NAFSA Region IV Round-Up

DECEMBER 2022

END OF YEAR MESSAGE FROM 2022 REGION IV CHAIR

Dear esteemed NAFSAns of Region IV,

Season’s greetings!  I hope this note finds you on the brink of some well-deserved rest and a healthy dose of fun! 

I felt I would be remiss, as quiet as I have been, to transition out of the Chair role without offering a few words, updates, and aspirations.

As you are well aware, Patrick Parnell of Missouri State University, was our Chair-elect over the past year, and is now our Region IV Chair.  Additionally, Jessica Lynn Hylton from the University of Missouri - Saint Louis has been voted in as Chair-Elect.  We thank Past Chair, Dr. Kim Gillette for her service as she transitions off the Region IV Leadership team.  We have assembled a diverse and winning team of NAFSA professionals from across our region to comprise our Region IV Leadership Team for 2023.  The list of NAFSAns filling these roles can be found further down in this newsletter.

Our 2022 Regional Conference evaluation report reflected we were quite successful.  58% of our attendees reported this was their first time attending a Region IV conference.  The same trend (give or take 10%) was observed across all the NAFSA regions.  It is obvious International Educations has experienced significant turnover these past three years.  It is encouraging to have so much new energy, perspective, and enthusiasm in the field.  I have no doubt International Education will continue to thrive, evolve, and be a profession in which we are all passionate and proud to be a part.

One of the noteworthy themes in the evaluation report was our need for more communication throughout the year… So here we are.  😊  (This is noteworthy, because we intentionally limited our communication to avoid cluttering inboxes and being a nuisance!)

The rest of the evaluation report feedback and suggestions will be reviewed by the Region IV team for consideration and action.  Of the 95 respondents we had for the survey, 86 were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” (44 and 42 respectively) with the conference.  That’s a 4.3 on a 5.0 scale… “Excellent, with room to improve” in my opinion.  The region also managed to generate enough revenue to pay for everything and have a surplus to begin rebuilding our savings for future conferences.  This will allow us to continue offering travel grants, scholarships, and larger-scale events at our conferences as well.  All that is left is to tell you all about it when it is time.  Our Treasurer will offer her full report and assessment at our next full meeting, in the spring.

In closing, if you will indulge me, I would offer one simple observation: For the six short years I have been active in Region IV, you have been my source for expertise, advice, friendship, guidance, mentorship, commiseration, inspiration, and sustenance.  I feel I get far more from NAFSA (from you) than I put in.   Consequently, I was, and remain, happy and willing to offer my modest capacity to volunteer in service to you, in whatever form that may take.  Whether it is leading, following, or just cheering from the sidelines, I am proud and thankful to be a part of NAFSA Region IV. 

We have weathered the pandemic with discipline, uncommon resolve, and rebounded with gusto in 2022.  More importantly, we are in excellent position to accomplish even greater things in 2023 and beyond.  If you feel you would like to get more out of your NAFSA experience, please let us know how you would like to be involved.  If I can ever be of further service to you, please feel free to ask.

Have a fantastic end-of-year and look for more communication from us in the year ahead!

With warm regard,

Barry
 

Barrington Armstrong, MA 
Chair, NAFSA Region IV 2022
Drury University
 

Have something you want in the Region IV Roundup?  Send an email to nafsaregion4@gmail.com and let us know!