Last week, NAFSA announced the 2024–25 class of the RISE (Representation, Inclusion, Support and Empowerment) Fellowship, the association's flagship diversity, equity, and inclusion program. To celebrate the program and the newest participants, we spoke with several alumni of the program about the impact their participation has had on their professional journey, important lessons they've taken with them, and their advice for members of the newest RISE cohort.
How has your participation in the RISE program influenced your work? What impact has it had on your professional journey?
The RISE Fellowship broadened my knowledge of the areas of international education that were unfamiliar to me, which has allowed me to better support my colleagues and develop programming on international student and scholar services for campus partners. I have also been able to recognize the areas where I was already doing everyday, relationship-focused advocacy on campus (little a advocacy) and have been invigorated to continue that work.
—Emilie Buse, Assistant Director, International Services for Students and Scholars, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
The RISE Fellowship has been incredibly impactful in my career trajectory. When I began the Fellowship, I was encouraged to pursue my interest in supporting not only F-1 and J-1 international students but also other populations, specifically refugee and undocumented students. The support structures and networking opportunities provided by the Fellowship expanded my knowledge of best practices for supporting these groups, which set the foundation for my current role. In addition to attaining my goal of becoming a designated school official (DSO) and alternate responsible officer (ARO), I have assisted in the admission, resettlement, and academic success of a cohort of Afghan refugees through the Kentucky Humanitarian Assistance Scholarship for Displaced Students. Without the RISE Fellowship, I would not be in the position I am now to engage in the national movement to provide higher education access to displaced populations.
—Caitlin Johnson, Sponsored Student and Scholar Coordinator, University of Kentucky
My experience in RISE led to me becoming more engaged in my regional NAFSA leadership team in order to give back to the NAFSA community and continue the diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice (DEIBJ) work around which RISE revolves. I have had the chance to engage in community by cofacilitating DEI roundtable conversations at the last two Region XI Conferences and coleading monthly DEI community conversations. We also launched a new position on our Region XI leadership team for a diversity and access representative role. All of this has stemmed from my initial engagement in my region through RISE, which also gave me the tools, community, and confidence to carry this work further than I had ever dreamed it could!
—Loren Scott, Data Systems, Engagement, and Operations Manager, Middlebury College
Is there a lesson, experience, or insight from your time in the program that has stayed with you?
Ask for help! There is so little we do in this world that is done alone. Although we are all at capacity at times, reaching out to gauge interest, get feedback, or bounce an idea off someone can lead to new possibilities.
—Emilie Buse
I greatly appreciated the NAFSA Academy for International Education spring training. The opportunity to meet with every Academy participant and the RISE fellows for the first time was so inspiring. Being surrounded by those who were ready to learn and the experts in the room—like the Academy coaches—encouraged me to make the most of the RISE Fellowship experience.
—Caitlin Johnson
I was part of the 2020–21 RISE cohort, so we went through the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic together. It was invaluable to have a cohort and community of folks who kept on showing up for each other through some very, very difficult years. Through this, we stayed engaged, present, and supportive of each other. The main takeaway that I carry with me still is the importance of showing up for other people and yourself, even through really difficult times.
—Loren Scott
What advice would you share with members of the new cohort as they begin on their own RISE journey?
Remember to do something that is meaningful to you! It is easy to get caught up in thinking about your current role, so find ways to bring your passions and interest into your experience as often as possible.
—Emilie Buse
This is the time to truly invest and engage in those aspects of international education and other relevant fields that you are passionate about. There is no other professional development experience that provides such an intentional, collaborative, and invigorating space where you can immerse yourself in the topics and experiences that you are most interested in. Be sure to also lean into the Fellowship’s support structures, including your Academy coach, RISE cohort, and NAFSA staff. Everyone is truly there to support you in taking your career to the next level in the way that makes the most sense for you.
—Caitlin Johnson
My advice would be to connect with your RISE cohort early and often! Find a way that works for everyone to stay in touch and then keep up with it. That way, by the second year of the program, you will already be a working community. Also, really spend some time thinking about where you want to go in your career, and focus your second year on mapping out the stepping stones that will help lead you there. I have seen others in my cohort go forward in their careers in some pretty magical ways as a result of the work and intentionality that they put into the two years of the RISE program.
—Loren Scott