Take 5: The X Factor

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.

What personal quality—perhaps one that usually goes unmentioned in job descriptions—do you value the most when hiring new people for your team? Beyond specialized job knowledge, experience, and specific skills, which intangible quality is most important or impactful?

Becca AbuRakia-Einhorn, Critical Language Scholarship: The quality I value most when hiring is intellectual humility—specifically, curiosity paired with self-awareness in recognizing what you don't know and leaning into this rather than being embarrassed by it. In international education, we're constantly navigating complex, dynamic situations that require us to consider multiple perspectives—situations in which there isn't one right answer. I've found that the best decisions come are made by people who ask thoughtful questions and actively seek input, rather than assuming they already have all the answers. When someone can show me how they process new information, adapt their thinking, and genuinely listen to others, it signals that they'll be a collaborative and growth-oriented teammate. During hiring, I pay close attention to how candidates frame their questions, how open they are to learning, and how willing they are to be honest about the limits of their knowledge and experience.

Cathy Lee Arcuino, Wilkes University: Being flexible and able to think quickly on your