On April 1, 2025, NAFSA Vice President for Public Policy and Practice, Dr. Joanna Regulska presented Ethan Edholm with the 2025 Advocate of the Year Award at NAFSA’s Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. Below is an edited version of Dr. Regulska's remarks:
Now it is my honor and privilege to announce the NAFSA 2025 Advocate of the Year.
This person has been a dedicated and proactive force in advancing advocacy for international education, especially through his role as a regional Advocacy Coordinator. His efforts have clearly made a significant impact on the ground, fostering relationships with key legislators and officials, as well as mobilizing colleagues from various institutions to take part in critical advocacy efforts.
He’s shown great initiative in not only educating lawmakers about the value of international students but also in forming strategic partnerships and guiding others in how to engage effectively in policy discussions.
One standout moment from his advocacy work was a trip to the state capitol in March 2024 to discuss with state lawmakers key pieces of legislation aligned with international education and NAFSA’s mission. He secured funding to enable participants to join from across the region and recruited individuals from a diversity of institutions. At the meeting, he helped create a space for seasoned advocates and first-timers alike to convey the importance of international students in an area where tech companies are in need of skilled STEM workers.
Having recently moved to a neighboring state in the region, he organized several other NAFSAns to join him in a virtual meeting with their state officials. After a lengthy and candid discussion, they realized they had found a state champion for international education policy.
Recognizing the importance of the current national political environment, he has motivated his network to engage in national and state advocacy campaigns and to attend advocacy sessions and workshops at Regional Conferences and NAFSA’s Advocacy Day. He has also proved adept at incorporating advocacy into his busy schedule, having hosted a dozen open meetings over Zoom on a monthly basis.
For these reasons, it is my pleasure to name Ethan Edholm from Fordham University the NAFSA 2025 Advocate of the Year.