Co-hosted by Indiana University’s Europe Gateway and CIEE Berlin, the event was held at CIEE’s Berlin Center and brought together a dynamic mix of university staff, program providers, and faculty. 

A Day of Dialogue and Skill-Building 

Participants engaged in five sessions covering key areas of practice delivered by speakers representing U.S. and European universities, education abroad providers, and service providers: 

• Decoding Today’s Students: Expectations, Trends, and Institutional Influence 
• Fostering Accountability: Empowering Students to Own Their Well-Being and Growth 
• Designing Co-Curricular Experiences for Meaningful Cultural Engagement 
• Culturally Responsive Curricula: Strategies for the International Classroom 
• Charting the Path Forward: Collaborative Reflections and Action Planning 

Each session prompted in-depth discussion and knowledge-sharing on how to foster student growth through challenge and support, particularly when students encounter new cultural contexts. “The program gave participants space to reflect on the role each of us plays in helping students challenge themselves to learn and grow through immersive experiential learning,” said Amelia Dietrich, Ph.D., Senior Director for Research and Publications at The Forum. “It was inspiring to see so many experienced professionals share strategies for helping students grow—academically and as citizens of our global community.”

Strengthening Partnerships and Elevating Voices Across Europe 

The Berlin Regional Seminar also highlighted The Forum’s continued investment in partnerships with institutions and staff outside of the United States. “This event underscores our commitment to growing relationships with institutions and onsite staff who are doing the work to support and guide students each day of their education abroad experience,” said Marissa Lombardi, Ed.D., Vice President and Chief Learning Officer at The Forum. “Regional Seminars like this help us strengthen the global network that supports students in achieving meaningful, transformative experiences through education abroad.” 

“It was a pleasure to welcome this community of practitioners to the IU Europe Gateway in Berlin,” said Katrin Völkner, Director of the Gateway. “With support from CIEE Berlin, we were able to bring together partners and colleagues who are deeply engaged in improving the quality and impact of education abroad.” 

During closing reflections, Miguel Elias Ayllon, Associate Vice President for International Affairs at Indiana University, shared several key takeaways from the day, including: “We must understand the key role that each of us plays in the tension between challenge and support [of students studying abroad] and how we strike a balance that encourages student learning and resilience.” 

Bringing Professional Development Closer to You 
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Regional Seminars are a core part of The Forum’s mission to meet members where they are—particularly onsite staff who work directly with students navigating unfamiliar cultures, academic systems, and personal growth while studying abroad. Designed by and for education abroad professionals and faculty, these events offer space for learning, networking, and collaboration around topics relevant to specific regions. Join us in Rabat on May 17, 2025, for our next seminar, with additional events to be announced soon. 

Interested in hosting a Regional Seminar? Learn more about what’s involved and submit your proposal online. 

In a time when our field—and the world—faces increasing division, misunderstanding, and polarization, we believe it’s more important than ever to create intentional spaces where professionals can build the skills and mindset needed to address conflict with empathy and purpose. This Residency is not just timely; it’s necessary.

That is why we appreciate the support and thought leadership of organizations like the at Middlebury College (CT Collaborative), which serves as an incubator for research, teaching, and student experiences to address divisiveness in society. Collaborating with more than 100 partner institutions in the United States and around the world, Middlebury is working to embed principles and practices of conflict transformation in the liberal arts from high school to graduate school. 

Like The Forum, the CT Collaborative and the Middlebury C. V. Starr Schools Abroad see international education as a catalyst to bridge divides – cultural, linguistic, and geographic. Their three learning goals are intentional about helping students abroad see conflict as an opportunity for growth:  

• A New Understanding of Conflict: conflict is not just destructive. Constructive conflict can deepen relationships and advance social change. 
• Skills to Understand Self and Others: to constructively engage in conflict, we need to understand ourselves and others in the contexts in which we act.
• A Commitment to Act: transforming conflict involves a commitment to carefully designed engagement at some level - interpersonal, institutional, or structural.

