The Forum is grateful to the many professionals from across the field of education abroad whose active involvement in a wide range of projects and activities help us deliver content to serve the profession.

Committees: Groups contributing to recurring Forum efforts on a cyclical basis. Length of term of service varies by committee.
Working Groups: Project-based groups with finite start and end dates based around a particular project or deliverable.

Working Groups and projects start with ideas and recommendations from Forum members.

Join a Committee or Working Group
​Call for Volunteers

Committees for 2025-2026

Annual Conference

Deadline to Apply: March 7, 2025
​

Description: The Annual Conference Committee works closely with Forum staff in deciding on the conference theme, creating the Call for Proposals, and reviewing session proposals to create the content of the conference. Conference committee members contribute via e-mail and teleconference, primarily in May, June, August, and September.

Expected Deliverables: Selecting conference theme and creating Call for Proposals; reviewing session proposals; assistance with plenary speaker identification.

Length of Term: 1 year; chairs serve a second year as Past Chair

​Time Commitment: Time commitment varies from month to month; committee members will be asked to devote 2-3 hours/month in May and June in preparation for the call for proposals; Several hours will be required for proposal review after the August deadline.

​The 2026 Annual Conference will be held March 11-13 in Nashville, Tennessee.

2024 Committee Members:

• CJ Tremblay, Alethea Global Cooperative (Chair)
• Aven Anderson, Southeast Missouri State University
• Gayathri Banavara, Community College of Philadelphia
• Wil Biddle, University of Bristol
• Elaine Del Rossi, Cigna Global
• Magdalena Dieterle, Constructor University
• Sara Gutierrez, The University of New Mexico
• Katherine Haan, Chicago State University
• Andy Hinnant, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
• Sakura Hirata, Okanagan College
• Jessie Hodgson, Montana State University
• Alexandria Johnson, Georgia State University
• Amanda Jurden, The Ohio State University
• Luis Kauachi, Boston College
• Janine Knight-Grofe, Durham College
• Mike LaFleur, George Brown College
• Chelsey Laird, Vancouver Community College (University Mobility In Asia And The Pacific (UMAP) host)
• Ada Lee Kwantlen, Polytechnic University
• Whitney Longnecker, Texas Tech University
• Daniel Lutaaya Charowa, Consult & Advisory Ltd 
• Marco Marino, Sant'Anna Institute
• Susan McGury, DePaul University
• Kellie McMullin,Nova Scotia Community College
• Alex Nichols, Sea Education Association/SEA Semester
• Destiny Oppe, IES Abroad
• Guanglong Pang, Michigan State University - Broad College of Business
• Mariam Raza, Conestoga College
• Andrea Rizzotti, FLACSO-Argentina
• Amanda Roshan-Rawaan, Indiana University-Bloomington
• Adam Rubin, University at Buffalo, Forum Council
• Linda Rust, The University of Melbourne
• Girija Shinde, Volunteer State Community College
• Kate Simmons, DePaul University
• Carolyn Stevenson, Purdue University Global
• MaiseeThao, UCEAP
• Popi Triantafyllidou,CYA / College Year in Athens
• Saravan der Horst, EF Education First International Ltd
• Vyotech Wloch, College of Lake County
• Elizabeth Frohlich, The Forum on Education Abroad, [email protected]

Other Committees and Working Groups will be announced with calls for applications in Summer 2025.

​Working Groups & Committees for 2024-2025

Click on each title below to learn more about each working group and committee.

Working Groups

The New FAFSA: A Briefing on Financial Aid in 2025

Description: This working group strategically brings together a small group of Forum members who understand (or aim to understand) the FAFSA and considers best practices in assessing student need by way of the information FAFSA determines and shares. 

Expected Deliverables: Concise tool (one-pager/briefing) that provides an overview of FAFSA simplification; what one can learn about a student’s financial situation from the FAFSA’s Student Aid Report; and the implications of the updated FAFSA information on financial need assessment practices and scholarship consideration. 

Special skills or expertise needed: Financial aid and scholarship offices from Forum Member organizations are invited. Familiarity with FAFSA Simplification and the outputs of the 2024-2025 FAFSA. 

Timeline: Deliverable completed by December 2024. 

Estimated Time Commitment: Meet monthly from September to November, with the goal being a final briefing/one-pager to present to the Forum in December. 

Time/Dates of Meetings: Likely Wednesday afternoons EST, but may change depending on member availability. 

Preferred Number of Participants: 4-6 professionals in education abroad and/or financial aid and scholarship roles.

