Committee: Board of Directors
Position: Vice President for Scholarship and Institutional Strategy
Term Dates: Three Years
Overall Responsibility
The Vice President for Scholarship and Institutional Strategy (VP/SIS) provides strategic leadership for professional development in the areas of scholarship and institutional internationalization.
The VPSIS serves as a member of the Board of Directors and the Board's Executive Committee, contributing to the governance of the association, the exercise of leadership, and alignment with the Strategic Plan.
Position updated May 2025
Major Responsibilities
- Attend all board meetings and actively engage in discussions and decisions.
- Serve on the board’s Executive Committee.
- Chair the board’s Scholarship and Institutional Strategy Committee.
- Oversee the work of the International Education Leadership (IEL), Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship (TLS), and Education Abroad (EA) knowledge communities and two Annual Conference Committees (ACC)
- Monitor the association’s strategic direction in the domains of internationalization, institutional leadership, global engagement and research/thought leadership.
- Collaborate closely with NAFSA’s CEO, Deputy Executive Director, Knowledge Development and other applicable staff and volunteer member leaders to drive initiatives forward.
- Ensure cross-functional integration with the work of the Vice Presidents for Professional Development and Engagement (VPPDE) and Public Policy and Practice (VPPPP)
- Provide fiduciary oversight and ensure effective leadership of the association.
- Help set policy, direction, and the strategic priorities for the association.
- Uphold NAFSA's vision, mission, and values.
- Protect the integrity of NAFSA's programs, services, and initiatives
- Communicate board decisions and strategy to portfolio groups
- Promote a global and representative Annual Conference program
- Champion efforts in scholarship, strategy, and programming to support access and equity
Meeting Attendance and Expectations
- The term for this role is three calendar years.
- The incoming VPSIS may be requested to shadow the sitting VPSIS a few months before assuming the position in January, which may include attending the December meeting of the Board of Directors as a guest with no voting rights.
- Attend three board meetings each year, either in-person or virtually (two meetings are held in person in Washington, D.C.)
- Attend Executive Committee meetings and additional virtual board meetings as needed
- Participate in committee meetings throughout the year (either virtual or in-person); regular meetings with the Deputy Executive Director, Knowledge Development; and virtual planning activities (averaging 5–10 hours per week)
- Participate in the Annual Conference & Expo each May (typically the last week of May)
- Participate in the Fall conference planning meeting in October in conference city.
- Attend one or more regional conference each fall as a board representative, if requested.
NAFSA covers travel expenses related to board service.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- Experience on an educational or nonprofit board with fiduciary responsibility
- Deep understanding of higher education internationalization, leadership, strategic partnership development, or research in international education
- Experience in management roles requiring strategic and operational planning
- 10+ years in international education, ideally with some experience as a Senior International Officer (SIO) or as a scholar-practitioner
- Skilled in managing volunteers and teams
- Effective communication and relationship-building skills
- Availability to travel and ongoing engagement
- No conflicts of interest with competing organizations
Preferred Qualifications
- Understanding of nonprofit finance, audits, compliance, or fundraising
- Leadership in NAFSA (regional or national level) in the past five years
- Service on task forces, committee, or other volunteer positions within NAFSA
Sample Meeting Calendar
| Month | Responsibilities |
|---|
| January | - Engage with the current ACC Executive and Content teams via their regular calls
- Participate in the ACC kickoff meeting for the next conference
- Support the EA, IEL, TLS KC workplans and hold calls with the new KC chairs
- Participate in board orientation (if requested)
|
| February | - Lead the SIS committee call to welcome new and returning members
- Prepare for March Board Meeting
- Prepare VP SIS Board report and the SIS Committee meeting agenda
- Participate in various ACC team calls
|
| March | - Lead SIS Committee meeting
- Contribute to Strategic Plan review
|
| April | - Attend Board Meeting in Washington, DC
- Engage portfolio chairs on work plan progress
- Participate in ACC team calls
- Prepare for Annual Conference meetings
- Set meeting agendas with staff and leaders
|
| May | - Attend NAFSA annual conference, and participate in events such as: the Annual Business meeting, Newcomers Session, plenaries, receptions, tour exhibit hall and meet with partners, and fulfill representational duties as assigned
- Attend leader group recognition and ACC meetings
|
| June | - Participate in ACC team calls
- Review mid-year reports from EA, IEL, TLS July
- Participate in ACC team calls
- Report progress to SIS Committee
|
| August | - Attend virtual board meeting to approve candidate slate
- Prepare SIS Committee meeting agenda and Board report for September Board Meeting
- Support chair-elects in drafting new work plans
- Review budget implications of upcoming work plans
|
| September | - Attend Board Meeting and lead SIS Committee meeting
- Provide feedback to chairs-elect for final work plan approvals
- Participate in ACC team calls
|
| October | - Attend ACC Fall Planning Meeting (conference city)
- Attend regional conferences (if requested)
|
| November | - Confirm new ACC member leaders
- Prepare the VP SIS Board report and the SIS Committee meeting agenda
- Review year-end reports from EA, IEL, TLS chairs
|
| December | - Attend Board Meeting and lead SIS Committee meeting
- Communicate Board decisions to portfolio groups
- Support ACC Chair onboarding
|
