NAFSA: Association of International Educators

The momentum from NAFSA 2026 is still going … don’t miss your chance to be part of what’s next at our Regional Conferences! From powerful ideas to meaningful moments of connection, our community showed up in full force at this year’s Annual Conference. That same energy is already shaping the upcoming NAFSA Regional Conferences. Presenting at a NAFSA Regional Conference is your opportunity to bring your voice to a community that values connection, collaboration, and impact. Share your experience. Spark conversation. Help move the international education field forward. Explore proposal tips and guidelines: go.nafsa.org/regionalCFP ⏰ Submissions are due Sunday, June 21, at 11:59 p.m. (EDT).

We're still carrying the energy and sense of purpose that filled Orlando last week. ☀️ Thank you to everyone who was part of NAFSA 2026—whether you shared your expertise, sparked a new idea, forged a new partnership, or simply showed up ready to learn and connect. You are what makes this community so special. Throughout the week, one message came through again and again: the challenges facing international education are real—but so is the determination of this community. We heard calls to think differently, act boldly, advocate fiercely, and design solutions around the needs of global learners. We were reminded that progress doesn't come from standing still. It comes from learning from one another and moving forward together. For many, NAFSA feels like coming home—a place to reconnect with colleagues who share a common purpose and a belief in the power of international education. As we return to our campuses, organizations, and communities, the work continues. So does the optimism, the collaboration, and the commitment to creating a more connected world. 🌎 "Forward, forward, forward." #NAFSA2026 #GlobalByDesign

The final two days of #NAFSA2026 were filled with inspiring conversations, new connections, and unforgettable moments. On Thursday, keynote speaker Tonee Ndungu challenged attendees to think differently about innovation and opportunity, reminding us that, "Talent is universal, but opportunity is not." NAFSA also hosted its 16th Annual Latin America and Caribbean Forum, where participants explored how institutions across the region are building innovative partnerships and advancing internationalization. Spotlight speaker Barbara Bouza shared insights on the art and science of creating connected experiences that inspire curiosity, foster belonging, and bring people together. On the conference's final day, attendees took part in learning excursions across Orlando and gathered for final community dialogues and networking opportunities. The NAFSA Bookstore also announced Ella Wu of DePaul University as the winner of this year's giveaway. The week concluded with a festive World Cup–themed closing celebration filled with music, dancing, and anticipation for #NAFSA2027 in Los Angeles. #FutureReadyTogether

NAFSA’s second annual Global Summit is coming to Buenos Aires, Argentina in February 2027! 🇦🇷 Announced at #NAFSA2026, the Global Summit builds on the momentum and global engagement sparked by the inaugural Summit held in Tangier, Morocco earlier this year and will once again convene changemakers from around the world.

The NAFSA International Expo Hall is unlike any other. One of the only places where international educators can meet with hundreds of institutions, global partners, and solution providers offering the products and services that help shape and support the field… All under one roof. Last day to check it out! The Expo Hall will be open 8:30–11:15 a.m. This is what we mean when we say: this is where the world meets. #NAFSA2026 #GlobayByDesign

📣 International Education Action Week at #NAFSA2026: Day Four 🌍 For more than six months, USCIS has failed to adjudicate applications and petitions from international students and scholars in the United States from the 39 countries affected by the administration’s travel ban. ⚡Join NAFSA and the U.S. for Success Coalition in urging Congress to push USCIS to resume adjudicating applications and petitions for these individuals who are in the United States legally but may be forced out of status—and out of the country. 👉 Take action today: https://lnkd.in/eNn6jGzJ

A recap of day two at the #NAFSA2026 Annual Conference & Expo in Orlando. We celebrated excellence in international education by honoring this year’s NAFSA award recipients during the annual awards banquet. Spotlight speakers Dr. Christopher Bell and Dr. Dana L. Joseph brought powerful insights to the conference stage. Dr. Bell shared a communication blueprint for navigating today’s multigenerational workforce and preparing for the future of work, while Dr. Joseph explored how emotional intelligence can strengthen leadership, collaboration, and workplace well-being. NAFSA also hosted the 7th Annual Africa Forum, where attendees examined how countries across the African continent are integrating global innovation into higher education. The day concluded with vibrant receptions bringing together young professionals and NAFSA regions.

“Every generation gets a Walkman.” That is how Tonee Ndungu opened his session at NAFSA: Association of International Educators , and it immediately pulled the audience in. Every generation experiences a defining technology shift, but what matters most is how we choose to use those tools to expand human potential rather than limit it. I had the honor of hearing Tonee speak at the NAFSA conference for the second time, and once again his message was both inspiring and deeply relevant. He is engaging, funny, brilliant, and absolutely on point about the future we are building together. One statement especially stayed with me: “Talent is universal, but opportunity isn’t.” That idea is deeply aligned with both my work and Lumina Foundation ’s mission to expand opportunity and ensure learning leads to equitable outcomes for all people. That truth sits at the center of so many conversations about education, technology, and human potential. Tonee challenged us to think differently in a world increasingly shaped by AI and rapid technological change. We have to learn how to think before we are told what to think. Technology should expand human possibility, not diminish it. It is a tool, an assistant, a servant, not the driver. The future doesn’t belong to people who simply know how to use technology. It belongs to humans who are curious, critical thinkers, creative, compassionate, and deeply connected to one another. What I appreciate most about Tonee’s perspective is that he speaks about innovation without losing sight of humanity. He reminds us that the goal isn’t a future centered on machines, but a future centered on people, where technology helps us amplify human creativity, equity, and connection rather than replace them. As we continue navigating rapid change across education and workforce systems, his message feels like both a challenge and a call to action: build systems that expand opportunity, center humanity, and prepare people not just to adapt to the future, but to shape it. #NAFSA2026