NAFSA Executive Internationalization Leadership e-Institute

Program Faculty for 2026-27

Unit 1: Comprehensive Internationalization Leadership & Strategy
	Sue Roberts (University of Kentucky)
Unit 2: Administration
Image	Eddie Contreras (Baylor University)
Unit 3: Academic Engagement & Integration
Image	Hilary Landorf (Florida International University)
Unit 4: Partnerships & Outreach
	Sandra Guarín Tarquino (Universidad del Rosario)

Program Mentors for 2026-27

• Aaron Clevenger (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University)
• Godlove Fonjweng (Prairie View A&M University)
• Alana Jones (University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus)

Unit 1. Comprehensive Internationalization Leadership & Strategy

This unit lays the groundwork for the rest of the program by providing a common understanding of key topics essential to strategic and successful leadership for comprehensive internationalization—leadership competencies, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement.

Unit 2. Administration

The key to successful implementation of comprehensive internationalization strategies is effective administration. This unit will cover essential administrative considerations such as financial stewardship, human resources, physical space management, and risk management.

Unit 3. Academic Engagement & Integration

This unit highlights ways in which leaders can engage academics and research so that internationalization may be integrated into the (co)curriculum and access to global and intercultural learning opportunities is available to a diverse cross-section of students, faculty, and staff.

Unit 4. Partnerships & Outreach

This unit will highlight how to develop, nurture, and (re)evaluate different types of partnerships—international partnerships, corporate/industry/nongovernmental partnerships—and strategies for effective communication, advocacy, and outreach to different internal and external stakeholders.

E-Institute Learning Outcomes

Throughout this year-long program, participants will work closely with the e-Institute faculty, other experts, and members of their cohort to develop key leadership skills designed to aid executive level international education leaders.

By the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to:

• Enhance leadership skills to support innovation, advocacy, and capacity building;
• Evaluate strengths and identify skill gaps of the international office in order to introduce relevant training;
• Understand core principals of effective financial planning and stewardship of resources;
• Work with institutional leadership to plan, nurture, and grow the depth and breadth of internationalization supporting the ethics and values of their unique environment;
• Employ strategies to engage a mixture of stakeholders across and outside the institution in order to provide diverse populations of students and scholars access to global learning opportunities;
• Stimulate the development and maintenance of key local and global partnerships;
• Devise a broad strategy and timeline to develop, monitor, evaluate, and sustain comprehensive internationalization strategies across their institution; and
• Develop relationships with peer international education leaders to expand their professional network.

Access and Global Perspectives

Comprehensive internationalization includes a mandate to bring in and listen to global perspectives, as well as the inherent equality of all parties involved in partnerships and other opportunities. Comprehensive internationalization also provides a powerful framework to remedy unjust situations and ensure equitable access to necessary resources and provide all with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills required to thrive and contribute to their communities.

Ethics

Ethics should be considered in every step towards comprehensive internationalization. Strategic plans and goals must be grounded in the values of the institution, the community, and the profession of international education.

Leveraging Data and Resources

Developing and implementing comprehensive internationalization strategies requires knowing how success (and progress towards success) will be measured. Understanding, collecting, analyzing, and leveraging data is essential to the success of any strategic initiative and may involve combining resources from disparate parts of an institution.

Staff Development and Team Building

Comprehensive internationalization involves actors and stakeholders across campus and throughout the community (and around the world). Leaders must support and work with staff and other stakeholders to develop a shared understanding of the vision, mission, values, and goals.

The program is offered on an annual basis running typically from August 1 through July 31, though exact start and end dates may vary year-to-year. The 2026-27 e-Institute dates are listed below. 

The format of this program is flexible in terms of course component completion to accommodate the demands of a leadership position. Asynchronous and synchronous content will be offered. This will include recorded content and resources distributed for advanced completion (pre-work), followed by a synchronous session for further discussion and Q&A with each unit's faculty.

The program cost for the e-Institute is $2,249.00 for NAFSA members and $2,999.00 for nonmembers. The 2026-27 e-Institute program includes the following:

The program is designed for leaders with more than 3 years of experience who are currently in an internationalization leadership role at institutions of higher education in the United States and around the world.

• A maximum of 25 participants will be admitted into the program for each cohort.
• The program is designed to allow for individual work as well as engage and network with other members of the cohort, program faculty, mentors, and NAFSA staff throughout the program.

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NAFSA International Education Professional Competencies 2.0 outline the abilities, skills, and foundational knowledge necessary for successful international educators. Learn more about NAFSA Competencies 2.0.

This learning content targets the competency categories of Leadership and People Development.

• Executive Leadership e-Institute Dates: August 3, 2026 to July 31, 2027
• Early bird deadline: June 18, 2026 - apply and register by this date to receive a 10% discount
• Application Deadline: July 6, 2026
• Registration Closes: July 27, 2026
• Pricing:
  • Member Price: $2,249
  • Nonmember Price: $2,999

• Where do I register?
  If you are interested in participating, please submit an application to join the designated cohort. Those accepted into the cohort will receive the information to access registration for this program.
• Do I have to be a member to register?
  No, membership is not required to participate in this program. You will be prompted to log in or create a NAFSA account in order to register for and access the e-Institute. However, having an account is free and does not make you a NAFSA member.

• Have you received my faxed registration form? I haven't heard anything from NAFSA.
  You will receive a registration confirmation email with access instructions and tips for getting started. If you did not receive this email or if you have any other questions, please contact Academic Affairs and Internationalization.
• My institution is a member. Why isn't the website giving me member pricing?
  NAFSA offers individual memberships and group memberships, not institutional memberships. Please contact Group Membership with any questions. In order to get the member discount on a product order or event registration, the order or registration and the membership must be under the same name.
• How can I get a receipt?
  • Click Login in the upper right-hand corner of the NAFSA website and enter your credentials.
  • Click on MyNAFSA in the upper right-hand corner.
  • Click on My Purchases and scroll down to My Recent Transactions.
  • Click on View Previous Orders; this will take you to a page with a list of all your orders. Each item will have a link to a receipt.

• Cancellation requests must be made in writing through our Academic Affairs and Internationalization form no later than 2 weeks before the live start date of the e-Institute.
• There is a $100 cancellation fee if the cancellation request is received in writing at least 3 days before the live start date of the e-Institute.
• Refunds minus the cancellation fee, if approved, will be processed 2 to 4 weeks after the cancellation has been approved.
• If payment is made by credit card, a credit will be issued to your credit card account; otherwise, a refund check will be issued.
• No refunds will be issued if the cancellation request is made less than 3 days before the live start date of the e-Institute.
• Requests for all other changes to registration must be made in writing through our Academic Affairs and Internationalization form and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.