Student Voices Luncheon at the AIRC 13th Annual Conference

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AIRC Marks International Education Week By Celebrating Students Who Will Speak at the Upcoming Annual Conference! The mission statement adopted by the American International Recruitment Council earlier this year states that AIRC “champions the interests of international students.” As part of this mission, AIRC is very pleased to showcase international students at its upcoming Annual Conference at the Hilton Downtown Miami Hotel December 8 – 11. At the Student Voices Plenary Luncheon on Friday, December 10, this year’s winner of the Marjorie Peace Lenn Research Award, Max Crumley-Effinger, will present a summary of his dissertation research, “Experiencing International Student Mobility and Migration Policy: A Qualitative Multicase Study.” Max’s presentation will be followed by a panel of international students and alumni from Florida institutions who will discuss their experiences of being international students in the United States, their entry points and transitions, and career plans and goals. Students will represent a wide range of countries, including Canada, China, Morocco, Spain, and Venezuela, The panel will be moderated by AIRC colleagues Mona Chorera of Midway University and George Burke of University of Albany. The Student Voices Plenary will no doubt be one of the many highlights of the Annual Conference and will bring into sharp focus the reasons why we are all involved in international student recruitment. Details about these students can be found below. Marjorie Peace Lenn Research Award Winner Max Crumley-Effinger is a PhD candidate in Loyola University Chicago’s Cultural and Educational Policy Studies program; he has an MEd in International Higher Education from Loyola University Chicago and a BA in German Language and Literature from Earlham College. His research focuses primarily on international students in higher education, student mobility and migration policy, race and education, and sustainability in international education. Max is an international student advisor at Virginia Tech, an adjunct professor at Loyola, a former Fulbright grantee, a former study abroad program administrator, and has led high school, undergraduate, and graduate study abroad programs in Europe and Asia. Dissertation Title Experiencing International Student Mobility and Migration Policy: A Qualitative Multicase Study Abstract This study is centered on international student mobility and migration policy (ISM) in three case countries (Australia, Canada, and the United States). Through a multiple case study employing interviews with students studying in the case countries, this project examines the effects of a specific institution (i.e., national ISM policy) on the experiences of international students. This necessarily incorporates an analysis of the specific local ISM policies in place in the case countries, including the local policy context as influenced by cultural, political, and economic factors, and situated within the international regime of sovereign national student immigration control. Between-country comparison of the findings can shed light on the ways in which varying ISM policies in the host country affect the experiences of international students. Extrapolation provides the opportunity to develop connections between the cultural political economy of the case countries and resultant effects on their international student populations. Preliminary findings show that ISM policy does affect students professionally, academically, politically, and personally, and that students often experienced and explicitly understood the ISM policies as tied to the unique context of their host country. Student Voices Plenary Connie Awuku-Darkoh Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Candidate Florida A&M University Connie Awuku-Darkoh is a graduate student at Florida A&M University, and from Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. During her undergraduate career, she attended Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN, and later transferred to the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, AR where she graduated with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Exercise Science. As an undergraduate student, she was active in various organizations and promoted diversity, and developed social ties with many people. Connie was actively involved as a collegiate soccer player, international student, and as a student in the major of exercise science. Currently, Connie attends Florida A&M University, where she is pursuing a Master's of Science degree in Occupational Therapy and expects to graduate in 2023. At A&M, Connie is President of the Student Occupational Therapy Association and an International Graduate Student Mentor. Abdrrazek (Abdou) Azlag Nova Southeastern University Candidate for Bachelor's in Computer Science Education From Casablanca, Morocco, Abdou Azlag is a senior majoring in Computer Science Education with a minor in Cybersecurity and Data Analytics. At Nova Southeastern University, he is the President of the Unified Greek Council, and the Vice President for his chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Abdou is also a Resident Assistant for the Office of Residential Life; A Tutor in the Tutoring and Testing Center; a member of the President’s 64 program; and participates in Razor’s Edge Shark teach, The Fischler Academy, and the Order of Omega. Agatha Dias Bachelor's in Business Administration Candidate University of Miami Herbert Business School Agatha Dias is a senior at the University of Miami, working towards a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, majoring in Marketing, and minoring in Entrepreneurship and Portuguese. She is originally from Caracas, Venezuela and is fluent in both English and Spanish and an intermediate speaker of Portuguese. Agatha interns at the University of Miami Ziff Graduate Career Center where she designs and delivers the weekly e-newsletter to all graduate students at the university and creates marketing for events. Agatha loves to achieve results through communicating, creating, designing and organizing. She loves traveling, photography, performing aerial silks, and arts and crafts. She is caring, constantly looking after her family, and is an animal lover. Jiang Jiang Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) Candidate University of Miami Herbert Business School Jiang Jiang, MBA, is a candidate in the Master of Science in Business Analytics Class of 2022 in the University of Miami Herbert Business School. Jiang Jiang is originally from China and earned her first master's degree in Industrial Design in Harbin Engineering University in China. In 2011, Jiang started working as a technician in the master planning section in a ship design company on the layout designs of large-scale cruise ships. In 2014, she joined an industrial design company as a project manager where she worked with the government to grow local manufacturing, oversaw provincial projects, and managed a user experience lab that quantified user experiences by implementing eye tracking experiment and conducted data analysis to produce results. Jiang hopes to make a pivot in her career and improve her business acumen through completing her MBA and MSBA programs. Priscilla Rojas TV and Film Producer/Director Full Sail University Priscilla Rojas is an award-winning filmmaker from Caracas, Venezuela with 13 years of media experience. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Media Communications from Universidad Central de Venezuela (2013); an Associates degree in Photography from Miami Dade College (2020); a Certificate in English as a Second Language from Full Sail University (2015); and a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Film Production from Full Sail University (2016). Author of “La Anatomía de un Productor,” a book about TV and Film Production, which is available on Amazon (Spanish Version). Priscilla worked and produced over 34 short films, feature films and documentaries during 2014-2021. Won Two Emmy Awards for "La Tumba" short film and "Super Poderoso" short film. Victor Tarin Master’s Degree Candidate, Student Affairs Nova Southeastern University Originally from Spain, Victor came to the U.S. in 2013 to Nova Southeastern University on a swimming scholarship. He graduated from Nova in 2018 with a bachelor's in Exercise and Sport Science. Victor then moved to Indiana State University to pursue a Masters in Physical Education and serve as a graduate assistant swimming coach. After graduating from Indiana State in 2020, Victor returned to Nova where he is a graduate student in the student affairs master’s program and serves as a graduate assistant of Fitness and Wellness. Victor enjoys swimming, working out, going to the beach, and running with the bulls when he is back home in Spain.

