Advocate of the YearNAFSA's Advocate of the Year

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Chimin Lee Metzler

This award is given annually to recognize an international education advocate who has excelled in grassroots advocacy. The Advocate of the Year inspires others to make a difference by engaging their elected officials in discussions and promoting policies that create a more welcoming and globally engaged United States.

Meet our 2024 Advocate of the Year: Chimin Lee Metzler!

Selection Criteria

A seasoned advocate who:

  1. Is a member of NAFSA
  2. Is registered for Connecting Our World
  3. Has participated in a NAFSA advocacy event
  4. Has participated in a NAFSA letter-writing campaign in the past year

Nominees have made documented contributions in the following areas:

  1. Has proven and successful advocacy outcomes with national and/or state-level advocacy initiatives
  2. Has a relationship with their member of Congress and/or their staff (either new, developing, or established)
  3. Has taken action to advance NAFSA's public policy priorities
  4. Has encouraged/supported/motivated their colleagues to participate in NAFSA's advocacy work

Selection Process

A committee, selected by the vice president of public policy and practice, includes the vice president, two NAFSA staff members, and a previous Advocate of the Year Award recipient. The committee reviews and evaluates all nominations before announcing the Advocate of the Year, which typically happens in the spring.