Member Interest Group (MIG) Representative

Major functions and responsibilities for the MIG Representative:

• Serve as representative for all Member Interest Group leaders and act as their liaison to the Membership Engagement Committee
• Utilize MIG communities and expertise to increase engagement with new NAFSA members
• Aid in planning and hosting quarterly virtual meetings with MIG leaders
• Suggest avenues for new NAFSA members to become involved with MIGs
• Manage the tri-annual reviews of member interest groups, in collaboration with the MEC chair and NAFSA staff.

Overall MEC responsibilities:

• Welcome and engage new members and provide outreach at annual conferences with constituent groups that are new to NAFSA.
• Engage with knowledge communities and national committees for coordinated member cultivation activities.
• Support the MIGs at NAFSA annual conferences by attending meetings, provide talking points on behalf of the MEC, and submit comments to the committee for the annual review report.
• Approve the MIGs according to the Guidance for MIG Leaders and Organizers.
• Support membership and career center activities as appropriate.
• Support the NAFSA awards program, according to guidelines established by the Board. Make recommendations to the Board for specified awards: Life Membership, Award for Distinguished Service in Honor of Homer Higbee, and the Rising Star Young Leader.

All NAFSA leaders are expected to foster an inclusive environment and seek to learn and understand the multicultural perspectives of the committee/team, our constituents, and stakeholders to align with the NAFSA Diversity and Inclusion Statement. An expression of leadership in this area includes:

• Engaging the committee/team to identify and implement strategies for increased personal outreach, recruitment, and onboarding for all, especially diversity-focused and underrepresented groups
• Increasing accessibility and participation from underrepresented groups, individuals, and institutions
• Expanding educational content within the committees’ purview through intentional outreach and recruitment of diverse presenters and institutional types in partnership with various NAFSA groups

NAFSA: Association of International Educators is a professional association driven by its Strategic Plan as established by the Board of Directors. The success of the association depends on the productive engagement of three key constituencies: the Board, member-leaders, and staff. Member-leaders are advocates for the association’s mission, vision, values, diversity and inclusion, and ethical principles. They align their work closely with the Board through its vice presidents and with staff to carry out the Strategic Plan. Member-leader roles are guided by objectives assigned by the Strategic Plan, by outcome accountabilities outlined in the Standing Rules, and by position descriptions for specific roles.

Relationships with Other Members
This position collaborates closely with other NAFSA leaders to enhance work efforts across the association.

Relationships with the NAFSA Staff
This position partners closely with the NAFSA staff partner assigned. Effective relationships reflect and include responsiveness to phone calls, email correspondence, timely delivery on responsibilities, open communication, and mutual respect among other characteristics.

• This is a two-year term. The estimated time commitment is 10 hours per month to complete the ongoing work, with a monthly one-hour meeting by phone. This may increase to 15 hours per month during the peak periods.
• MEC members prepare for and attend the Washington Leadership Meeting (WLM) in January. (Funding for attendance WLM is provided by NAFSA, including hotel and air.)
• MEC members prepare for and attend leadership meetings at NAFSA annual conferences.
• MEC members commit to visibility and engagement during meetings, events, and activities at the annual conferences.

• Current or former MIG leader
• Understanding of NAFSA and its leadership structure
• Strong leadership, analytical, and communication skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Knowledge of the benefits of NAFSA membership and skill in articulating them
• Willingness to promote NAFSA membership
• Willingness to adopt organization wide perspectives and MEC strategic priorities
• Willingness to adopt association priorities and perspectives on volunteer development and management
• High strategic planning, management, networking, and delegation experience
• Strong coordination, analytical, oral, and written communication skills
• Ability to work effectively with a team and with NAFSA staff in an outcomes-based environment
• Ability to manage unconscious bias in the assessment and decision-making processes
• Valid NAFSA membership through the length of the leadership term