AIRC 2021 Annual Conference Travel Grant Program

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Update: We have now closed out the Submission Phase for Travel Grants. Congratulations to all members who were approved for a travel grant this cycle.

AIRC is pleased to offer financial support for AIRC colleagues with demonstrated financial need to attend the 13th Annual Conference (Hilton Downtown Miami December 8 – 11, 2021).

Purpose

The Annual Conference Travel Grant Program provides financial support to AIRC member colleagues who, without this support, would be unable to attend the conference.

Eligibility

Colleagues who have financial need and are employed by an AIRC member institution/organization may apply for an Annual Conference Travel Grant. The Grant Application must detail the amount of support needed, the rationale behind the request, and how the grant funding is to be used. Those who have already registered for the conference are eligible to apply.

Awards

Individual grant awards will be disbursed on a reimbursement-for-expense basis after the Annual Conference. Awards are expected to range from $300 up to $1,000. Selection will be based on demonstrated financial need and the anticipated benefit of attending the conference. Preference will be given to grant applicants whose institutions/organizations are providing at least some financial support.

Grant Process

1. Submit Grant Application.

2. Grant applicants notified of Award within 10 business days.

3. Awardee attends entire conference.

4. Awardee submits within 30 days after the conference a report describing how the conference benefitted them along with a detailed expense report and scanned receipts.

5. Upon receipt of the report and receipts, grant funds will be disbursed within 10 business days. Grant awards are disbursed only as reimbursement for documented expenses that are outlined in the grant application.

Application Deadline

Applications will be accepted up until all the grant funding is committed.