The Nominations Committee of the AIRC Board of Directors presents the following candidates for President-Elect (3-year term), Agency Delegate (3-year term) and Institutional Delegate (3-year term). The election will take place October 12 - 29, 2021 5:00 PM US Eastern Time. The voting delegate may vote for one person in each category.
Candidates for President- Elect
Bryan Gross
Western New England University
Bio:
Bryan Gross is a transformational leader with a focus on the future of higher education. He currently serves as the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing and the Interim Vice President for Student Affairs at Western New England University (WNE) in Springfield, MA where he inspires the university’s admissions, financial aid, registration, retention, marketing, and community relations teams. He has recently agreed to oversee the Division of student Affairs, which includes athletics, career development, health and wellness, student activities, international student services and spiritual life.
Prior to this role at WNE, Bryan was the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management at St. John’s University in New York City and the Associate Vice President for Admissions at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. Bryan has been a strong advocate for international students in all of his professional roles.
Bryan received his Bachelor’s degree from the Pennsylvania State University and his Master’s degree from Springfield College. He is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Southern California (USC), working towards his Ed.D in Organizational Change and Leadership. He is currently researching collaboration among senior higher education leaders to ensure that revenue exceeds expenses.
Throughout his career, Bryan has demonstrated his passion for working with new technologies and has produced multiple branding campaigns, marketing films and presented at dozens of regional, national and international conferences on a wide variety of topics related to recruitment, retention and marketing.
Bryan is married with three children and lives in Longmeadow, MA. In his spare time, he enjoys driving his children to activities, vacationing in New Hampshire each summer and studying player statistics to produce favorable outcomes in professional-level fantasy baseball and football leagues. He also has two dogs and a cat.
Statement:
I am running for President of AIRC for two simple reasons. First, being involved in almost every capacity of the organization since its inception has led to a deep fundamental connection to the mission and outcomes that AIRC produces. AIRC is a large family, full of people I care deeply about. As President, I intend to make sure we maintain our tight-knit community of colleagues and friends, who share industry knowledge and support each other. I want nothing more than the members of AIRC to benefit from our wide variety of services. Second, I have the experience and proven results to help advance AIRC’s strategic goals. I have a wide variety of experiences that will help me lead every aspect of our organization.
I have served on the Board of Directors for the past five and a half years, having filled in for various positions as needed. For the past two years, I have served as the organization's Treasurer and on the Executive Board, something that was asked of me in the midst of COVID-19, a time of great uncertainty for our industry. In my time volunteering, I have:
· Started the membership committee and served as the chair for three years
· Served as a co-chair on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force that led to the organization’s current DEI charter
· Co-chaired the Diversity Grant Committee
· Assisted in conference planning and presentations
· Executed sponsor cultivation plans which led to significant revenue generation
· Represented AIRC at ICEF events
· Contributed to the organization's first and second strategic plan
· Served as an external reviewer
· Served on the search committee that selected our current Executive Director
· Helped to manage the budget that led to a budget surplus during COIVD-19
· Assisting in ensuring that high school members can join AIRC
Our field is at an important moment in our industry, and I have a clear vision as to how I can continue to help position AIRC as the premier organization for all matters related to international enrollment management. I believe deeply in shared governance and have the experience to develop and execute clear and transparent communication plans.
During the pandemic I helped the organization navigate a leadership transition and set financial targets that led to a budget surplus in a fiscal year that was projected to have a deficit. I have proved myself to be flexible, creative, hard-working, and fiscally disciplined.
In my current role at Western New England University, I am the Vice President that manages enrollment management, marketing, and student affairs. I have the vision, experience and leadership skills needed to make sure that our organization will continue to evolve. I am poised to listen and help our organization consider the goals of agents, institutions, and other service providers. Becoming President of AIRC in these uncertain times adds experience, knowledge and consistency. I would be honored to be elected as your next President.
Song Hoffman
University of Delaware
Bio:
Specialty Area:
International recruitment strategic planning; Recruitment and Admissions; International Program Development and Management; International Research Collaboration.
Areas of Study/Academic Interests:
International Relations; International Political Economy; Financial Crisis; Financial reform;
Education:
September 2016 – May 2021
Master of Science (International Business)
University of Delaware
August 2001 to October 2006;
Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Flinders University, Australia
July 1998 to Sept. 1999
Master of Arts (International Relations)
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Flinders University, Australia
Biography:
Song was born and raised in Beijing, China. At Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia she obtained her first Master's and then her Doctorate degree with the prestigious International Endeavor Research Postgraduate Scholarship. Song started her career in international higher education along with her academic career when she worked as the International Program Director and Lecturer for the long going joint Master program between Nankai University (Ranked No. 6 in China) and Flinders University from 1999 through 2006. Song then continued her career in international education as an International Assessment/Admission officer, International Marketing Manager at Flinders University (population was 22,000 with 4,000 international students, 2000), Adelaide, South Australia. Song moved to the United States in 2011 and oversaw international recruitment and admissions at South Dakota State University.
