Officers

Amir Reza
Immediate Past President

Amir Reza is Dean of Babson Academy & Global Education, and formerly served as Babson College’s Vice Provost for International & Multicultural Education. He has served on leadership boards for AIEA, IFSA, NAFSA, and several institutions abroad. He has presented at numerous national and international conferences on international education. Reza holds a B.A. and M.Ed. from the University of Maine, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Boston College’s Center for International Higher Education.

Paulo Zagalo-Melo
​President

Paulo Zagalo-Melo is Senior Internationalization Strategist at Virginia Commonwealth University. Previously, he served as Associate Provost for Global Education and Senior International Officer  at Western Michigan University. Prior to his role at WMU, Zagalo-Melo held executive positions at the University of Montana, the Luso-American Development Foundation, and Fulbright Portugal. In 2015, he was named an AIEA Presidential Fellow. Zagalo-Melo holds a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University, and a PhD in Political Science from the Catholic University of Portugal.

Jane Gatewood
​President-Elect

Jane Gatewood is Vice Provost for Global Engagement at Emory University, her Alma mater. The editor of NAFSA's Guide to International Academic Partnerships, she created and led one of the first international partnerships units at a U.S. higher education institution. She has served in leadership roles for NAFSA and is a member of AIEA's Board of Directors. Gatewood has consulted on education and civil society development in Eastern Europe and has taught at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 

David Fleshler
​Treasurer

David Fleshler served as the inaugural Vice Provost for International Affairs at Case Western Reserve University from 2009 to 2023, where he led the university's internationalization efforts and the Center for International Affairs.  Prior to his time at Case Western Reserve University, Mr. Fleshler held positions in law, government, and nonprofit sectors.  Most recently, he served as Vice Provost and Interim Executive Director of Siegal Lifelong Learning and was named Senior Fellow at the Institute of International Education in September 2024. Mr. Fleshler holds an A.B. from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from Boston College Law School. Fleshler is an AIEA Past President.

Leigh Poole
Secretary

Leigh Poole serves as the Assistant Provost for Student Success and Executive Director of the International Center at Winthrop University. A frequent presenter at international and national conferences, Poole was elected to serve on the AIEA Board of Directors, selected as an AIEA Presidential Fellow, and has served on various AIEA committees.  She has also held national and regional leadership positions within NAFSA: Association of International Educators.  As a Fulbright Scholar, Poole studied higher education systems in Germany, South Korea, and France.  Currently an Assistant Professor, Poole earned her Ph.D. from the University of Georgia, an M.Ed. from the University of South Carolina, an MBA from Winthrop University, and her BA from Wofford College.​

Clare Overmann
​Chief Executive Officer

Clare Overmann is a longstanding international education leader who joins AIEA following two decades working across sectors and cultures. Most recently, as a senior leader at the Institute of International Education (IIE), Clare led the organization’s global strategic engagement with higher education institutions, governments, corporations, and foundations. Her extensive tenure at IIE included oversight of IIE’s membership associations, Centers of Excellence, major U.S. government-funded programs, and corporate external affairs. An expert on academic partnerships, Clare led the growth and transformation of IIE’s Center for International Partnerships and expanded its flagship International Academic Partnership Program to more than 15 countries. She served as the inaugural Executive Director of the National Academy for International Education and has collaborated with hundreds of colleagues around the world on publications, trainings, and convenings. A graduate of Georgetown University and New York University, Clare serves on boards at NYU and in her hometown in Montgomery County, Maryland.

AIEA Board

Christina Sanchez
California Lutheran University (2028) 

Mihaela Metianu
Florida Atlantic University (2028) 

Hilary Kahn 
Indiana University Indianapolis (2028) 

Voytek Wloch (2028) 
College of Lake County

Mariella Hernandez Salazar 
Monclair State University (2027) 

Blair Thomson
University of Mississippi (2027) 

Leterah Munnings
University of the Bahamas (2027) 

Wing-Kai To
Bridgewater State University (2027)

Kalpen Trivedi
University of Massachusetts, Amherst (2027) 

Jill Blondin
Virginia Commonwealth University (2026)

Imara Dawson
University of Michigan (2026)
​
Patricia Céspedes-Sánchez
Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (2026)

Tonija Hope
Howard University (2026)

Philipp Reichert
The University of British Columbia-Okanagan Campus (2026)

Fabiola Riobé
(2026)

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Committees

Much of the work of AIEA is accomplished through committees that focus on various aspects of AIEA's mission. Any member of the Association is welcome to participate in the work of these committees. Committee chairs maintain a roster of currently active members. AIEA's Executive Director serves as an ex-officio member of all committees and boards within AIEA except the Audit Committee. AIEA members are encouraged to contact the chairs to learn more about committee plans and activities and to indicate their interest in committee participation.

