Salvatore Longarino

Sal began his career in international education in 1978, joining New York University as an Assistant Foreign Student Adviser, one of only three professional staff members at the time. During that period, the largest international student populations at NYU came from Iran and Nigeria. Just one year later, the 1979 Iranian Revolution and subsequent hostage crisis reshaped international education across the United States.

In 1980, Sal became a NAFSA member, marking the beginning of a nearly 50-year career in the field. His professional journey spanned roles at New York University and Fordham University, as well as national leadership positions, and coincided with significant transitions in international education. These included shifts in top sending countries—from Iran and Nigeria to China and India; the evolution from informal programming to comprehensive internationalization; the move from paper files to SEVIS I and SEVIS II; and the field’s responses to major global and national events, including the first World Trade Center attack, September 11, policy changes during the Trump administration, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout these challenges and transformations, NAFSA remained a constant—driven by a community of individuals who advocate, train, lead, connect, mentor, and support one another. Within his family, Sal is known as “Papa.” Within the NAFSA community, he became “Big Daddy,” and now, proudly, “Big Granddaddy.”