By Jeff Murphy,
November 12, 2020
WARRENSBURG, MO 鈥 , the world鈥檚 largest non-profit organization dedicated to international education
and exchange, is turning to a 欧美视频 faculty member for regional
leadership. Taylor Kinde, Ed.D., academic coordinator for the School of Computer Science
and Mathematics, was recently named chair-elect for NAFSA鈥檚 Region IV, representing
Missouri, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.
Kinde, who is also a UCM alumna, was elected to her new post in October through a
vote by organization members. She will serve a three-year term, dedicating her time
and knowledge to this volunteer position.
鈥淭he main purpose of NAFSA is, it encourages networking among professionals, convenes
conferences and collaborative dialogues, and promotes research and knowledge creation
within the field,鈥 Kinde said. 鈥淲e lead the way in advocating for a better world through
international education.鈥
Kinde has served in her current post at UCM since May 2015. She has been involved
with NAFSA since 2013. One requirement to be elected is that an individual must have
previously served on a NAFSA regional board. She has served in two such positions,
one of which was as Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship Representative, and the other
as International Education Representative. She also served at the national level as
a member of the Leadership Development Committee.
In discussing her new post, she noted, 鈥淭o be elected for this position means I will
serve for three years on the chair stream. I will hold a lot of responsibility with
the region, and lead the team and help plan and organize conferences that will occur
next fall.鈥
Her responsibilities also will include serving as an active member of the regional
team and liaison between the region and national organization on membership matters,
outreach, training information and trainer certification. She also will attend national
training workshops to learn about current trends in her field, identify future team
members, share regional information with other regional chair elects, and assist in
developing programs for conferences.
Founded in 1947, the National Association of Foreign Student Advisors (NAFSA) was
created to help promote the professional development of higher education officials
responsible for assisting and advising thousands of foreign students who came to study
in the United States. The organization鈥檚 scope expanded over the years to include
admissions personnel, English-language specialists, and community volunteers who helped
foreign students acclimate to U.S. college communities. The association formally changed
its name in 1990.