In this session, administrators from diverse vantage points – within a community college, a state university system, and a government initiative – will share their unique perspectives on their processes related to creating, promoting, and supporting Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Virtual Exchange at their respective institutions. They will elucidate the reasons behind their investment in COIL and explain how it aligns with their institution’s initiatives, mission, and vision. Additionally, administrators will highlight a challenge and a success story associated with their COIL program. Furthermore, they will share their vision for the future of COIL in general, outlining how it will continue to evolve at their institutions.
Dr. Jenifer Cushman (she/her) has been the President of University of Maine at Augusta since July 2023. Cushman earned her PhD in German from Ohio State, and then taught English in Russia and Poland, first with the Peace Corps and then privately. Cushman first engaged with international education administration through the University of Minnesota study abroad curriculum integration effort, as assistant then associate professor of German at the University of Minnesota, Morris. After serving as director of off-campus study at the College of Wooster 2005-2007, Cushman was dean of international education at NAFSA Simon Award-winning Juniata College 2007-2014 and chaired the 2014 Simon committee. AIEA Presidential fellow in 2009-2010, American Council on Education fellow in 2010-2011, and participant in the Harvard Institute for Education Management summer 2014, Cushman served as campus dean at Ohio University Zanesville 2014-2016 and chancellor of Penn State Beaver 2016-2023. Member of the AIEA executive board 2013 to 2016, she was president of AIEA in 2015. Throughout her career, Cushman participated in Fulbright Seminars to Eastern Europe, India, and France; she also contributed to the 2013 NAFSA publication “Improving and Assessing Global Learning” and the 2016 “Internationalizing the Undergraduate Psychology Curriculum: Practical Lessons Learned At Home and Abroad.” Founder of Penn State’s Experiential Digital Global Engagement (EDGE) program, she has interacted with Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) since 2011; she frequently presents on COIL, and is a board member of the COIL Virtual Exchange Foundation.
Dr. Calvin J. Gantt has over twenty years of higher education experience at both 2-year and 4-year institutions. Dedicating his career to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, he most recently served as Chief Diversity Officer at Monroe Community College (MCC). Before that, he was the Director for the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at Binghamton University. Currently, he serves as the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Belonging and Executive Director of the Downtown Campus and Chief Diversity Officer for Monroe Community College.
Dr. Gantt received a BA from Binghamton University, master’s in Counselor Education from SUNY Brockport, and earned a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from the University of Rochester. In his free time, Dr. Gantt likes to travel, putter around in the garden and spend quality time with his three grandchildren.
Barbara Klompenhouwer is the Counsellor (Education and Research) at the Australian Embassy in Mexico. Working closely with her counterpart in Brazil, Barbara has responsibility for Australia’s education, training and research relationships with Mexico and other Pacific Alliance countries (Colombia, Peru and Chile).
Barbara has extensive strategic policy experience across a range areas within the International Division of the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment, including managing bilateral engagement with Latin America, multilateral engagement through the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, and supporting the development of a new Australian Strategy for International Education. Prior to joining the department, Barbara had a diverse career in the not-for-profit sector in range of education-related roles within Australia and offshore.
Barbara holds a Master of Applied Anthropology and Participatory Development from the Australian National University and a Bachelor of Media/Bachelor of International Studies (Hons) from the University of Adelaide.