International Programs director takes on new role

November 23, 2009 by Dawn Davis 

Susan Thompson, UNLV director of international programs, was elected to an executive position on the board of directors for NAFSA, the Association of International Educators.

NAFSA, the oldest and largest professional association for international education in the world, provides professional development, training, publications, research and policy leadership for the international higher education community.

Members of NAFSA support the expansion of study abroad, international education leadership, public policy, research and campus internationalization.

Thompson has been a member of the board before and will serve as vice president for member relations. She said she will be overseeing the Member Relations Committee and the Regional Affairs Committee and will also supervise the work of the Leadership Development Committee, which helps identify and recruit members for organization leadership positions.

“It is important for UNLV faculty and staff to be engaged in their professional organizations, to assure that our institution is taking a leadership role in higher education,” Thompson said.

Michael Bowers, UNLV executive vice president and provost, said he believes the university has already benefitted from Thompson’s expertise.

“She has extensive experience and is exceptionally qualified to hold the position of vice president for member relations on the NAFSA Board of Directors,” Bowers said. “UNLV is proud and fortunate to have someone of Thompson’s caliber as a leader in this area.”

Members of the Board of Directors are elected by NAFSA members. Thompson’s term will begin January 2010 and will last for three years.

Thompson currently works on strategic planning and development of public policy initiatives for supporting international education. She also works with other member leaders of NAFSA on committees which design training, conferences, publications and other professional development opportunities.

“NAFSA provides great resources to support our students and faculty and to help UNLV be a leading international university,” Thompson said.

Thompson is currently responsible for developing relationships with institutions abroad to provide opportunities for faculty and students in the international education and research fields.

“Thompson, as director of the UNLV Office of International Programs, is a stellar ambassador for UNLV and the state of Nevada in the international higher education community,” Bowers said.

The Office of International Programs is responsible for the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Department of State’s flagship international exchange scholarship program and the office administers the National Student Exchange, a program that offers students the opportunity to study at approximately 200 universities across the United States and Canada.

Currently, UNLV sponsors more than 40 study abroad programs in 25 countries.

Thompson, who studied abroad at an archaeology field school in northern Mexico and completed a research project in southern Mexico, said that the value of studying abroad in these times is great.

“I sincerely admire students who are curious about the world and want to learn about other cultures,” she said. “I think international education is more essential than ever. to help students succeed in their careers.”