Leading Study Abroad

Nicolette DeVille Christensen was named president of Arcadia University, in Glenside, Pennsylvania, in 2013. Last year marked the sixth consecutive year, and the seventh time in the past 8 years, that Arcadia had been ranked number one for student participation in study abroad by the Open Doors report, published annually by the Institute of International Education, which is supported by a grant from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. DeVille Christensen joined Arcadia in 2008, becoming vice president and executive director of the Center for Education Abroad, and leading its transition to The College of Global Studies. The College received the Nikolai N. Khaladjan International Award for innovation and achievement in international education by the American Association of University Administrators, and was recognized by the Pennsylvania Council for International Education for championing global education within the state. She has served on task forces, professional boards, and committees for organizations such as the Association of International Education Administrators and the United Nations Task Force on Education.

Before coming to Arcadia, DeVille Christensen was executive director of global academic management at New York University. She also taught business management for 13 years at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina, serving as department chair and director of study abroad. DeVille Christensen earned a doctoral degree in leadership and cultural foundations with a focus on international business and ethics from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.

IE: Since you became president of Arcadia in 2013, the university