Yijie (EJ) Ren

Yijie (EJ) Ren is the Education Abroad Advisor at the University of Maine. Originally from China, she came to the United States as an international student at the age of 14. She completed her secondary and undergraduate education in South Bend, Indiana, and earned a Master’s degree in International Higher Education from Boston College.

EJ’s professional interests include intercultural competence, cross-cultural adaptation, assessment and evaluation, and increasing accessibility in education abroad. She is dedicated to advancing inclusive global learning opportunities and supporting students in pursuing educational experiences that affirm their identities and foster a strong sense of belonging.

In 2025, EJ completed the NAFSA Academy and was recognized with the Rising Professional Award by NAFSA Region XI. She is also the author of Rooted, Rising, and Ready: An Early-Career Journey in International Education, published in the December 2025 issue of NAFSA’s magazine.