Developing Leadership in
International Education
2014 NCAIE Conference, Durham, NC
Dafina Blacksher Diabate, Assistant Director, AIEA
Katy Rosenbaum, Program Associate, AIEA
Welcome!
As you come in, please take an index card and
answer the following question:
What are the most important characteristics for
leadership in international education?
Welcome and Overview
• Introductions
• Brief summary of 2011 AIEA Survey on Senior
International Officers
• Reflection and discussion of survey results
• Individual activity
• Small Group Discussion
• Closing
2011 AIEA Survey on Senior
International Officers
• …Based on 184 responses from SIOs (Senior
International Officers)
• What are key knowledge, skills, experiences,
characteristics, challenges?
• Think about your strengths, and identify top 12 in each category
IE Leader Survey Results:
Top Knowledge Areas
• International issues in higher
education
• Current world affairs
• Business principles & practices
• Cross-cultural theories &
methods
IE Leader Survey Results:
Top Skills
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Interpersonal
Advocacy
Networking
Communication
IE Leader Survey Results:
Top Experience Areas
• Managing an organization
• Academic administration
• Managing budget/finance
• Overseas living
IE Leader Survey Results:
Top Personal Characteristics
• Vision
• Energy/Passion
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Flexibility
Creativity
Entrepreneurship
Pragmatism
The Senior International Officer as
Change Agent
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Diplomacy/tact
Imagination
Teamwork
Flexibility
Listening
Administrative experience
Networking/Coalition Building
Thomas Barwick / Getty Images
(Heyl, John. The SIO (Senior International Officer) as Change Agent. Durham, NC:
Association of International Education Administrators. November 2007.)
Developing Global Leaders
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Establishing intention
Developing a global mindset
Building relationships
Seeing from others’ perspectives
Diagnosing the situation
Self-assessing and enhancing ICC
Engaging in critical reflection
Becoming more adaptable
Leadership Perspectives on
Internationalization
Key points:
• Intentionality & vision
• Collaboration & communication
• Intercultural competence development &
cultural humility
• Critical reflection & assessment
• Relationship building
(Deardorff, D.K. (2012). Looking to the future: Leadership perspectives on
internationalization, a synthesis. AUDEM Journal. (invited paper))
Reflection
• What is your reaction to these survey results?
What was surprising? What stood out?
• From your perspective, is there something
(knowledge, experience, attitudes) missing
from the list? Was there an idea on your index
card that was not brought up?
• How do leadership skills and personalities of
the SIO influence the IE community?
Worksheet: Strengths
• Identify your top 1-2 strengths in each of the
categories listed on your worksheet
• Find somebody you do not know who has
identified a strength that you did not check off
on your worksheet. Spend 4-5 minutes
discussing the steps they took to develop
these skills and exchange contact information
to continue the discussion post-conference!
Small Group Discussion
• How do I see leadership traits, qualities, or
priorities being implemented at my institution
currently? What can be done better as a
community at my institution?
• How does this impact my current role at my
institution?
• What can I do if I aspire to leadership in the
future? What can I add to my professional
development plan?
Wrap-Up
• Sharing from small group discussion
• General reflections on leadership in IE
Thank You!
• SIO Survey: summary available at
www.aieaworld.org
• Contact:
– Dafina Blacksher Diabate: dafinanc@duke.edu
– Katy Rosenbaum: kathryn.rosenbaum@duke.edu
– The Association of International Education
Administrators (AIEA): aiea@duke.edu
• Session Evaluations