In January 2015, Song started working at the University of Delaware and she is currently the Director of International Admissions and in charge of international admissions at the University. Always a keen learner, Song has since then received her second master’s degree from the University of Delaware focusing on International Business.
Song is an active member of various international education professional organizations such as AIRC, NAFSA, CIS, IACAC, AACRAO and has been a contributing committee member/presenter/evaluator for the above organizations and beyond.
Statement:
When I arrived in the United States in 2011 after working 13 years in the international higher education industry in Australia, the debate over utilizing commission-based international recruitment agencies was intense. Coming from a background working in the same area in Australia, where there has been a very established framework (ESOS) regulating agencies, I remember reading about the debate was one of my major cultural shocks moving over. During the past 10 years, I have witnessed the same debate firing up from time to time with a promising trend, however, of more and more US higher education institutions engaging commission-based recruitment agencies (48%). One of the newest trends is the merger of online platforms and agencies as subscribers/users and pushing out the platforms to institutions with less upfront costs and less risk. An area I am anticipating the fastest growth will occur in the next 5-10 years and I think AIRC and its members can benefit greatly from this new combination of Higher Education and Technology. With AIRC’s current President and support from our members, I would like to make more changes and one of the areas is technology in the international higher education market.
Learning from current President and bringing in what I can offer to AIRC can be summarized as following:
● A unique professional, academic and personal background: having lived, studied and worked with international agencies in different education systems (China, Australia, Canada, and the US) and have had my own experience working as an agent.
● An in-depth understanding of the higher education industry from some of the key players of the industry – an ability to communicate, to engage partners and potential partners from both sides of the table (higher education sector in different countries and private agencies).
● A researcher’s mindset to be an educator first in the hope to reduce, eliminate weak-rooted fear towards agencies. We often hear peers mentioning buzz phrases like ‘post-COVID reshuffle’, ‘rethinking international recruitment’, ‘regaining US’ status as a top destination for international students’ – but how and where should we start? I think by being a little bit more innovative with a stride that is bigger than we are used to – to explore, engage international agencies with a different mindset will be a good starting point.
Should I be elected, I would like to rump up the advocacy for education of agencies to members and non-members with the goal of growing AIRC’s member base. Often fear of change originated from ignorance of what agencies have been attributing to the international higher education industry. They also contribute to their own communities and economies, and change students’ life track across the globe. An organization’s future depends on the ability for it to adapt, to shift and embrace, make changes and be part of the changes. With my unique professional background and understanding of different cultures I have lived in, I would like to be that ‘connector’ to push out my goals as mentioned above.
Jerry Martin
Miami University Regionals
Bio:
Jerry Martin is Regional Director, Regional Campuses Global Programs at Miami University Regionals. He has extensive experience on both sides of the institution-agent relationship. He is active in AIEA, AIRC, and NAFSA. He has completed NAFSA and AIEA S1O academies and AIRC's Certificate Course in International Student Recruitment and Enrollment Planning. He specializes in developing revenue-generating programs such as intensive English and English for international business. He holds an MBA in global management and a doctorate in education leadership from the University of Phoenix.
Statement:
The use of international student recruitment agencies is no longer optional in strategic recruitment initiatives at higher education institutions in the United States. Institutions continuing to ignore current market realities will suffer the consequences of significant drops in revenue and diversity on their campuses. Using international student recruitment agencies has become the gold standard around the world. Unfortunately, U.S. higher education institutions not only delayed accepting this reality but also placed unnecessary barriers for those responsible for recruiting international students. This delay or outright refusal to use international student recruitment agencies has significantly damaged institutions and their associated stakeholders. American students have missed opportunities making them less prepared to engage with people from diverse backgrounds in the highly competitive global workforce. Communities have been severely affected because of missed economic opportunities including potential for entrepreneurial initiatives. Local business owners have lost revenue-generating prospects leading to lost tax revenues that could have been used in strengthening local education programs and community building. This loss cannot be undervalued. The data overwhelmingly highlights the positive effects of having international students on campus and adding benefits to communities hosting institutions of higher education.
The founding members of AIRC not only understood the importance of recognizing the professionalism of recruitment agencies around the world but also dispelling the myths surrounding agencies that permeated throughout U.S. higher education institutions. As the President-elect of AIRC, one of my goals, besides learning from the current AIRC President, would be to double AIRC membership through the direct targeting of higher-level administrators (presidents and provosts) and also legal counsels, who often are too conservative when it comes to agent contracts. Membership in AIRC is a great investment! Another initiative I believe would benefit AIRC is the continued education of our elected officials at all levels of government on the benefits of using agencies to promote U.S. institutions.
