CONTACT: Allison Elliott, (859) 257-1754 ext. 249,
Michelle Gorin, (859) 257- 4067, ext. 254,
FOR RELEASE
NAFSA: Association of International Educators Conference
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 7, 2008) − The NAFSA: Association of International Educators Region VI 2008 Conference will take place Nov. 8-11 in Lexington, Ky. NAFSA is the leading professional association promoting the exchange of students and scholars to and from the United States. International educators and other interested individuals from Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana will attend the Region VI conference at the Lexington Downtown Hotel and Conference Center (formerly known as the Radisson Plaza Hotel.) All UK faculty and staff are welcome and encouraged to attend, even if they are not members of NAFSA. Advanced registration is now closed, but those who are interested may register on-site.
The first two days of the conference are reserved for professional workshops. An opening reception will be held at the hotel on Sunday evening. On Monday, Nov. 10, UK Provost Kumble Subbaswamy will deliver the keynote address at the conference’s plenary luncheon. Subbaswamy has been a champion of internationalization on UK’s campus since his appointment as provost in 2006. He established the UK Internationalization Task Force, comprised of representatives from each college, which will create a master plan for global initiatives. And he has dedicated many resources to bolster UK’s study abroad efforts, aid recruitment of undergraduate international students and foster continued development of the UK Asia Center.
Additional UK staff from the Office of International Affairs, Student Affairs and The Graduate School will also lead discussions on everything from career development to environmentally responsible study abroad to the UK Global Village Living Learning Community. Associate Provost John Yopp will talk about the Bologna Process European Credit Transfer System. Activities will conclude with an awards luncheon on Tuesday. For a complete list of sessions and presenters, click here. (http://www.region6.nafsa.org/sessions.pdf)
UK staff have also helped plan the conference as members of the NAFSA Region VI Leadership Team. Stephanie Wurth, international student adviser with the Office of International Affairs is serving as the local arrangements coordinator and Kathy Ice-Wedding, a Graduate School admissions officer is the current registrar.
In addition to professional development opportunities, a variety of special events are on the agenda. Reservations filled quickly for a tour and tasting at Woodford Reserve Bourbon Distillery and a live airing of the “Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour,” on Monday evening. Conference attendees will also bid in a silent auction benefitting “God’s Pantry,” a Lexington organization that provides meals statewide to those in poverty.
The members of NAFSA: Association of International Educators share a belief that international education by its nature is fundamental to fostering peace, security, and well-being. NAFSA has nearly 9,000 members at 3,500 institutions worldwide, representing more than 80 countries. A majority of NAFSA's members can be found on college and university campuses working as foreign student advisers and admissions officers, study abroad advisers, directors of international programs, teachers of English as a second language, administrators of intensive English programs, overseas educational advisers, community volunteers, and administrators of sponsored exchange programs. For more information on the NAFSA Region VI Conference, visit http://www.region6.nafsa.org/.
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