Members:
Angela Schaffer, Fund for Education Abroad (chair) 
Kate Bohan, CET Academic Programs 
Windy Delano, Virginia Commonwealth University 
Elizabeth Frohlich, The Forum on Education Abroad, [email protected] 
Pato Lin-Steadman, The Forum on Education Abroad, [email protected]
Melissa Matsubara, Hawaii Pacific University 
Katherine Mary "Kate" Meyer, University of Kentucky 

Mental Health Challenges in Education Abroad: Guidelines and Best Practices for Supporting Students and Programs for Success

Description: How can EA professionals develop a more consistent and effective approach to collecting, reviewing, and using appropriate student health and mental health information, with the ultimate goal of supporting students with mental health challenges before they go abroad? How can EA offices collaborate with other campus/organizational resources to help identify students at risk, assist students with the development of an appropriate self-care plan, and, if necessary, convince a student to choose a different program or postpone their study abroad plans?

The primary goals of this working group are 1) to develop a series of guidelines that EA professionals can use to guide and support students with mental health challenges, 2) to curate a series of best practices that EA professionals at colleges, universities, and program providers can use to cultivate a professional network and communication strategy for identifying and supporting these students, and 3) to provide guidance related to the myths and realities regarding mental health screening and FERPA, HIPAA, Title IX, and ADA compliance.


Expected Deliverables: The primary goals of this working group are 1) to develop a series of guidelines that EA professionals can use to guide and support students with mental health challenges before they go abroad, 2) to curate a series of best practices that EA professionals at colleges, universities, and program providers can use to cultivate a professional network and communication strategy for identifying and supporting these students, and 3) to provide guidance related to the myths and realities regarding mental health screening and FERPA, HIPAA, Title IX, and ADA compliance. The final deliverable could include a white paper or short publication/guide designed to introduce different examples of institutional strategies used to screen and support students, as well as a conference presentation at the 2025 Forum Annual Conference.

Timeline: September 2024 through March 2025

Estimated Time Commitment: 1 hour working meeting/month and approx. 1 hour independent asynchronous work/month

Members: 

• Adam Rubin (chair), University of Buffalo
• Bridget Demorest, Syracuse University
• Jennifer Fullick, IFSA (Institute for Study Abroad)
• Anna Hayes, Duke University
• Megan Hinson, University of North Carolina Wilmington
• Rebecca Hurst, Oklahoma State University
• Meghan Kelley, New York University
• Shawn Lenker, University of Tennessee Knoxville
• Candace Ruta, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Irene Scott, Texas A&M University
• Cari Vanderkar, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
• Lezlie Weber, Lawrence University
• ​Elizabeth Frohlich, The Forum on Education Abroad, [email protected] 
• Pato Lin-Steadman, The Forum on Education Abroad, [email protected]

Committees

AWARD SELECTION 

Description: This committee is responsible for vetting submissions, selecting winners, and preparing the winners for their participation in the annual conference for The Forum’s signature awards, including: Award for Excellence in Education Abroad Curriculum Design (for course designers/instructors), Award for Academic Achievement Abroad (given to students), Award for Advancing the SDGs through Education Abroad (for institutions) and the Peter A. Wollitzer Award (which honors a colleague who has been remarkably effective in influencing institutions of higher learning to understand and support education abroad through the promotion of The Forum’s mission and vision). The committee will divide into subcommittees specializing in individual awards for portions of this work.

Expected Deliverables: 

1. Encourage/recruit nominations of awards.
2. Review and select winners for each award.
3. Assist with the promotion and celebration of finalists and winners.
4. (For some members of the committee) Prepare students/faculty for sessions delivered during The Forum’s Annual Conference.
5. (For some members of the committee) Present the award winners during online and/or in-person awards ceremony during The Forum’s Annual Conference.

Length of Term: 1 awards cycle

​Time Commitment: Approximately 4-5 hours per month from September through November during the nomination review period immediately following deadlines; December through March will depend on each committee member’s assignment, and can range from 1-4 hours per month plus any time spent at the Annual Conference.

Members: 
Wollitzer Award Committee:

• Margaret McCullers, IFSA (Institute for Study Abroad) 
• Charlene Chester Jerome, Morgan State University 
• Bianca Schonberg, University Of Houston - Clear Lake 
• Darren Gallant, Bates College 
• Joy Phaphouvaninh, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 
• Elizabeth Frohlich, The Forum on Education Abroad, [email protected]

Award for Advancing the SDGs through Education Abroad Committee:

• Kira Espiritu, The American College of the Mediterranean - Institute for American Universities (chair) 
• Ketja Lingenfelter, Penn State University 
• Lisa Munson, New Mexico State University 
• Elizabeth Frohlich, The Forum on Education Abroad, [email protected]

