Region VI Champion of Diversity and Inclusion in International Education

This award recognizes the efforts of an international education professional to enhance greater access, to cultivate broader perspectives, and to celebrate the diversity of the international education community. These efforts might be achieved by working to create access and provide support to underrepresented and underserved student (both domestic and international) and scholar populations. These efforts could include specific initiatives, programming, outreach, and/or strategic planning. Good candidates may also have focused efforts on diversity and inclusion within the field of international education itself though concrete efforts to recruit and support diverse professionals.

To submit a nomination, please find the application here!

Award Recipients
2019Ochmaa Escue2020Jie Dai
2021Louise Yahiaoui  
2023Sarah Warren  

Leo Dowling Award of Excellence

Every year, Region VI honors a member who has demonstrated the outstanding qualities that distinguished the late Leo R. Dowling of Indiana University, one of the "founding fathers" and an early president of NAFSA.

Nominees should possess qualities of compassion, integrity, and leadership. They also must have been members of NAFSA for at least five years and should be associated with an institution or organization that is located in Region VI.

Remember, it only takes five years, so use your imagination. Nominees don't have to be nearing retirement. Nominations can be made by means of a letter describing the nominee and should the names and e-mail addresses of two other persons who can speak about the nominee's personal attributes and professional achievements.

To submit a nomination, please find the application here!

Award Recipients
1987Dorothy Brickman1988Roger Lehr
1989Kenneth Rogers1990Paula Spier
1991George Burke1992Laurie Zelman
1993Kitty Burkhart1994Donald Nelson
1995James Haas1996George Hertrich
1997Carolyn Holmes1998Alan Boyd
1999John Greisberger2000Katherine Hammett
2001Kathleen Sideli2002Charles Nieman
2003Kevin Harty2004Jennifer Adams
2005Dee Bunge2006Charlene Leach
2007Wendell Sparks2008Deb Lyons
2009Karen Slaymaker2010Susan Carty
2011Sally Raymont2012Jennifer Marinello
2013Jenny Bowen2014Stacy McKay Benander
2015Heidi Gregori-Gahan2016Ron Cushing
2017Susan Snider Salmon2018Mary Upton
2019Joanna Snyder2020Jason Hope
2021Karla Guinigundo2022Jennifer Nisevich
2023Amanda Yusko  

The George Hertrich Advocacy Award

This award was established in 1997 to honor George E. Hertrich. George was a pillar within NAFSA and a true advocate of international education and scholarship, knowledge, exchange through technology, and constructive leadership.

An integral force at Ohio Dominican College for more than 30 years, George earned respect and admiration from students, colleagues, and peers. He lived his beliefs and empowered all he met.

The George E. Hertrich Advocacy Award is presented at the Region VI conference each November. Nominees should be an active member of NAFSA, demonstrate a willingness to assist colleagues in the field, and advocate the cause of international education within his/her own institution as well as with the greater community.

To submit a nomination, please find the application here!

Award Recipients
1997Martha Wailes1998Heidi Gregori-Gahan
1999George Burke2000Sally Raymont
2001Suzanne Kifer2002Karen Edwards
2003Sara Allaei2004Monica Plunkett
2005Joanna Holvey Bowles2006Jenny Bowen
2007Patricia Biddinger2008Karen DeGrange
2009Susan Sutton2010Dru Simmons
2011David DiMaria2012Andrea Barnard
2013Sandi Lemons2014Sam Lockhart
2015Molly Heidemann2016Stephen Swan
2017Amanda Yusko2018Rendy Schrader
2019Karen Slaymaker2020Abby Conder
2021Rachel Hosler  
2023Franny Henkel  

Dorothy Brickman Award for Outstanding New Professional

This award is presented to an outstanding individual who has been in the profession for less than three years. Any nominees must be a member of NAFSA who has made significant contributions to his/her campus, the regional organization, and/or the field of international education.

This award shall be accompanied by a complimentary registration to attend the following year's regional conference. The purpose behind this award is not only to recognize the achievements of the new professional to date, but to encourage the new professional to remain actively involved in the organization through conference participation.

To submit a nomination, please find the application here!

Award Recipients
2003Cara Besch2004Kara Pike
2005Stephanie Leslie2006Meri Linn Emerson
2007LaShone Gibson2008Amanda Yusko
2009Ryan Meyer2010Laura Gerth
2011Frank Merendino2012Jen Ward
2013Nazanin Tork2014Autumn Beechler
2015Qin (Jesse) Jiang2016Serenity Wright
2017Camila Le Master2018Erik Gaarder
2019 2020Courtney Smith
2021Caitlin Johnson2022Kevin Sullivan
2023Jackie Zubin