Take 5: Three Wishes

In our bimonthly 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.

In celebration of the NAFSA 2026 Annual Conference & Expo, taking place in Orlando, Florida, at the end of May, this edition of Take 5 features perspectives from five Floridian international educators.

The host city of this year’s NAFSA annual conference has us thinking of dreams, magic, and wishes. As an international educator, what would you ask for if a genie or fairy godmother were to grant you three wishes?

Giselda Beaudin, Rollins College

• Wish number one would be for global funding to make higher education (and global education!) affordable to all students.
• Wish number two would be for an overhaul of U.S. politics based on empathy, compassion, dialogue, and compromise.
• Wish number three would be for a global program that brings people together (physically and virtually) across differences and borders to facilitate connection and conversation.

Aaron D. Clevenger, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
If I had three wishes:

• The first would be that everyone heading to NAFSA 2026 in Orlando gets a little travel magic… no delayed flights, no lost luggage, and definitely no long TSA security lines.
• My second wish would be for the spirit of “It’s a Small World After All” to be made real, so we’d genuinely learn from one another’s joy and cultures and contribute to a shared sense of peace and connection.
• And my third wish would be for the equivalent of just one day of Orlando’s theme parks’ parking revenue to be allocated to our international education budgets, so we could open more doors, reach more students, and make those “small world” moments real every day.

Rachel Hendrix, University of West Florida

• I'd wish for more students to have both access to study abroad and motivation to do so. And it’d be great if students could truly connect the dots between a global experience and personal, academic, and career success.
• I'd wish for every student hoping to study in the United States this fall to be able to secure a student visa smoothly and on time.
• This is a lofty one, but I'd wish for a more peaceful and connected world, because all of the work we do is ultimately about building diplomacy and understanding across our borders.

Meagan O'Malley, NAFSA: Association of International Educators

• I'd wish for every student to be able to experience some form of accessible global learning, whether through traveling abroad, interacting with international students on their campus, or experiencing internationalization at home.
• I'd wish for policymakers to understand the value of students encountering diverse, global perspectives in curriculum and classrooms.
• Finally, I'd wish for all international educators—from teachers and faculty to international student services staff and administrative professionals—to know that their work is so appreciated, and for them to feel a sense of community and hope at this year's NAFSA conference, as we all navigate a tumultuous time in the field.

Rosie Nelson, Eckerd College
If granted three wishes as an international educator:

• I’d start with equitable access to global education that ensures all students, regardless of financial means or background, can participate in study abroad.
• Second, I’d wish for streamlined and fair visa processes worldwide, reducing barriers that often limit mobility and opportunity.
• Third, I’d hope for truly transformative intercultural experiences, where students gain deep empathy, cultural humility, and global awareness that last far beyond their programs.

These wishes center on access, opportunity, and impact, all core values that drive international education. And if there was room for one more bit of magic, it would be for sustainable funding and far less administrative red tape to make these goals a reality. •