Terra Dotta

Paulo Zagalo-Melo, Western Michigan University's Associate Provost for Global Education, boasts 30+ years of experience in international education, combining expertise in accounting, finance, and management. He deems international education the top growth market for higher education, citing its pivotal role in research, innovation, and cultural understanding. Paulo emphasizes the need for ongoing advocacy for internationalization as crucial to the institution's mission and strategic plan. He underscores the significance of strategic budgeting to address resource and funding challenges.

Jill Blondin, Ph.D., Associate Vice Provost, underscores the significance of global engagement in higher education. She advocates for institutions prioritizing global involvement, citing student, faculty, and staff advantages. Jill references VCU's internationalization plan, "Dare to be Global," emphasizing data-driven decisions, accessibility, recruitment, and engagement. She emphasizes the importance of continuous advocacy and strategic budgeting to secure resources while encouraging collaboration and a "we can all win" approach.

In this episode, Charlie Bankart, the Senior Internationalization Officer for the University of Kansas, discusses the institution’s commitment to comprehensive internationalization. Bankart highlights the importance of internationalization as an ongoing and sustainable practice rather than a static set of offices and initiatives. He emphasizes the need for proactive advocacy across campus and shares insights into best practices. This conversation sheds light on the University of Kansas’ approach to internationalization and its impact on the institution’s planning and practices.

Mihaela Metianu, Assistant Provost for Global Engagement at Florida Atlantic University, underscores the importance of mastering fundamentals in planning for growth in international education, including organizational structure and expertise development. She highlights the critical role of data in advocacy and decision-making and the necessity of strong communication, compliance, and external partnerships. Metianu asserts that international education is an institutional responsibility that should be integrated into all facets of university life.

Grant Chapman is the Associate Provost for International Programs at Kansas State University. He has held key roles such as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Assistant Provost, and Provost, with a strong focus on international education. Grant is a Fulbright Scholar and Phi Beta Kappa member, known for leading universities to prestigious awards like NAFSA Paul Simon Spotlight and IIE Heiskill Honorable Mention. He has raised millions in external funds for international programs and taught courses in legal studies, international relations, business, and management, including international public law and international business law.

All podcast guests were asked the same question: Rate the importance of global engagement for higher education on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being unimportant and 10 indicating its vital role in the institution's overall growth and success. The following are their answers and unique perspectives.

All podcast guests were asked questions about the importance of data: The questions extended into conversation about having the proper digital infrastructure, it’s role in running their IE programs, the impact on staff, advocacy and decision making. The following are their unique perspectives.

Alison Nagy, the Associate Director of Study Abroad and Inbound Programs for International Education at American University. Alison shares her insights and experiences on how American University has grown the study abroad programs from a handful to over 100, with a remarkable participation rate from students of well over 60%. She emphasizes the importance of making study abroad attainable for all students, ensuring that there are academic options for a wide variety of majors and that financial barriers are minimized. Alison also discusses the significance of effective communication, data analysis, and departmental buy-in in creating a successful study abroad program.