How the Middlebury C. V. Starr Schools Abroad Became Involved

Middlebury’s Dean of International Programs Carlos Velez first heard about the Beyond Polarization Residency when he attended The Forum’s conferences in Athens last year. “Given Middlebury’s commitment to conflict transformation, we immediately decided that we must become allies and collaborators in these efforts,” he noted. 

Additionally, Dr. David Wick, Associate Professor and Program Chair, International Education Management at the Middlebury Institute for International Studies in Monterey, became involved in the Residency early on and will be one of its Residency Faculty Members. “Given The Forum was eager to look at polarization on several levels (intrapersonal, interpersonal, institutional, structural, etc.), it seemed a natural fit to share our conflict transformation knowledge and experience,” said Phyllis Stinson, Program Manager, Conflict Transformation Abroad.   

The Importance of Conflict Transformation in Today’s Society & the Field of Education Abroad

Stinson went on to explain that the conflict inherent to intercultural existence allows for growth in many ways. Sharing from their Integrating CT at Middlebury Schools Abroad Toolkit, she notes that study abroad goals include advancing language acquisition, encouraging cultural immersion, and fostering engagement with the local community. Conflict transformation can act as both a tool and a vehicle for addressing these goals. As a tool, CT encourages students to look at local conflicts and engage with the history and lived experiences of the communities in which they are immersed. As a vehicle, CT can act as a framework for responding to the discomfort inherent to time spent abroad in an unfamiliar culture and/or language. 

Middlebury’s Toolkit highlights that conflict has been and always will be part of the human experience. Not knowing a language is what pushes us to learn new vocabulary. Making a cultural misstep is what shines a light on how the new, unfamiliar culture we are faced with operates. The conflicts inherent to new, and many times uncomfortable, experiences can be transformative in that they are learning opportunities. While they can lead to retrenchment and defensiveness, they can also foster empathy and humility, grow understanding of ourselves and others, and enable deeper, more productive connection. Cultural and language immersion is living, breathing conflict transformation. 

When thinking about conflict transformation in our everyday work, it’s critical to see conflict as an opportunity for growth; this view allows individuals to reach a deeper understanding of ourselves, others, and the contexts in which we operate.  

As Christiane Magnido, director of Middlebury’s School in Cameroon said, “The conflict transformation framework offers a way to acknowledge positive shifts in understanding, mindset, and action that can emerge from tense situations, without negating the difficulties. It validates all stakeholders, empowering them and recognizing their potential for positive impact, rather than solely defining them as victims or perpetrators.”  

• Lindsay Allen (Director, AEP: Academic Experience in Prague) 
• Charlene Chester Jerome (Assistant Dean for Administration & Outreach, Morgan State University) 
• Maureen Gordon (Executive Director, Education Abroad and Overseas Campuses, Office of Global Engagement, Temple University) 
• Julie Pollard (Director of International Health, Safety, and Crisis Management, University of California Education Abroad Program) 
• Adam Rubin (Assistant Vice Provost and Director of Education Abroad, University at Buffalo) 
• Emelee Volden (Director, Office of International Education, University of Denver) 

Maureen Gordon, Adam Rubin, and Emelee Volden were reelected for a second term, while Lindsay Allen, Charlene Chester Jerome, and Julie Pollard will begin their first term. Each Council member serves a three-year term, with the option to serve up to two terms. 

The Forum Council plays a key leadership role within The Forum, working in collaboration with the Board of Directors and Forum staff. Council members represent the interests of the membership and the broader field, helping to shape programs, resources, and services. Much of this work takes place through Council-led committees, working groups, and communities of practice. 

Thank you to all the candidates who participated in this year's Forum Council election and to all who voted.  

The newly elected Council will meet in person in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in June 2025 to begin planning activities for the 2025–26 fiscal year. We are grateful for the service of all Forum Council members and look forward to the year ahead.