Chair year in the Education Abroad Knowledge Community and her current work on the Washington, DC 2019 ACC. Her involvement began with the start of her career at Kalamazoo College, where she has worked in international education since 2000. She was first hired as an assistant director but worked her way up to the executive director for the Center for International Programs. Along the way she inspired students, faculty, and staff.
Margaret joined NAFSA in the fall of 1999 and has given significant amounts of time to assist the field of international education. From attending Annual Conferences to multiple Washington Leadership Meetings to leading the Education Abroad Knowledge Community, Margaret has made her NAFSA participation a priority for her career as well as helping others with their professional IE goals.