Committee: Education Abroad Knowledge Community (EA KC)
Position: Chair/Past Chair/Chair-elect, and Network Leader
Term Dates: Three year term (2026, 2027, 2028)
The chair leads the Education Abroad Knowledge Community (EAKC) to foster a peer community from the broad field of education abroad, including study, internships, service-learning, and research abroad. The volunteers who lead the EA KC strive to sustain and develop timely resources, tools, and model practices for the field’s professional development, as outlined in NAFSA Standing Rule VII, Section A. The EAKC chair is accountable to the NAFSA Board of Directors through the Vice President for Scholarship & Institutional Strategy (VP SIS). EA KC activities contribute to achieving objectives set in NAFSA’s Strategic Plan and Standing Rules, specifically Standing Rule VII, Section A. This is a three-year term with a different role each year: Chair-Elect, Chair, and Past Chair.
Description updated April 2025.
NAFSA is not currently accepting applications for this position. Applications and nominations will reopen in Spring 2026. Please visit NAFSA Volunteer Leadership: Open Positions to learn about available opportunities.
Major Functions and Responsibilities
Within the framework of the NAFSA Strategic Plan, this volunteer role will:
- Lead the Education Abroad Knowledge Community (KC) to achieve the outcomes described in Standing Rule VII, Section A by
- Effectively cultivating a team dynamic among EAKC leaders through the facilitation of monthly meetings are that efficient, productive, organized and community-development-oriented
- Providing leadership for the conceptualization, development, and dissemination of quality resources, programs, events, and services that serve the education abroad community, including partnerships with other knowledge communities, leadership committees, interest groups, and regional liaisons
- Managing the successful coordination and completion of work plan goals by the EAKC volunteer leaders and their designated subcommittees
- Enhancing NAFSA conferences and educational programming by inviting in new voices, innovation, concepts, structures, and ideas.
- Reviewing EA proposals for the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo
- Encouraging the development and cultivation of volunteer leaders, including the recruitment of potential members for opening roles
- Updating the VP SIS at least twice a year on the status of workplan goals
- Collaborating with NAFSA staff partners to achieve these goals.
Year 1, as EAKC Chair-Elect, is focused on shadowing and assisting the existing chair; serving as Network Leader for the Education Abroad Knowledge Community Network on the virtual Network.NAFSA platform; partnering with regional liaisons for annual pin design contest; and preparing a plan of EAKC projects for the following year.
Year 2, as EAKC Chair, is focused on leading the EAKC through virtual and in-person meetings to achieve the goals of the annual work plan; monitoring progress of EAKC activities; supporting volunteers of the EAKC leadership team; composing update messages to distribute to the EAKC community at key points throughout the year; and representing the EAKC in its engagement efforts, especially up to and at the NAFSA Annual Conference.
Year 3, as EAKC Past Chair, is focused on supporting the current chair; leading recruitment efforts for open volunteer roles; assisting with organizational and project management duties and assuming duties of chair in their absence; and chairing the task force for the review and selection of EAKC awards.
Sample Projects
In recent years, for example, the chair has coordinated the following projects with their annual work plan:
- Resources on topics ranging from mental health in education abroad; shifting the culture of work; enriching faculty-led programs. A series of webinars on visas for study abroad. A recorded dialogue on navigating advocacy. A calendar of cultural and social awareness.
- A contest to create commemorative pin to celebrate the education abroad community at the annual conference
- Messages to the education abroad community at key points during the calendar year.
- The curation and organization of education abroad community events (e.g Community Dialogues, Welcome events) and other workshops, sessions, activities, and events at the Annual Conference & Expo
Commitment
- Assure NAFSA membership through the length of the three-year, nonrenewable term.
- Dedicate approximately 5-10 hours per month, depending on designated role and time of year
- Foster an inclusive environment in alignment with the NAFSA Diversity and Inclusion Statement.
- Prepare for and attend NAFSA leadership and EAKC meetings throughout the year. Most meetings are virtual.
- Endeavor to attend meetings, events, and activities at the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo.
Qualifications
- Demonstrated expertise in the field of education abroad
- History of staff management and engagement
- Recognized by peers for being energetic, innovative, and visionary
- Highly skilled in strategic planning, management, networking, and delegation in an outcomes-based environment
- Willingness to adopt organization-wide strategic priorities and perspectives on volunteer development and management
- Awareness and management of unconscious bias within their NAFSA communities
- Valid NAFSA membership through the length of the leadership term
- Ability to meet the volunteer commitment outlined and planning calendar deadlines
Desired Qualifications
- Previous engagement with NAFSA’s EAKC activities, including team activities, or other NAFSA regional or national leadership experience, preferably within the past five years.
- Strong coordination, analytical, oral and written communication skills.
Benefits and Appreciation
NAFSA appreciates its volunteer leaders with a strategy that develops, celebrates, and supports them throughout the year:
- The KC chair-elect and chair receive 100% complimentary registration for the NAFSA Annual Conference. The past-chair receives a discount on conference registration in appreciation of their service.
- Leaders in this role receive complimentary access to two NAFSA e-learning courses, during quarter 1 and quarter 4.
- Leaders in this role are invited to an invitation-only appreciation reception at the NAFSA Annual Conference.
- Leaders in this role are asked to attend online and onsite leadership community gatherings throughout the year, with themes focused on the NAFSA International Education Professional Competencies 2.0
- Leaders in this role are recognized with special signage at the NAFSA Annual Conference.