Board Committees

Executive Committee

​Chair: Paulo Zagalo-Melo (Virginia Commonwealth University), 
Members:  Amir Reza (Babson College), Leigh Poole (Winthrop University), David Fleshler (IIE), Jane Gatewood (Emory University), Clare Overmann (ex-officio)

Governance Committee

Chair: Paulo Zagalo-Melo (Virginia Commonwealth University)​ 
Members: Amir Reza (Babson College) Patricia Céspedes-Sánchez (Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas), Jane Gatewood (Emory University) 

Audit Committee

Chair: Philipp Reichert (The University of British Columbia-Okanagan Campus)
Members: Tom Bogenschild (Gateway International Group), Amir Reza (Babson College)

Finance Committee

Chair: David Fleshler (IIE)
Members:  Paulo Zagalo-Melo (Virginia Commonwealth University)​, Amir Reza (Babson College),  Jeet Joshee, (California State University - Long Beach), Jane Gatewood (Emory University), Kalpen Trivedi (Mass Amherst), Clare Overmann (Ex-officio)

Standing Committees

Professional Development and Engagement Committee

Chair: Wing-Kai To (Bridgewater State University)
​
Members:
Gokhan Alkanat (Rowan University) – 2028; Lindsay Avery (University of Birmingham) – 2028; Chrishon Blackwell (George Mason University) – 2028; Dafina Blacksher Diabate (Lincoln University) – 2028; Leslie Bozeman (Indiana University Indianapolis) – 2027; Roger Brindley (Sannam S4/Acumen) – 2026; Jeff Cohen (Appalachian State University) – 2028; Stephanie Doscher (University of Minnesota) – 2028; Sora Friedman (SIT Graduate Institute) – 2028; Todd Lee Goen (Virginia Military Institute) – 2027; Nick Gozik (Elon University) – 2027; Julie Laveglia (St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences) – 2027; Elizabeth Langridge-Noti (University of California, San Diego) – 2028; Sufei Li (American Association of State Colleges and Universities) – 2026; Jamie McGowan (The University of Vermont) – 2026; Leterah Munnings (University of The Bahamas) – 2028; Christa Olson (The College of New Jersey) – 2026; Roopa Rawjee (Illinois State University) – 2027; Fabiola Riobé – 2027; Hans Stockton (University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX) – 2027.

Member Outreach and Awards Committee

Chair: Jill Blondin (Virginia Commonwealth University)
Chair-Elect: Christina Sanchez (California Lutheran University)
​
Members: 
Casey Dinger (University of Denver) – 2027; Krystina Dos Santos (IE University) – 2027; Steven Hales (Contra Costa Community College District) – 2026; Laura Mazzeo Allen (Kettering University) – 2026; Nancy Bjorklund (Western Michigan University) – 2028; Orlina Boteva (University of Maine) – 2026; Tiffany Boury (Franciscan University of Steubenville) – 2028; Yana Cornish (University of Georgia) – 2026; Vivian Wang (The University of Tulsa) – 2027; Piram Prakasam (California State University, Sacramento) – 2027; Philipp Reichert (The University of British Columbia - Okanagan Campus) --2026;  Cindy Schaarschmidt (Pierce College District) – 2027; Jon Stauff (South Dakota State University) – 2026. 

Public Policy Committee

Chair: Imara Dawson (University of Michigan)
Chair-Elect: Mihela Metianu (Florida Atlantic University)

Members: 
Christina Quartararo (St. John's University) – 2027; Dana Brolley (University of Idaho) – 2027; Debra Leahy (University of New England) – 2027; Jody Pritt (The Pennsylvania State University) – 2028; Kara Godwin (Pomona College) – 2028; Mohamed Emran Hossain (Daffodil University) – 2027; Ravi Ammigan (University of Delaware) – 2027; Ravi Shankar (University of Rochester) – 2027; Sherif Barsoum (New York University) – 2027.

