Paulo Zagalo-Melo is Associate Provost for Global Education and SIO at Western Michigan University. Prior to WMU, he held executive positions at the University of Montana, the Luso- American Foundation, and Fulbright Portugal. Zagalo-Melo is an AIEA Board Member and Chair of the AIEA Member Outreach and Awards Committee. He was an AIEA 2015 Presidential Fellow. Zagalo-Melo has an MPA from Harvard University and a PhD in political science from the Catholic University of Portugal.
Interest Statement AIEA is the leading convenor of international education leaders – current and aspiring. Therefore, it is our role to identify and acknowledge essential topics for our members, deliver meaningful discussions, professional development opportunities, publications, and other proprietary services to all AIEA members. Additionally, we must continue to help shaping the future of international education leadership through three strategic guidelines: increasing diversity of membership, expanding the number of countries and regions represented, and securing AIEA’s financial sustainability. |
Wing-kai To is the Assistant Provost for Global Engagement and SIO at Bridgewater State University. He currently serves as Vice-Chair of the AIEA Professional Development and Engagement Committee. To is active in contributing to presentations and discussions on comprehensive internationalization, virtual exchange and DEI issues. He was a Fulbright Scholar in Hong Kong, a Mandela Washington Fellow in Uganda and Cape Verde, and a USA Study Abroad grantee.
Interest Statement My interest in serving as the Professional Development and Engagement Committee Chair at AIEA stems from my strong belief in advancing global learning, internationalization, virtual exchange, and diversity, equity and inclusion. I support the mission of critical internationalization and social justice and hope to contribute my perspectives as an immigrant SIO with long-standing engagement in Asia and Africa. I would like to help the Association to improve equity and access and address social impact in our global engagement. |
Blair McElroy is the Senior International Officer at the University of Mississippi, overseeing the strategic vision for internationalization at UM. In addition to advocating for the international community and implementing internationalization goals on campus, she serves as the risk and crisis manager for international programs and facilitates globally-themed opportunities for the university and local community. She has presented worldwide on issues in international education and, as an attorney, comparative legal systems.
Interest Statement With my term on the Publications and Resources Committee ending, I desire to continue serving AIEA as Chair-Elect to enthusiastically bring a perspective from the American South where justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives, including deeply intertwined internationalization efforts, face challenges to implementation. I can bring value to the Board with my knowledge of many areas of international education, including ESL, ISSS, Study Abroad, IEM, risk management, strategic planning, and pathway providers. |
Kalpen Trivedi is Vice Provost for Global Affairs at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he leads campus-wide initiatives for global engagement and directs the International Programs Office. He writes and presents regularly on topics related to international education leadership, global partnerships, and risk management for international operations. Recognized as IIE’s SIO of the Year (2021) and a Fulbright Scholar (IEA Award, 2023) Trivedi serves in leadership positions with AIEA, NAFSA, and APLU. Interest Statement I submit my candidacy for Board Member At-Large to continue deepening my engagement with AIEA. AIEA’s programs have been key in professional trajectory and having served on the Professional Development and Engagement Committee, I would like to engage with the Association at a higher level as it leads conversations on crucial topics in international education. I am passionate about broadening pathways to inclusive leadership and hope to contribute to leading professional development opportunities for AIEA constituents. |
Leterah Munnings is Director of Institutional Partnerships, Leadership, and Global Studies at University of The Bahamas-North (UB-North) in Grand Bahama. In this capacity she coordinates and develops partnerships with tertiary institutions to advance UB-North's growing internationalization paradigm, specifically, institutional partnerships, global exchange programs and scholarly engagements for students, faculty, and staff. This is a key concentration for the university which is developing a new campus in the industrial city of Freeport to spark an economic revitalization.
Interest Statement It is my desire to learn more about the field of Internationalization. The role of At-large Board Member would afford me the opportunity to network and explore the field through this lens. It will give me tangible and practical experience as I grow and develop in the field. After recently completing my doctorate in strategic leadership, it is hoped that this will give much needed attention to Caribbean institutions as they are often sought for study abroad and exchange opportunities. |
Krystina Dos Santos is a Global MBA graduate from IE Business School with a BA in Business Management & Marketing from UMASS, Dartmouth. Dos Santos has established a strong track record in global academic partnerships and cultural bridging. Currently, she serves as the Head of Global Academic Partnerships & Development at IE University in Spain. Her role as an Executive Director of IE Business School involved overseeing a portfolio of pre-experience masters programs, with a main objective of establishing academic excellence while prioritizing the student journey. Her dedication to higher education extends to advisory roles with Woxsen University and the CIVICA Alliance for the Social Sciences. In line with her commitment to education, she is in the early stages of preparation to pursue a PhD in Internationalization of Higher Education.
Interest Statement With over 15 years of leadership in higher education, I'm committed to driving visionary change in the world we live in today. My role in overseeing strategic development opportunities between global academic partnerships has sharpened my ability to identify opportunities that bridge gaps and address societal challenges. I truly believe in educational institutions as transformative agents of change. As a leader in my university's European Universities Alliance participation, I offer practical experience in international frameworks and global learning models. My tricultural, trilingual background and experience equips me to handle diverse issues and provide a unique and specific perspective, bringing with me a deeper understanding of global academic frameworks and accessing not only different challenges, but also opportunities. I'm eager to contribute to AIEA, furthering the international education sector's advancement in this evolving landscape. |
Mariella Hernandez is the Director of Global Programs and Partnerships of Feliciano School of Business at Montclair State University. She has a wealth of international experience in both higher education and corporate settings. Most recently, she was Director of International Relations at Universidad del Pacífico (Peru) for almost 8 years. She has been member of AIEA since 2017. Serving in the Professional Development and Engagement Committee and currently in the Member Outreach and Awards Committee.
Interest Statement I have been member of AIEA since 2017, and have served in the Professional Development and Engagement Committee and currently in the Member Outreach and Awards Committee. I was living in Peru and this limited my possibilities for contributing more. Now that I am working for Montclair State University (A Hispanic-Serving Institution) I feel like I am ready to have a deeper commitment to the organization. I am an example of how we are diversifying our membership. |