Fanta Aw, PhD
Fanta Aw, PhD, is a transformational leader in international and higher education administration. She currently serves as the executive director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, having previously held its presidency from 2013 to 2016. NAFSA is the world’s largest and most comprehensive membership association dedicated to the advancement of international education and exchange.
Dr. Aw is dedicated to addressing pivotal issues. She often serves as a keynote speaker, sharing her expertise on various topics, including internationalization; international educational exchange; diversity, equity, and inclusion; women in leadership; global trends; geopolitics; public policy; and immigration.
Dr. Aw is also a champion for innovation and transformation in the realm of higher education. She speaks to the importance of humanity coexisting with artificial intelligence and the social responsibility of educators in preparing and nurturing the next generation of empathetic leaders.
Dr. Aw dedicated more than three decades to American University (AU) in Washington, D.C., where she earned a BS in accounting, an MA in public administration with a specialization in organizational development, and a PhD in sociology with a focus on international education, social stratification, and transnational migration.
During her extensive tenure at AU, Dr. Aw held several leadership positions, including being the vice president of undergraduate enrollment, campus life, and inclusive excellence. She has been recognized as an award-winning lecturer while holding the title of Hurst Senior Professorial Lecturer at AU's School of International Service. In 2023, her significant contributions to AU were honored with the Neil Kerwin Alumni Achievement Award. Dr. Aw also actively participates as a member of the Global Advisory Board of and has previously chaired the ETS TOEFL board.
Originally from Mali, Dr. Aw has lived in both East and West Africa as well as the United States, gaining a broad and diverse cultural perspective. Her passion for global experiences has led her to explore nearly 60 countries. Her knowledge has been acknowledged by major global media outlets, such as CNN, Agence France Press, USA Today, the Washington Post, the Chronicle of Higher Education, National Public Radio, the Middle East Broadcast Corporation, the Washington Business Journal, WAMU, Washington Diplomat, and China Daily.
Find out more by visiting the resources below and by following Dr. Aw on Twitter or LinkedIn.
Articles
- US college students need to go away: Why study abroad is essential to our future
- NAFSA selects international-education veteran as new leader
- International Education in an Interdependent World: An Interview with Dr. Fanta Aw, NAFSA
Podcasts
- Fanta Aw: Planting Seeds with NAFSA’s New CEO
- How being a global nomad leads to nimble leadership: Fanta Aw of NAFSA
- NAFSA: Dialogues about international education
Mentions
- Renewed efforts to promote study abroad as one million target remains distant
- Call for a national strategy to attract overseas students
- Student visa refusals are disparate in African countries. Congressional leaders want to know why.