AIRC leadership needs to be a motivator more than ever during these challenging times. When issues arise, offering potential solutions is important. Through creative thinking and entrepreneurial initiatives, U.S. institutions can position themselves to not only recover but also expand in their comprehensive internationalization. For example, workshops could be provided to AIRC members and non-members on the importance of offering value-added services to their associated recruitment agencies in support of international recruitment efforts.
During my 20 years in Japan leading IEPs and working at a recruitment agency, I experienced firsthand the hard work and value that recruitment agencies and counselors provide to our current and future students. International recruitment efforts are most effective when institutions and agencies work together toward the betterment of the overall international student experience.
I believe in the mission, vision, and values of AIRC and will be a sustained stalwart of its membership growth while promoting the realization of its benefits for as many U.S. institutions and international recruitment agencies as possible. I welcome the opportunity to work with the current AIRC President, the AIRC Executive Director, and AIRC Team to develop strategic growth initiatives while continuing to be a supporting resource.
Candidates for Agency Delegate
David Mandil
NM Educação Internacional
Bio:
The necessity of adapting to different places and cultures, I dare to say, is marked in our family DNA. Since my childhood, I was encouraged to learn different languages. I have studied in a German bilingual school, and I have taken English extra lessons since I was 3 years old. When I got older, around 14 years old, I decided to learn a third language, Spanish, which is the third most spoken language in the world.
By incentive of my family and personal motivation, I had the chance to practice all this language and culture acquaintance in several experiences:
I have lived 3 times for short periods in Germany, improving my German language skill. I had the opportunity to study as an exchange student in High School in Australia at the age of 15 years old, later I have worked as an intern in an American landscape and architecture office in Florida USA, and studied for a semester at the Universidad de Valladolid, in Spain. Lastly, I have lived in Copenhagen for 2 years, where I obtained my Masters’ degree in Business, Languages and Culture.
Seven years ago, I became a partner of an educational exchange program agency founded by my mother and sister 15 years ago. Coincidentally, I was their first "client". I believe that all my experiences mentioned above have in a way, brought me back to my roots.
Today my job is to relate to several educational institutions around the world, seeking new partnerships for our company. In addition, I advise countless students in the choice of courses abroad. I feel fulfilled in being able to share some of my experience with other people besides continuing to travel and explore new cultures.
Statement:
During my seven years working with international education, I had the opportunity to personally meet institutions and agents in familiarization trips from all over the world. I was fascinated how different markets could be and sometimes so alike. I have learned so much by interacting and engaging conversations with agents from all over the world. This is certainly one of the greatest pleasures of this profession. As a representative of the agencies, I see myself again, after these years of pandemic, being able to meet, listen and learn from colleagues.
This year, I was invited by a colleague and member of the AIRC to participate in the association's council meetings. Before, as a member of the association, I participated in different events, presentations and webinars organized by AIRC in which I could meet and interact with new potential educational institutions partners. In these moments, I had the opportunity to present and share the specifics of the Brazilian and Latin American markets, thus contributing to improve the partnership between agents and educational institutions, contributing positively to the community.
I believe that transparency, ethical practice, and accurate and updated information is the key for a strong agent-institution’s relationship. I will be happy to listen and consider all perspectives from our members and advocate in the best interest of the international education community.
Sushil Sukhwani
Edwise International
Bio:
I’ve been a Pioneer in the field of overseas education since 1991. I’m the founder of Edwise India’s Leading Overseas Education Consultants. Edwise was the first education recruitment agent in India and we have recruited students to study overseas in USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Ireland, Dubai, Malaysia, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain & Germany.
With my business know how and possession of a rich experience in the field of Overseas Education, I have meliorated and transformed Edwise to being the pioneer in the field of ‘Global Education’ and the most trusted organization in its field. Over the last 30+ years I’ve expanded my operations to 23 offices across India. Currently we have a staff of over 450 people.
I was a founder member of AIGA (Australian Indian Graduates Associations) and am committee member at the Western AAA India.
I was the president of my school alumni association for 18 years and the head of Bond University Alumni Association in Mumbai and founder member of the AAERI (Association of Australian Education Representatives in India) I’m presently on the AIRC Board as Agency Delegate from the period December 2018 – December 2021.
Also have actively contributed to the AIRC 2016 Conference Committee.
I have attended the NAFSA Conference in 2008,2009,2010,2011 and have been a NAFSA Exhibitor at the NAFSA Annual Conference in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. I have also presented at NAFSA in 2019.
