Regional Service Award Recipients

NAFSA Region XII annually recognizes member contributions of service in international education with the following awards:

Service In International Education Award

One award will be given that recognizes an individual's or organization's significant overall contribution to Region XII, NAFSA, and international education.

Criteria:

  • Nominated by one or more NAFSA members.
  • Significant contributions to international education over a minimum period of five years.
  • Strong commitment to NAFSA's mission.

Outstanding Service To International Education Award

One or more awards will be given that recognize individuals and/or organizations who have performed above and beyond the call of duty in various areas within Region XII.

Criteria:

  • Nominated by one or more NAFSA members.
  • Endorsed by chair of district most closely affiliated with nominee.
  • NAFSA member for a minimum of 10 years.
  • Region XII member for a minimum of five years.
  • Current members of the Region XII team are ineligible.
  • Contributions to Region XII must be documented in at least three different areas.

Ron Moffatt Award

Throughout his life, Ron Moffatt was dedicated to international education, and social justice. He led by example and was an inspiration to many international education professionals. Ron's work to further the connection between a global civil society and international education guided his service to the profession. His respect for humanity became a hallmark of his life. He will be remembered for the following significant endeavors:

  • His leadership in directing NAFSA's commitment to Global Workforce Development
  • His long-time service in NAFSA Region XII, where his vision and leadership made noteworthy advancements in the Region through the development of the Regional Travel Grant program, the Regional Financial Guidelines and many others.
  • His great compassion and commitment to help others see the relationship between the work of international educators and the greater goal of creating a more peaceful world, one student, one person, at a time.

Criteria

  • A minimum of 10 years involvement with international education. NAFSA membership preferred, but not required.
  • Demonstrated commitment to international education and social justice in the following areas:
    1. Consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty to personally support and promote success in international students, international education colleagues, or international education.
    2. Exemplifies dedication to social justice in his/her daily life
      3. Has a strong Region XII connection either through Regional leadership, work in the Region, or through programs that are related to Regional interests.

The Region XII Rising Star Young Leader Award

The Rising Star Young Leader Award is given annually in recognition of a professional who has impacted the field of international education during the first five years of the recipient's area of work. The rising star will have demonstrated a commitment to internationalization and an ingenuity of thought that has the potential for having substantial and lasting influence upon global education.

Criteria:

  • May or may not be a NAFSA member
  • Has served in their present area of expertise/specialization no more than 5 years
  • Shows passion and has made significant contributions to their department, unit, institution, organization, to the NAFSA community, and/or to the field of international education
  • Has engaged in activities such as:
    • Organized or led an activity or range of activities or services within their organization that promotes international education
    • Demonstrated innovation in their area of specialization
    • Presented at conferences and/or have engaged in publications of their work
    • Contributed to international education as a volunteer leader, etc.
  • Shows promise in making further contributions to the field of international education as a leader

The Region XII Awards Selection Committee is comprised of the Region XII past-chair, chair, and chair-elect and the award recipients will be announced at the regional conference.

Past Recipients

2022

  • Rising Star Award - Ashley Arvanites, UC Education Abroad Programs 
  • Service in International Education Award - Sarah Brockmeyer, Santa Clara University

2021

  • Rising Star Award - Natasha Civ, Santa Clara University
  • Outstanding Service to International Education Award - Parinaz Zartoshty, San José State University
  • Service in International Education Award - Denise Folga, Loyola Marymount University

2020

  • Rising Star Award - Ashley Bayman, UC Santa Cruz
  • Outstanding Service to International Education Award - Brian Groves, UC San Francisco
  • Service in International Education Award - Travis Pentz, UC San Francisco

2019

  • Ron Moffit Award - Jane Kalionzes, San Diego State University (retired)
  • Ron Moffit Award - James Luyirika-Sewagudde, Jr., CSU Chico
  • Rising Star Award - Anna McCreedy, UC Berkeley 
  • Service in International Education Award - Trish Reiff, UC Davis (Retired)

