In this episode of the IE podcast, Sandra Rincón, MSc, and Gretchen Dobson, EdD, co-authors of Engaging International Alumni as Strategic Partners, give a primer on how international educators can include international student alumni as key stakeholders in internationalization efforts.As higher education institutions around the world continue to reimagine their internationalization strategies, international educators are tapping into an often underused recruitment tool: international student alumni. With an understanding of the cultures of both their home countries and the countries where they chose to study, international alumni can uniquely convey their personal experience to prospective students.Learn more in Engaging International Alumni as Strategic Partners, available in the NAFSA Shop.

In this episode of the IE podcast, NAFSA's Director, Regulatory Practice Liaison Steve Springer breaks down the 2021 Spring Regulatory Agenda. In addition to giving important context for this edition of the agenda, we discuss five key takeaways, including the withdrawal of proposed changes to duration of status, SEVP fees, reforms to practical training, and more.  Overall, this edition turns away from restrictionist policies and is more supportive of international education, says Springer—changes that were not anticipated this soon from the Biden administration but are nonetheless worth celebrating. We also talk about the recent improvements and positive signs in stakeholder engagement from many government agencies. For more details about the regulatory agenda, visit NAFSA's Adviser's Manual.

Networking, mentoring, and learning from peers are hallmarks of the field of international education. These elements also play an important role in career development and professional growth. Hear from two pairs of NAFSA members—one a mentor-mentee relationship, the other a peer-peer connection—about how the personal side of professional development has made a difference in their lives. Read more in the June issue of IE at nafsa.org/ie.

As the Biden administration marked 100 days in office on April 30, the milestone took place during a whirlwind week for U.S. State Department announcements, travel advisories, and other updates and happenings that affect international students and scholars in the United States.In this episode of the International Educator podcast, Dan Berger, an immigration attorney based in Massachusetts, gives his perspective on the first few months of the Biden administration and the implications for the field. He also discusses what international educators can expect from government agencies in the next few months, the negative effects of uncertainty, and his wish list for the rest of 2021.

International Educator spoke with two medical professionals—one from China via Canada, the other from Brazil—who are working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hear their stories of professional and personal challenges and what it's been like to work in medicine during this historic time. (Read the stories of six other international students and scholars at nafsa.org/ie.)

Amid a year of budget tightening, revenue shortfalls, and staff stretched thin, international offices are feeling the effects of decreased international student enrollment and the COVID-19 pandemic. In this environment, understanding the budget workings and processes on campus can help international educators get a realistic picture of their financial footing. International Educator spoke with Lynne Schaefer, MBA, who has more than 30 years of experience in finance at higher education institutions and is currently vice president for finance and administration at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC). Schaefer shares what international educators need to know about the budget process, who really makes decisions about competing priorities, common misconceptions about finance on campus, and more.

Following a challenging 4 years for international education in the United States and a contentious election season, many professionals in the field were relieved when Joe Biden was sworn in as president. In his first few weeks in office, there has been a steady stream of executive orders and other actions from the White House. What do they mean for international education? And what else does NAFSA hope to see from the Biden administration and Congress? To put the news in context, International Educator spoke with Jill Allen Murray, MPA, NAFSA’s deputy executive director of public policy, about her team’s to-do list for the new administration and signs of hope less than a month into Biden’s presidency. (Read the interview here.)

There is no one-size-fits-all pathway to leadership, and that is especially true across the field of international education. International Educator asked nine leaders in the field about their leadership journey, turning points in their careers, qualities they think good leaders should cultivate, and skills that will be critical as international educators and institutions emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. (Read the full story.)

Ravi Shankar has served as the president and chair of NAFSA’s board of directors since January 2019, the culmination of decades of involvement as a NAFSA member and member-leader. Bringing his deep experience in international education, Shankar reflects on 2020 and what’s in store for the field for 2021 and beyond—including how NAFSA’s revised Strategic Plan frames the organization’s vision for the future. Shankar says the updates, which center on three themes of educate, advocate, and innovate, were considered and made in real time as COVID-19 swept the globe, rendering profound effects on international education. Currently the assistant vice provost and director of international services at the University of Rochester, Shankar will end his term the president and chair of NAFSA’s board of directors this month. (Read the story.)

At a time when many institutions face both budget cuts and staff reductions, international education leaders have had to ask their teams to perform different tasks, take on new responsibilities, shift workloads, and increase flexibility. Cross-training not only provides an important professional development opportunity for international educators but also contributes to the sustainability of the international office by promoting efficiency and making the best use of resources. An added bonus: In addition to breaking down silos within international offices, cross-training between the international office and the rest of the institution makes internationalization efforts on campus more sustainable. (Read the story.)