January 28, 2025, Washington, D.C. – NAFSA: Association of International Educators announced today that three young leaders will share their experiences in entrepreneurship, innovation, and social impact from the plenary stage at the NAFSA 2025 Annual Conference & Expo in San Diego on Thursday, May 29.
The plenary will feature Andrew Leon Hanna, Kyaw Moe Tun, and Raihana Sattari. Hanna is the co-founder of Mona, a social enterprise that connects refugee, women, and other underserved communities to zero-interest microloans, and author of “25 Million Sparks: The Untold Story of Refugee Entrepreneurs.” Tun is a former international student who returned to his native Myanmar to found what is now called Parami University, which educates students living under authoritarian regimes and in refugee camps around the world. Sattari, the first Afghan student at Texas A&M University-Qatar, represented Afghanistan in LDC5 hosted by the United Nations and was a member of the Afghan Girls Robotics team in the FIRST Global Challenge. She has a strong commitment to furthering gender equality in STEM, advocating for human rights, and making a positive impact in the world.
“It is an honor to welcome these extraordinary young leaders to the NAFSA 2025 Annual Conference & Expo,” said Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of NAFSA. “Each one brings a remarkable story of visionary leadership and bold innovation, embodying the transformative power of fresh perspectives. They represent a new generation of changemakers who are reshaping the future of higher education and society with creativity and purpose. Their voices inspire hope and set a dynamic tone for our conference.”
With a theme of “Purpose, Place, and Partnership,” the NAFSA 2025 Annual Conference & Expo is the premier opportunity for international education professionals from across the globe to share experiences, resources, and tools for connecting with and empowering students and scholars across cultures, languages, religions, and regions.
More information about the plenary speakers and the annual conference program can be found at nafsa.org/NAFSA2025.
About the NAFSA 2025 Annual Conference & Expo
The 77th NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo is the world’s largest gathering of professionals in international education. The conference offers a wide array of learning and networking opportunities and features more than 150 sessions, 150 posters, and 28 workshops on the most crucial topics in international education and exchange. A major highlight of the conference is the International Education Expo, which features exhibitors representing hundreds of organizations from around the world, including colleges and universities; study abroad and intensive-English programs; embassies and government agencies; and more. Learn more at nafsa.org/NAFSA2025. #NAFSA2025
About NAFSA
NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the world's largest and most comprehensive nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange. NAFSA promotes policies that ensure the continued growth and impact of global learning, cultural exchange, and mutual understanding through study abroad, international student services, and campus internationalization. With a network of more than 10,000 professionals from more than 3,500 institutions and 150 countries, NAFSA is committed to fostering a more globally connected and peaceful world.