Webster Hosts Study Abroad Partners at Annual NAFSA Conference in Denver

Webster University once again had a significant presence as International education professionals from around the globe met in Denver, Colorado, May 29-June 3 for the annual NAFSA: Association of International Educators conference. More than 9,000 professionals gathered to discuss issues surrounding all specialties of the field including: education abroad; international enrollment management; international student and scholar services; and international education leadership.

This year’s theme, "Building Capacity for Global Learning," challenged attendees to consider ways to broaden access to international education and build institutional capacity that encourages innovation in international education so that faculty, staff and students may work creatively and productively in this globally interconnected world.

The conference featured more than 200 sessions and workshops including presentations by Webster University’s Bethany Keller, assistant director of the Multicultural Center and International Student Affairs, and Kim McGrath, director of Webster International Network of Schools (WINS). Also participating in the conference from Webster were vice provost Nancy Hellerud, Office of Study Abroad staffers Jennifer Dickey, Nicholas Hall and Guillermo Rodríguez, and Academic Advising's Nancy Haparimwi.

Webster Hosts WINS Reception and International Guests

One of the conference’s annual highlights is the WINS reception, hosted by Webster’s Office of Study Abroad. The annual reception celebrates the growing WINS partnerships and provides an opportunity to connect with affiliate members and institutional partners. This year nearly thirty current and prospective WINS affiliates and international university partners attended the reception.

The WINS program, established more than 15 years ago, creates partnerships between Webster University and U.S. colleges and universities to provide access to our international campuses. The program allows full time, degree-seeking students of affiliated U.S. institutions to study abroad at one of Webster’s international campuses.

Keller on Intercultural Communication

Keller presented in the NAFSA Core Education Program debut of the new curriculum for Intercultural Communication in Practice. The 8-hour workshop includes modules on Supporting Intercultural Adjustment, Community Among Cultural Groups, Building Cultural Understanding, Reflection on Intercultural Experience and Intercultural Mentoring and Intervention.

Keller also assisted with an intercultural simulation, ACIREMA, led by Marian Beane, the author and creator of the simulation. This activity simulates the experience international students face when coming to the US for university study. For more information, or to request the ACIREMA simulation for your work team or student group, please contact Keller in the Multicultural Center and International Student Affairs (MCISA).

In addition, Keller developed a workshop, "The Best of the Best in Campus and Community Programming," with Jason Marquart, team leader at Washington University in St. Louis. The session highlighted best practices in social and cultural programming. The session was interactive, encouraging participants to use models presented from Webster and Wash U to adapt and take back as ideas for their own campuses. The format was set up as a roundtable best-practice workshop to stimulate conversations at each table and asked participants to report out from around the room to increase the ideas shared from as many institutions as possible.

McGrath on Women Leadership in International Ed

McGrath presented "Strengthening Women's Leadership in International Education." McGrath and her co-presenters led a group of nearly 80 professionals through an interactive session on strengths based leadership and conflict management.

In addition to attending the conference and WINS reception, McGrath represented the Global Leadership League ("the League") in their inaugural event and kickoff as an organization dedicated to empowering women in global engagement. McGrath is among a group of 20 professionals that have founded the League.

Additional information on the League is at www.globalleadershipleague.com.