— 2024 —

DECEMBER MEETING

We had a full membership meeting at Goucher College in December, where we discussed bylaw updates, student communications for the Spring term, upcoming events, new committees, and had a wonderful meal together!

NAFSA REGION VIII CONFERENCE

Nearly all of our member institutions were represented at the Region VIII Conference in November, and in addition to learning and networking with our peers from the region, many presented sessions, participated in the Case Study Conundrum, played trivia at the reception, and a couple even serve on the Region VIII team! Our President, Rachel Scholten (Loyola) presented with Study PA and US Commercial Service on “The Study State Advantage: Local Collaboration for Global Impact.” We made sure to get all of the attendees from our Study Maryland institutions together for a fun photo!

NEW RECRUITMENT COMMITTEE FORMED

Marvin Barahona (Loyola), Will Hug (BCCC), Nellie Pharr-Maletta (CCBC), and Jenn Pham (Goucher) will serve as our Study Maryland Committee. ALL members of the Maryland International Education Consortium are Study Maryland members, but our Study Maryland Committee will keep help to coordinate efforts through regular recruitment-focused meetings, by collecting information from the membership, delegating responsibilities in recruitment events, and leading the membership in international outreach activities!

AUGUST MEETING AND CHALLENGES ABROAD

Our plans for an in-person meeting at Goucher were deferred by a storm, but we had a great virtual meeting full of updates along with special guests from Challenges Abroad, whose mission is to ignite compassion and create a new generation of Global Citizens through study abroad and virtual internships. Jacquelin Steinberg-Di Stefano, Regional Director of Programmes and Partnerships at Challenges Abroad, first connected with MIEC at our booth in the NAFSA Expo Hall!

EDUCATIONUSA ADVISOR RECEPTION

Four of our member institutions, Loyola University Maryland, Goucher College, Towson University, and UMBC, hosted a group of EducationUSA Counselors on their campuses prior to the EducationUSA Forum in DC. MIEC hosted a reception on July 26th in their honor, allowing our member institutions to connect with and learn from our guests from Chile, Colombia, China, India, Greece, Mexico, Japan and Cambodia!

NAFSA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2024 EXPO HALL

We had a great week at the NAFSA Conference in May, representing our organization as a part of the USA: A Study Destination pavilion set up by U.S. Commercial Service! Many thanks to Adam Holden of UMBC, Gail Gibbs of Towson University, Alice Schaaf of Washington College, and Rachel Scholten of Loyola University Maryland for staffing the booth!

EMBASSY CIRCLES NEW ORLEANS

Our MIEC President, Rachel Scholten of Loyola University Maryland, represented the organization at the Embassy Circles event at Dillard University, meeting with embassy and consular officials from India, The Philippines, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia, and exchanging contacts with officials from Qatar, Bangladesh, Chile, Kenya, Romania, and Turkiye. At the event we also met with US Commercial Service employees based in Ethiopia, China, and Hong Kong. USCS organized the event to coincide with the NAFSA Conference in New Orleans.

MARYLAND EXPORT DAY

On May 23rd, three of our member institutions attended the Maryland Export Day celebration - Rachel Scholten from Loyola University Maryland, Chris Powers from Towson, and David Di Maria from UMBC! The event was organized by the Maryland/DC District Export Council and U.S. Commercial Service - Dr. Di Maria serves on the DEC and our MIEC UCSC liaison, Jolanta Coffey supported the event. Maryland Export Day brings together local exporters working to expand to international markets with state and federal officials, and recognizes exceptional achievements over the past year. The Deputy Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service presented the awards, and the Executive Director of the Maryland Port Administration gave the keynote speech.
Did you know that international education is the 9th largest service export from the U.S.?

PRESIDENTS’ ALLIANCE ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND IMMIGRATION

Laura Wagner, Director of Refugee Student Initiatives at Presidents’ Alliance joined our May 10th meeting to share information with our member institutions about the Welcome Corps on Campus program application process.

6th ANNUAL

MARYLAND INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION DAY

Maryland’s Governor has once again issued an official Governor’s Proclamation declaring April 26, 2024 to be Maryland International Education Day. This year we gathered to observe the event with a celebration of our students’ voices, featuring videos and live panelists of international and study abroad students from our member institutions, sharing their stories on the transformative experience that international education brings, and highlighting the many opportunities offered by our members! We were honored to have Dr. Sanjay Rai, Acting Secretary of Maryland Higher Education Commission, deliver the keynote speech, and to have Michael Lore, Esq., Maryland Deputy Secretary of State read the Governor’s Proclamation. We thank Dr. Emily Dow, Assistant Secretary of Academic Affairs at MHEC and our students for serving on the panel, and our member institution Towson University for hosting!

Video Credit: Sydney Avelino

STATE CONSORTIUM ROUNDTABLE

In February 2024, our President, Rachel Scholten, was invited to participate in a virtual event bringing together multiple state-based associations that focus on international education, hosted by The Texas International Education Consortium and NAFSA: Association of International Educators. In addition to Maryland, organizations from California, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Texas were represented. NAFSA’s CEO and Executive Director, Dr. Fanta Aw, moderated the meeting and is exploring additional ways such organizations can come together to discuss best practices and coordinate advocacy efforts.

CAMPUS COMMUNITY AND TERRA DOTTA

At our February 23rd meeting, representatives from Campus Community and Terra Dotta shared information with our members on how they support international education and the services they provide.

