Finding Your Way

When baby boomers interested in international education were first entering the job market in the 1960s, there was no map and no clearly marked career path—just an open field that they had to navigate more or less by instinct. Today, millennials and the young professionals of Generation Z preparing for careers in international education are encountering a field that has changed considerably and that continues to evolve.

Choosing a Path

Today, there are two main pathways into the field, says Elaine Meyer-Lee, associate vice president for global  learning and leadership development at Agnes Scott College and president and chair of NAFSA’s Board of Directors.

“One is taking an entry-level position—often an internship or a clerical position—and then working one’s way up professionally. The other is going to graduate school for a relevant degree.” She adds, “It is still also possible to enter the field from the faculty, especially at the more senior levels, in which case one might have more connection to the administrative aspect through committee service, leading a short-term program, etc.” A master’s degree is usually helpful for gaining more advanced positions, and at the level of senior international officers (SIOs), a doctorate may be required. “It depends a bit on the type of institution: liberal arts colleges and research universities are more likely to expect a doctorate and faculty qualifications, while some other types of institutions might value administrative experience more highly.”

IE master’s programs are another entry point and can provide an intensive educational component, says Megan Lawther McCarthy, program manager for global engagement in the Office of International Affairs at Ohio State University. “The skills acquired in graduate programs, combined with skills learned through experience complement each other, but it’s not the only way to enter the field,” she says. “Experience and a master’s degree will only take you so far: As employers we are looking for analytical and transferable skills as well.”

The decision to pursue a PhD, according to McCarthy, is a personal one. “You need to weigh the cost of your time and finances versus the long-term benefits,” she says, and urges those weighing such a decision to talk with people who are in the types of positions that they are aspiring to. “That can help you get a better idea if that is really what you want.”

Assessing Yourself

Many of the qualities that are most valuable in administration in general are also useful in international education, notes Meyer-Lee. These include integrity, clear communication skills, interpersonal skills, efficiency, flexibility, the ability to analyze processes and systems, and commitment to rigor, innovation, and data-driven continuous improvement.” She adds: “The qualities that might be more specific to international education include advanced content knowledge about language, culture, and student development, a genuine love of human diversity, and a commitment to shared governance.”

Meyer-Lee strongly recommends that undergraduates who think they might be interested in the field either work or intern in their campus international education office as much as possible, and as soon as possible. “Many people are interested in entering the field on the basis of their own experiences abroad. Often they do not have a realistic understanding of the nature of the day-to-day office work,” she says.

“The most essential qualities for a career in international education are a love of learning, curiosity, and commitment to intercultural exchange and adaptability,” says Fanta Aw, assistant vice president of campus life and Hurst senior professorial lecturer at American University’s School of International Service. “You also need to lay out your skills in the language of decisionmakers so as to make it clear to them what knowledge and training you have that is directly related to the job opening.”

The Importance of Networking

The professionals interviewed for this article all agreed that one of the best ways to learn about the field and to advance within it is by talking to colleagues in the field.

Helen Gaudette, assistant dean for international education at the Fashion Institute of Technology of the State University of New York (FIT), suggests that newcomers to the field actively engage with professional associations. “I’ve made a lot of contacts by participating in international education organizations,” she says. “Every year I submit at least one proposal for a panel or roundtable. Participating in that way has helped me explore issues central to the profession, such as the challenges women SIOs face in their work; it has also helped to build my reputation.”

Informal networking can also be useful. “Informational interviews were incredibly helpful for me,” says McCarthy. “It wasn’t so much learning a direct path to a specific field, but trying to understand how people got to where they are. I was able to interview some amazing people. That opened my eyes to the fact that there isn’t necessarily a direct path to where we are going. Hearing really successful people be honest about taking wrong turns, making mistakes, and growing from their experiences was both eye-opening and inspiring.”

Leveraging Mentoring

Another valuable career development strategy is to find good mentors, and many professional associations offer special opportunities for doing so.

“One of my favorite ways to contribute to this kind of activity is to volunteer to review résumés, or do other kinds of ‘speed-mentoring’ at NAFSA’s national or regional conferences,” says Meyer-Lee. And in her own workplace, she tries to coach newer professionals, taking into account their own motivations and personalities.