2018

  • Ron Moffit Award - Barbara St. Urbaine, Modesto Junior College (Retired)
  • Rising Star Award - Stephanie Kim, Mid-Pacific Institute
  • Service in International Education Award - Emily Taylor, UC Davis

2017

  • Ron Moffit Award - Louis Gecenok, San Jose State University (retired)
  • Service in International Education Award - Katherine Punteney, Middlebury Institute of International Studies
  • Rising Star Award - Grace Pfisterer, University of Southern California

2016

  • Outstanding Service in International Education Award - Arthur Levine, Foothill College
  • Service in International Education Award - Olga Piro, University of California, San Diego
  • Rising Star Award - Luis Legaspi, University of California, San Diego (also received 2017 National Rising Star Award)

2015

  • National NAFSA Regional Affairs Committee Award - Ryan Larsen, University of Las Vegas - Nevada
  • Service in International Education Award - Roger Fong, ELS Language Centers/Honolulu
  • Outstanding Service in International Education Award - Gloria Zarabozo, Diablo Valley College 
  • Rising Star Award - Emily Taylor, UC Davis

2014

  • Service In International Education Award – Charmagne Herlien California Institute of Technology
  • Outstanding Service To International Education Award – Ryan Larsen, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  • Ron Moffatt Award – Susan Thompson, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

2013

  • 2013 Outstanding Service in International Education Award - Denise Kinsella, Santa Monica City College
  • 2013 Ron Moffatt Award - Jimmie White

2012

  • Service in International Education Award - Roger Fong, ELS Language Centers Honolulu
  • 2012 Outstanding Service in International Education Award - Tammy Silver, College of Southern Nevada
  • 2012 Ron Moffatt Award - Marjory Gooding, California Institute of Technology
  • US State Department of Commerce Export Achievement Award - Foothill De Anza Community College District

2011

  • Service in International Education Award - Steve Jacques, Leeward Community College
  • Ron Moffatt Award - Lay Tuan Tan, CSU Fullerton

2010

  • Ron Moffatt Award - Patricia Preston, Santa Monica City College

2009

  • Outstanding Service in International Education Award - Marjory Gooding, California Institute of Technology
  • Ron Moffatt Award - Robert Erickson, UC Los Angeles

2008

  • Service in International Education - Kasey McCarthy (Gemological Institute of America)
  • Outstanding Service in International Education - Madjid Niroumand (Orange Coast College)
  • Outstanding Service in International Education - Jane Kalionzes (San Diego State University)

2007

  • Service in International Education - Judy Lee (Pepperdine University)
  • Outstanding Service in International Education - Louis Gecenok (San Jose State University)

2006

  • Service in International Education - Margaret Short (U.S. Dept of State)
  • Outstanding Service in International Education - Diana Elton (University of California, Riverside)

2005

  • Service in International Education - USCIS California Service Center (CSC)

2004

  • Outstanding Service in International Education - Dawn Renze Wood (San Diego State University)

2003

  • Service in International Education - Barbara Colyar (Santa Clara University)
  • Outstanding Service in International Education - Ted Goode (University of California, Berkeley)

2002

  • Regional Service Award - Bob Ericksen (Cal State University, Fullerton)
  • Outstanding Service in International Education - Martha Staff (University of Hawaii, Manoa)

2000

  • Regional Service Award - Robert Perriton (Brigham Young University, Hawaii)

1999

  • Regional Service Award - Lisa Park (Stanford University)
  • Regional Service Award - John Pearson (Stanford University)
  • Regional Service Award - Ruth M. Sylte (The Manitou Heights Group)
  • Outstanding Service in International Education - Darlene Kutara (Immigration & Naturalization Services, Honolulu, Hawaii)
  • Outstanding Service in International Education - Roy Kamitono (Immigration & Naturalization Services, Honolulu, Hawaii)

1998

  • Regional Service Award - Jane Kalionzes (San Diego State University)
  • Regional Service Award - Kath-Ann Gerhardt (University of California, Davis)