InnovateEA Selection Committee:

• Carolyn Becker, CEA CAPA Education Abroad 
• Elizabeth Frohlich, The Forum on Education Abroad, [email protected]
• Nicole Fuls, University of Florida 
• Brian Henry, Global Leadership League 
• Kelly Holland, AIFS Abroad 
• Martha Johnson, CEA CAPA Education Abroad 
• Wendy Lombardo, Arcadia Abroad 
• Emily Merson, AIFS Abroad 
• Karen Miller, Johnson County Community College 
• Tullia Nguyen, Toronto Metropolitan University 
• Jesse Phillips, Dickinson College 
• Kyle Rausch, University of Illinois Chicago 
• Katie Ridley, Institute for Study Abroad 
• Chris Thompson, COMPEAR 
• Melissa Torres, The Forum on Education Abroad 
• Popi Triantafyllidou, College Year in Athens 
• Charlene Chester Jerome, Morgan State University 

Award for Academic Achievement Abroad Committee:

• Monya Lemery, Southwestern University (chair) 
• Yeana Lam, University of California EAP (Education Abroad Program) 
• Lillian Read, AIFS Abroad 
• Margaret Ogg, Wayne State University, 
• Amelia Dietrich, The Forum on Education Abroad, [email protected]  

Award for Excellence in Education Abroad Curriculum Design:
Reviewers for this award are part of the Teaching and Learning Awards & Resources Committee.

HEALTH, SAFETY, SECURITY & RISK MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE PLANNING 

​Description: The annual Institute on Best Practices for Health, Safety, Security & Risk Management is education abroad’s signature annual event focusing on the education abroad risk management issues faced daily by organizations and institutions. The Standards Institute Planning Committee is formed in September for the event the following June, and will include one Council member. The committee helps generate prospective plenary speakers, generate session proposals, review session proposals, and generate prospective sponsors.

Expected Deliverables: Develop Call for Proposals, assist with recruitment of proposals, review of proposals, attend the Institute.

Length of Term: 9 months, beginning in September

Time Commitment: approximately 3 hours per month + attendance at the Institute.

Members:

• Shaun Jamieson, Iowa State University (Co-Chair) 
• Kyle Rausch, University of Illinois Chicago (Co-Chair) 
• Mala Gosh, Tufts University 
• Kelly Trail, Allegiant Global Partners 
• Ashley Courney, Columbia University 
• Kelly Nichols, Kennesaw State University 
• Seth Tucker, Syracuse University 
• Ashlan Andres, The University of South Carolina 
• Kevin Dostal Dauer, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities 
• Julie Pollard, University of California Education Abroad Program 
• Jordan Viars-Whisinnand, Duke University 
• Chris Fuglestad, University of Chicago 
• Matthew Rader, IES Abroad 
• Kim Priebe, UCEAP 
• Lishanthi Caldera, Toronto Metropolitan University 
• Nancy Tumbarell, CEA CAPA Education Abroad 
• Michelle Dube, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
• Christopher Cook, University of Denver 
• Marissa Lombardi, The Forum on Education Abroad, [email protected]

RESEARCH ADVISORY ​

Description: Serve as advisors to the Senior Director for Research and Publications in developing upcoming Forum research projects and data reports.

Expected Deliverables: Provide feedback on Forum data collection projects and collaborations as needed.

Length of Term: 2  years

Time Commitment: approximately 2 hours per month; 1 hour for monthly meeting, 1 hour for review of materials in preparation for the meeting

Members: 

• Christian Canizales, Georgia State University
• Emily Gorlewski, Wesleyan University
• Stacey Hansen, University at Albany
• Theresa Heath, St. Olaf College
• Tanisha Jones, Texas Education Agency 
• Sarah Knight, Peace Corps
• Kayla McGuire, CEA CAPA Education Abroad
• Katherine M. Meyer, University of Kentucky
• Jennifer Nativo, Institute for American Universities (IAU) and The American College of the Mediterranean (ACM)
• Zachary Nowak, IES Abroad 
• Guanglong Pang, Michigan State University – Broad College of Business 
• Mayara Luiza Pereira, NYU Florence 
• Michele Riley, Purdue University 
• Mary Alice Soriero, CEA CAPA Education Abroad 
• Takeo Suzuki, The University of Tennessee Chattanooga
• Amelia Dietrich, The Forum on Education Abroad, [email protected]  

European, Middle East and Africa Conference

Description: 
The Europe, Middle East, and Africa Conference Committee works closely with Forum staff in deciding on the conference theme, creating the Call for Proposals, and reviewing session proposals to create the content of the conference. Conference committee members contribute via e-mail and online meeting, primarily in September-October 2023, January-February 2024. Committee members are expected to attend the conference in Athens October 16-18, 2024.
 