— 2023 —

MARYLAND-ANHUI HIGHER EDUCATION FORUM

On December 19, 2023, one of our member institutions, University of Maryland, hosted a higher education forum with a delegation of seven colleges and universities from Anhui Province, a Maryland Sister State of over 40 years! The Vice Governor of Anhui Provincial People's Government, Mr. Sun Yong, and Maryland Higher Education Commission Acting Secretary, Dr. Sanjay Rai, offered remarks, and our Vice President Christopher Powers introduced the Maryland International Education Consortium to the group. MIEC had a strong presence at the event with representation from Community College of Baltimore County, Howard Community College, Loyola University Maryland, Towson University, and University of Maryland. We are grateful to the state government organizers for fostering opportunities for international collaboration!

BRIDGING THE COLLEGE TO CAREER GAP WITH ONLINE GLOBAL LEARNING

On November 7, 2023, MIEC hosted "Bridging the College to Career Gap with Online Global Learning" - an exciting information session about innovative and for-credit learning opportunities for undergraduate students, which provide in-demand skills and work experience. The session features Melissa Buerkett of Podium Education, and Raluca Nahornaic, of University of MD’s Global Classroom.

Description: How do students get valuable experiences without any experience or the funds to study abroad or do an unpaid internship? UMD’s Global Classroom and The Global Tech Experience from Podium Education are innovative new models connecting students around the globe to work on projects, gaining real-world skills and work experience needed to make a meaningful impact on the future and their careers. This webinar will provide an overview of these models, as well as discuss how to create access through scale and engage faculty. Student outcomes and diversity will also be shared.

EDUCATIONUSA ADVISOR RECEPTION

In September 2023, five of our member institutions, CCBC, Goucher College, Morgan State, Towson University, and UMBC hosted a group of EducationUSA advisors on their campuses. To take advantage of such a great opportunity to interact, MIEC hosted a reception so that all of our members could build connections while the advisors were here and share what makes their institutions and the state of Maryland such a great place for international students!

EYE ON ANNAPOLIS PODCAST

In August 2024 our President, Rachel Scholten, was invited to chat with John Frenaye on his podcast Eye on Annapolis. They discussed MIEC and international education in Maryland. The recording can be found on the Eye on Annapolis website or the player below.

Eye on Annapolis Maryland International Education Consortium podcast link

MARYLAND INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION CONSORITUM RECEPTION AND NAFSA BOOTH

MIEC was able to host a large reception in May 2023 during the NAFSA Annual Conference in DC where we were honored to have Maryland Secretary of State Susan C. Lee and Maryland Higher Education Commission Assistant Secretary for Academic Affairs Emily Dow serve as speakers. We are so grateful to our planning committee, government partners, and event sponsors Terra Dotta and Podium Education for helping make this a reality! Our 200 person event included attendees from 11 embassies, 15 international universities, officials from U.S. Departments of State, Education, and Commerce, and EducationUSA. The event allowed our organization to highlight Maryland’s educational offerings to a truly global audience and afforded our members a fantastic opportunity to network and advance their own international education initiatives. MIEC also had our own booth in the Expo Hall this year where we connected with many attendees interested in future collaboration.

MIEC VIRTUAL TESOL SYMPOSIUM

On May 5, 2023 MIEC hosted the MIEC Virtual TESOL Symposium for Researchers and Practioners. We were proud to have participation from ALL Maryland higher education institutions that have TESOL programs!

5th ANNUAL MARYLAND INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION DAY EVENT

On April 26, 2023 MIEC hosted our 5th annual Maryland International Education Day event “Refugees and Maryland Higher Education: Challenges, Pathways, and Support.” The virtual event featured a panel of experts from the President’s Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, the Episcopal Refugee and Immigrant Center Alliance, and the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services.

Click here for more information and resources

EDUCATIONUSA ADVISOR RECEPTION

MIEC was delighted to host a reception for a group of EducationUSA Advisors visiting Maryland after attending the Community Colleges for International Development conference.

GLOBAL LEARNING LOCALLY CONFERENCE

In February 2023, MIEC co-costed an in-person conference on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with the Maryland Community College International Education Consortium (MCCIEC). We are grateful for Dr. Rebekah De Wit of CCBC for her leadership in organizing this great event, to MCCIEC for their collaboration, and to all speakers and presenters for their contributions.

— ADDITIONAL PAST EVENTS —

Fall Virtual College Fair

Prospective students were able to meet with representatives from all of the Study Maryland institutions and receive answers about the various colleges and universities and about studying in the U.S.

World Trade Center Institute 30th Anniversary

MIEC was one of the sponsors for the 30th Anniversary of the World Trade Center Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. Pictured are Jennifer Erdman or Notre Dame of Maryland University and Saleha Suleman of Towson University.

The Maryland Community College International Education Consortium and MIEC jointly sponsored a fall symposium on the topic of Faculty-Led Study Abroad on November 22, 2019. The event involved discussion of discipline-specific program models and tips, strategies for working with providers and networking opportunities and co-develop programs across institutions.

Maryland International Education Day

On April 26th, 2018 MIEC hosted the First International Education Day College Fair and Inaugural Reception.

Education USA West Africa College Fair Tour.

Study Maryland attended the West Africa College Fair at the end of September 2019. The tour included visits to Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria and Accra, Ghana.