Take 5: Career Coaching

In our monthly Take 5 column, International Educator poses a thought-provoking prompt to five members of the NAFSA community. These international educators, who represent a diverse range of voices and perspectives, respond with their insights, recommendations, and personal reflections on the myriad themes and questions that are facing the field. To celebrate the NAFSA 2025 Annual Conference & Expo, this month's edition of Take 5 features five members of the NAFSA 2025 Annual Conference Committee.

What's the best piece of career advice you've received?

Susan Lochner Atkinson, University of Wisconsin-Madison: Celebrate the wins—big and small. Create a kudos file in your email inbox where you save positive messages [you've] received so you can go back to them to remind you why you do what you do. Write up your wins for the week to acknowledge the big and small things you've done. Take time to thank colleagues in your office, on campus, and around the world for what they do to support students.

Aleks Morawski, Scholaro Inc.: In credential evaluation, trust your expertise. There is no one textbook, database, or resource that will tell you the right answer. We, the practitioners, decide the answers. Do your research, and don't be afraid to make judgment calls. When you learn more information, adjust [your actions] accordingly, and don't make the same mistakes again.

Travis Pentz, University of California-San Francisco: The best career advice I've received is simply to say yes. There are so many opportunities to get involved in the field: volunteering on a regional team, joining a committee on campus, or reviewing applications or session proposals. While taking on new challenges and opportunities has sometimes added to my workload, it has also increased my network, provided new knowledge and skills, and increased my confidence as a professional. We need to keep work-life balance in mind, but I have found that saying yes has really enriched my professional life.

Sara Thurston, Northwestern University: When I was a new professional at the University of Chicago, my boss, Harvey Stein, told me to get involved with NAFSA! I followed his advice and started presenting on F-1 student regulations in 2000 at the annual conference in San Diego. Twenty-five years later, after participating in countless presentations and leadership opportunities with NAFSA, I am back in San Diego as the Annual Conference Committee chair. I've met so many amazing professionals around the world through my NAFSA involvement!

Kira Espiritu, American College of the Mediterranean: The best career advice I've received relates to that "other duties as assigned" line that's included in most job descriptions. Throughout my career, I've been tasked with "other duties" countless times, and my supervisors quietly encouraged me to see these assignments as opportunities. Doing so has had a significant impact on the trajectory of my career. Being asked to do something that is not in your job description is a compliment to your competence—someone believes that you can do this! Go for it—thrive! •