“We have a number of millennials working with us on our team,” says McCarthy. She adds: “Each generation has valuable experiences and unique qualities. Recognizing both the strengths and the challenges of each can allow both populations to grow together, using the best of all worlds.”

One of the millennials on her team is Renee Bishai, who is program coordinator for global engagement at Ohio State. According to Bishai, mentors have been extremely important in moving her career forward. “My mentors have encouraged me to take on challenges I might otherwise have shied away from,” she said. “As a young professional, I can be insecure, or feel I lack the experience needed.” Several of her mentors encouraged her to apply for the position of advocacy coordinator on the NAFSA Region VI team. “They knew I had an interest in advocacy, and that I had leadership skills, and they encouraged me to apply,” Bishai says. “Though I was interested in the position, I would not have applied for it at this point in my career without their encouragement.” She was offered the position and, she says, “It has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career so far.”

More seasoned colleagues can also help by providing context for many of the scenarios that come up, says Bishai. “That helps me better understand why things are done the way they are done, and find creative ways to continue improving our field.” This is essential for younger professionals, she says, so they don’t waste time trying methods that have already been proven unsuccessful. “It also helps us communicate with older colleagues better, because we gain a broader understanding of what they have experienced in their careers.” When asked what colleagues should know about the millennial generation, Bishai says, “We like to understand how what we are doing fits into a bigger picture. We want to feel what we do supports a mission we believe is important for our communities, even if it involves administrative tasks.”

Mueller strongly agrees about the value and power of intergenerational collaboration, noting that the learning can go both ways. “I truly believe that it is the responsibility of those of us further along in our careers to ‘pay it forward,’” she says. “I was blessed with several remarkable mentors over the years, and I believe all of us have an urgent responsibility to nurture the next generation.”

Moving the Field Forward

Looking ahead, millennials should be attuned to changing demographics that will impact the international 
education field, where hiring managers will be seeking out nimbleness and creative problem-solving skills on the part of young professionals. “Millennials should expect growth in the field. However growth will be uneven when it comes to geography,” says Aw. “Much of the growth in IE will be in Asia and emerging economies. Therefore, practitioners should be willing to be mobile…. Work will be diverse in terms of knowledge domains, and folks will need lifelong training to remain relevant in the field. Microcredentials and competency-based learning will penetrate our field. Practitioners will need to have increased qualitative and quantitative skills, and will need to be well versed in multiple technology platforms. Innovation will be essential to remaining relevant and being seen as an asset.”

Advice from the Experts
 

What advice do you have for those entering the field of IE, or looking for ways to advance their careers?

“To recent graduates hoping to enter the field of international education, I would say above all else, be flexible. The great thing about this field is it is always evolving and attracts people from all backgrounds, personally and professionally. It makes for challenging but incredibly exciting and rewarding work. There is something for everyone in this field, and you may be surprised how your professional path leads you here. I think it’s important for new professionals to know there is so much available to them; programming, policy, communications—so many fields intersect with international education. The more time I spend in the field, the more impressed I am with all that it encompasses.” 
—Renee Bishai, program coordinator for global engagement, Ohio State University

“Some may want to consider pursuing a master’s degree in a topic that is broader than international education—for example, a strong international relations program, to retain maximum flexibility.” 
—Sherry Mueller, Distinguished Practitioner in Residence, School of International Service, American University

“Come with multiple skills, and do not be stuck wanting to be in one knowledge domain. Understand the transferability of skills. You will have to be nimble and expect to engage in lifelong learning. Core skills such as planning, communication, and technology will be in demand but you must develop qualitative, quantitative, and marketing skills as well. Innovation will be essential to remaining relevant and being seen as an asset. Also know that whatever job you are in, it will keep changing.”
—Fanta Aw, assistant vice president of campus life and Hurst senior professorial lecturer at American University’s School of International Service

“Advancing in your career is saying yes to opportunities and supplementing your employment with involvement in the profession. You will create a network of colleagues across the country and across the world. Be willing to take opportunities, no matter how small. Get involved in the community you want to be engaged with.” 
—Megan McCarthy, program manager for global engagement, Ohio State University