I have travelled extensively throughout the USA as well as the world. Over the years I have actively participated in meetings, groups, discussions and debates on various issues canvassing the working relations between agencies and institutions from USA as well as other destinations.
Statement:
Edwise has been an AIRC Certified agency since 2014 and is an AIRC Certified Agency in good standing through to 2029.
In 2018, I was requested to stand for elections, by Indian and several international agents, as they felt I would be a good board member and represent agents at the AIRC board positively. I was elected to the board thanks to the overwhelming support for the period 2019 – 21 .Over the last few years I have been actively communicating issues faced by agents to AIRC members and the board to help streamline international student recruitment.
Since being part of the AIRC board, I have been actively participating in all discussions and strategy meetings. I was elected to the AIRC board and have attended over 90% of the board meeting and positively contributed at each meeting.
Due to the pandemic 2 out of my 3 year tenure were ineffectual, thus I am reapplying for this position on the board.
I have attended the AIRC Miami conferences in December 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017,2018,2019 and virtually in 2020 and will attend the same in 2021. I have presented at all AIRC and ICEF Miami conferences since December 2015.
I actively connect with the US Consulate, US Trade and EducationUSA (USIEF) here in India. Over the years I have contributed to various media and press articles related to an overseas education. In international as well as national magazines and newspapers
My desire for being on this committee is to see a closer and more efficient working relationship between Universities and Agencies across the world. Another key focus area is to increase the attractiveness of the annual conference so that a large percentage of members as well as non-members attend .I also wish to increase the diversity of the agency memberships from other parts of the world.
I’m actively involved in recruiting for several destinations from India and involved with the Education Entities of UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand etc. I would like to share with AIRC member institutions and agencies the learning from across these bodies so that the recruitment for US institutions and polices are in tandem or a step ahead of that of other destinations.
Candidates for Institutional Delegate
Vanessa Andrade
California State University, Northridge
Bio:
Vanessa Andrade is the Director of International Partnerships and Program Development and the Deputy Senior International Officer at California State University, Northridge. Vanessa is an active member of AIEA, NAFSA, EAIE, UPCEA, APAIE, AACRAO, AIRC among other organizations, where she values every single interaction with colleagues from the education industry. In addition to her current role at CSUN, Vanessa currently serves on the AIRC Board of Directors, the Board of Directors of the Study California State Consortium where she is currently president-elect, the AACRAO International Marketing and Recruitment Committee and in a number of advisory boards ( IDP Connect USA , MSM US, Cambridge English Higher Education). She has over 20 years of experience working in the international education industry both in the private and public sector, in the United States and overseas and in the language and higher education industry, always being involved in the many aspects and functions of the business. Her experiences are diverse, having dealt with innumerous activities in the areas of student recruitment, program partnership development, agency screening and management, new program development, external relations expansion, program operations, customer service support and implementation, SEVIS and ACCET accreditation among others.
Statement:
I am humbled to be considered for the Institutional Representative position on the AIRC Board of Directors where I currently serve at the same capacity. I have been a member of AIRC over many years and have had the privilege of attending most of their annual conferences both as an attendee and as a panelist and speaker in a number of sessions. During my time serving on the board, I am particularly proud of being part of the hiring committee that selected Brian Whalen as our Executive Director as well as being part of the task force committee that worked on the DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) principles that AIRC recently adopted. I am fully committed to the purpose and appreciate and understand the value of this organization and I remain committed to its growth and success.
I have many years under my belt of working in the international education sector and my experience in working with international student recruitment agencies was way before AIRC was founded and way before I joined CSUN. I am originally from Brazil and have also been an international student myself who came to the USA for the first time as an international student during my senior year of high school through AFS (and that was in the late 80’s – not trying to date myself here ).I believe it takes a village to provide the international students the experience and support they need and the AIRC community definitely plays a key role here. I am grateful and proud to be an active member of this organization and would love to continue serving on the Board of Directors to actively engage on its future direction.
The importance and need of transparency, quality measures, standards, training, collaboration, among others, when it comes to the agency-institution-university relationship is crucial for the partnership success and as a consequence for the student success. AIRC is the organization that allows for this kind of conversations and advocacy on behalf of our industry which is much needed, specially at the post pandemic times when the US is positioning itself as a strong study destination of choice.
I am looking forward to the possibility of continuing to serve on the AIRC Board of Directors. I am committed to raise awareness about AIRC and its role for US institutions that are working or exploring future agency partnerships. I am also looking forward to future dialogues with AIRC members and other stakeholders in our industry to continue to find ways to serve the AIRC members the best way possible. Thank you for your consideration!