NAFSA 60th Anniversary at Annual Conference kicks off May 27

Highlights to include Vicente Fox, Ishmael Beah, Amy Chua, and a special panel event on public diplomacy hosted by Judy Woodruff

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2008 – The 60th Annual Conference of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, “Shaping the Future of International Education,” will be held May 27 – 30 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. NAFSA's annual conference is the world’s largest gathering of professionals in international education and exchange, drawing more than 8,000 participants from 100 countries.

The conference is anchored by daily plenary events, which will include the following distinguished speakers this year:

Tuesday, May 27

President Vicente Fox, Former President of Mexico, 2000 – 2006

Wednesday, May 28

Public Diplomacy Panel, with PBS Senior Correspondent Judy Woodruff

Panelists:
Patricia de Stacy Harrison, Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Keith Reinhard, Business for Diplomatic Action
Hisham Melhem, Washington Bureau Chief, Al-Arabiya
Shashi Tharoor, Former Under-Secretary-General, United Nations

Thursday, May 29

Ishmael Beah, Author of A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

Friday, May 30

Amy Chua, Author, Day of Empire and World on Fire; Yale Law School

Conference Highlight – Election 2008: A Special Session with the Presidential Candidates’ Advisers

In a unique conference session moderated by Dr. Moisés Naím, editor-in-chief of Foreign Policy magazine, top advisers to the presidential candidates will discuss U.S. global leadership and international education.

Panelists:
Denis McDonough, Obama for America
Mara Rudman, Hillary Clinton for President
Randy Scheunemann, John McCain for President

Thursday, May 29, 8:00 – 9:00 AM. Consult conference program book on-site for location.

 

More About the NAFSA Conference & Expo

With dozens of pre-conference workshops and nearly 200 sessions, the NAFSA conference offers an array of learning and networking opportunities for international educators, focusing on the most crucial topics in international education and exchange today, from study abroad and international student and scholar advising to global education trends and systems and international education policy.  A major highlight of the conference is the International Education Expo Hall, which features exhibitors representing more than 350 organizations from around the world, including colleges and universities, study abroad and intensive-English programs, embassies and government agencies, and more.