Expected Deliverables: 
Selecting conference theme and creating Call for Proposals; reviewing session proposals; assistance with plenary speaker identification.
 
Length of Term: September 2023-October 2024
 
Time Commitment: Time commitment varies from month to month; committee members will be asked to devote 2-3 hours/month in September and October in preparation for the call for proposals; Several hours will be required for proposal review after the January 2024 deadline.

​Members: 

• ​Alexis Phylactopoulos, College Year in Athens, Greece, Chair
• Mary Boyington, IAU, France
• Imraan Buccus, SIT Durban, South Africa
• Mercia Coetzee, Central University of Technology, South Africa
• Caroline Cully Garbers, Georgia Institute of Technology, US
• Oussama El Addouli, IES, Morocco
• Ariadne Ferro, APUNE, Spain
• Jennifer Fritz, Bucknell University, US
• Thea Gilien, Boston College Ireland
• Katya Grim, NYU Abu Dhabi, UAE
• Brian Henry, Elon University, US
• Alexandria Johnson, Georgia State University, US
• Leigh Lawrence, CIEE London
• Robert Lubin, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology
• Janine Ludwig, Dickinson College in Bremen, Germany
• Daniel Lutaaya, Charowa Consult & Advisory LTD, Uganda
• Vanessa Nichol-Peters, Marist College, Italy
• Phares Odhiambo, International Medical Aid, Kenya
• Fabrizio Ricciardelli, Kent State University Florence Center, Italy
• Stephen Robinson, Champlain College Dublin, Ireland
• Ghina Sadek, University of Indianapolis, US
• Theoni Scourta, College Year in Athens, Greece
• Sadira Smith, Pace University, US
• Mary Alice Soriero, CEA CAPA Education Abroad, Spain
• Stephanie Tilley, Prairie View A&M, US
• Rachid Touhtouh, AMIDEAST, Morocco
• Erin Tschupp, Accent Global Learning, England
• Trisha Winkle, Texas A&M University, US
• Elizabeth Frohlich, The Forum on Education Abroad, [email protected]

Annual Conference

Description: The Annual Conference Committee works closely with Forum staff in deciding on the conference theme, creating the Call for Proposals, and reviewing session proposals to create the content of the conference. Conference committee members contribute via e-mail and teleconference, primarily in May, June, August, and September.

Expected Deliverables: Selecting conference theme and creating Call for Proposals; reviewing session proposals; assistance with plenary speaker identification.

Length of Term: 1 year; chairs serve a second year as Past Chair

​Time Commitment: Time commitment varies from month to month; committee members will be asked to devote 2-3 hours/month in May and June in preparation for the call for proposals; Several hours will be required for proposal review after the August deadline.

Members:

• CJ Tremblay, Alethea Global Cooperative (Chair)
• Aven Anderson, Southeast Missouri State University
• Gayathri Banavara, Community College of Philadelphia
• Wil Biddle, University of Bristol
• Elaine Del Rossi, Cigna Global
• Magdalena Dieterle, Constructor University
• Sara Gutierrez, The University of New Mexico
• Katherine Haan, Chicago State University
• Andy Hinnant, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
• Sakura Hirata, Okanagan College
• Jessie Hodgson, Montana State University
• Alexandria Johnson, Georgia State University
• Amanda Jurden, The Ohio State University
• Luis Kauachi, Boston College
• Janine Knight-Grofe, Durham College
• Mike LaFleur, George Brown College
• Chelsey Laird, Vancouver Community College (University Mobility In Asia And The Pacific (UMAP) host)
• Ada Lee Kwantlen, Polytechnic University
• Whitney Longnecker, Texas Tech University
• Daniel Lutaaya Charowa, Consult & Advisory Ltd 
• Marco Marino, Sant'Anna Institute
• Susan McGury, DePaul University
• Kellie McMullin,Nova Scotia Community College
• Alex Nichols, Sea Education Association/SEA Semester
• Destiny Oppe, IES Abroad
• Guanglong Pang, Michigan State University - Broad College of Business
• Mariam Raza, Conestoga College
• Andrea Rizzotti, FLACSO-Argentina
• Amanda Roshan-Rawaan, Indiana University-Bloomington
• Adam Rubin, University at Buffalo, Forum Council
• Linda Rust, The University of Melbourne
• Girija Shinde, Volunteer State Community College
• Kate Simmons, DePaul University
• Carolyn Stevenson, Purdue University Global
• MaiseeThao, UCEAP
• Popi Triantafyllidou,CYA / College Year in Athens
• Saravan der Horst, EF Education First International Ltd
• Vyotech Wloch, College of Lake County
• Elizabeth Frohlich, The Forum on Education Abroad, [email protected]

Standards Resources

Description: The Standards Resources Committee performs an annual review of current member resources and finds new resources to fill existing gaps and timely needs in the field. One major focus for the current term will be on reorganizing current resources based on the new 6th edition of the Standards and continue to collect new resources for community colleges, minority-serving institutions (MSIs), historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), and international organizations.

Expected Deliverables: Identifying and vetting new resources

Length of Term: 2 years

Time Commitment: approximately 1 hour per month

Members:

• ​Eowyn Greeno, SIT Experiment
• Meghan Mason, Denison University
• Rebecca Bakersville, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Jennifer Murray, Bard College
• Elena Quarti, University of New Haven
• Jeanette Owen, American Council
• Diana Cordoba, Costa Rica Global Learning Programs
• Mandy Brookins, Forum on Education Abroad

Government Relations

Description: This group will be asked to stay abreast of pending legislation or proposed revisions and renewals of existing legislation at the state and national level, provide feedback and updates on legislative issues, contribute to educating the field on the legislative process, and explain the impact of proposed legislation. The committee should include government relations professionals, education abroad professionals, and university communications professionals.

Expected Deliverables: This committee will work directly with Forum executive leadership in an advisory role.

Length of Term: 2 years

Time Commitment: approximately 2 hours per month, though this
will vary depending on proposed legislation.

Members:

• Gian Franco Borio, AACUPI – EUASA
• Asenith Dixon, CIEE
• Kathleen Grevers, Lorenzo de Medici Instituto

• Sonali Patnaik, CIEE
• Melissa Torres, The Forum on Education Abroad, [email protected] 

Careers. Internships, and Global Learning Conference

​Description: The Career Internship Global Learning Conference Committee works closely with Forum staff in generating the call for proposals, recruiting proposals, and scoring submissions to create the content of the conference. Conference committee members contribute synchronously and asynchronously via web-based platform, primarily in October, January, and February, 2024. Committee members are expected to attend the conference in Athens October 16-18, 2024. 

Expected Deliverables: Providing feedback on call for proposals, encouraging proposal submissions, reviewing and scoring session proposals. 

Length of term: October 2023 – October 2024 

Time Commitment: Time commitment varies from month to month; committee members will asked to devote around 2 hours in October in preparation for the call for proposals. Several hours will be required for proposal review in late January and early February. ​​

Members:

• Cynthia Engel, Oregon State University - Cascades (Chair) 
• Opeyemi Adetola, Colorado State University  
• Isabelle Briere, Boston University 
• Andrea Custodi, Authentica 
• Christiana Datubo-Brown, The University of Oklahoma 
• Elizabeth Erbeznik, WorldStrides Higher Ed 
• Elizabeth Frohlich, The Forum on Education Abroad 
• Kevin Johnson, CET Academic Programs 
• Craig Kench, AES | Experiential Learning and Living 
• Hannah Kilgore, Columbia University 
• Tullia Nguyen, Toronto Metropolitan University 
• Hein Oo, YMCA NAO 
• Natasha Otto, Morgan State University 
• Maria del Rosario Paez Moriana, IES Abroad 
• Mary Parsons, IES Abroad 
• Megan Randall, CEA CAPA 
• Nannette Ripmeester, Expertise in Labour Mobility / Etio 
• Ashley Ruffin, Toronto Metropolitan University 
• Sabrina Starke, Absolute Internship 
• Alexis Wren, Costa Rica Global Learning Programs 

Teaching & Learning: Awards and Resources

Charge: This committee has responsibilities associated with the Award for Excellence in Education Abroad Curriculum Design (for course designers/instructors) and for now hosted on the .  

• For the Curriculum Award, members vet submissions, select winners, and prepare winners for their participation in The Forum’s annual conference.  

• For the Toolbox, members serve as peer reviewers evaluating program models and case studies submitted to the Teaching and Learning Toolbox section of The Frontiers journal site. 

Length of Term:  One year 

Members:

• Madalina Akli, University of Massachusetts Amherst 
• Todd Goen, Virginia Military Institute 
• James Illingworth, Institute for Study Abroad 
• Jeanette Owen, American Councils for International Education (chair)
• Stephanie Tilley, Prairie View A&M University 
• Mary F. Price, The Forum on Education Abroad, [email protected]  (Forum Staff Liaison)

All Working Groups and Committee projects start with ideas and recommendations from Forum members.