Publications and Resources Committee

Chair: Blair McElroy (University of Mississippi) 
​
Members:
Brian Benison (George Mason University) – 2027; Mirka Martel (Institute of International Education) – 2026; Martin Kagel (University of Georgia) – 2028; Erin Hillis (Rhodes College) – 2028; Gillian Ice (Ohio University) – 2028; Patricia Sagasti Suppes (Stockton University) – 2028; Michael Lazzara (University of California, Davis) – 2028; Chrissie Faupel (University of Minnesota Duluth​) – 2028.

2026 AIEA Conference Committee

Chair: Amir Reza (Babson College) 
​
Members:
Amy Brewster (University of Iowa); Amy Henry (Georgia Institute of Technology); Ariel Foster (IELTS USA); Cristiana Kunyczka (Montclair State University); Cristina Alfaro (San Diego State University); Dan Kramer (Institute of International Education); Debra Leahy (University of New England); Dr. Godlove Fonjweng (Prairie View A&M University); Eny Di Iorio (Lorenzo de' Medici Institute); Eowyn Ferey (Portland State University); Fabiola Riobé; Jahan Ghaznavi (CleverApply); Janelle Castrellon (City of Knowledge - Ciudad del Saber); Jennifer Creamer (Robert Morris University); Julie Taylor (Institute of International Education); Kira Espiritu (ACM-IAU); Marianne McClelland (UC Davis); Marta L. Wayne (University of Florida); Miguel Ayllon (Indiana University); Natasha Nobell (University of British Columbia); Nick Gozik (Elon University); Philipp Reichert (University of British Columbia); Ramesh Neupane (Purdue University Northwest); Rogelio Minana (Drexel University); Roopa Rawjee (Illinois State University); Saher Ahmed (University of British Columbia); Stacy Burger (Lehigh University); Tashina Giraud (American University); Tiffany Boury (Franciscan University); Todd Lee Goen (Global Puzzles); Wing-Kai To (Bridgewater State University); ​Mariella Hernandez Salazar (Montclair State University). 

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Taskforces

​AIEA SIO Academy Faculty
Members:  Cheryl Matherly (Lehigh University), Amir Reza (Babson College), Paulo Zagalo-Melo (Virginia Commonwealth University)

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Past Presidents

Amir Reza, Babson College (2024)
​Jeet Joshee, California State University Long Beach (2023)
​Jewell Winn, Tennessee State University (2022)
David Fleshler, Case Western Reserve University (2021)
Adel El Zaïm, Université du Québec en Outaouais (2020)
Cheryl Matherly, Lehigh University (2019)
Penelope Pynes, University of North Carolina at Greensboro (2018)
Hilary Kahn, Indiana University (2017)
Gil Latz, Indiana University- Purdue University Indianapolis (2016)
Jenifer Cushman, Penn State Beaver (2015)
Harvey Charles, Northern Arizona University (2014)
Sabine C. Klahr, University of Utah (2013)
Donna Scarboro, The George Washington University (2012)
Susan Buck Sutton, Bryn Mawr College (2011)
Bill Lacy, University of California - Davis (2010)
Pia Wood, University of Tennessee - Knoxville (2009)
Gilbert Merkx, Duke University (2008)
William Brustein, University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign (2007)
Uliana Gabara, University of Richmond (2006)
Stephen C. Dunnett, SUNY Buffalo (2005)
Earl Kellogg, University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign (2004)
Maria Krane, Creighton University (2003)
John K. Hudzik, Michigan State University (2002)
JoAnn McCarthy, University of South Florida (2001)
John D. Heyl, Old Dominion University (2000)
Joyce M. Randolph, University of Pennsylvania (1999)
John H. Petersen, Western Kentucky University (1998)
Margaret A. Kidd, University of Texas at Austin (1997)
Edward H. Moseley,* University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa (1996)
Jean S. Aigner, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (1995)
Barbara B. Burn,* University of Massachusetts - Amherst (1994)
Davydd Greenwood, Cornell University (1993)
Thomas H. Hoemeke, University of North Texas (1992)
Gerald M. Slavin,* The University of New Mexico (1991)
Burkart Holzner,* University of Pittsburgh (1990)
Felix V. Gagliano, Ohio University (1989)
George C. Christensen,*  Iowa State University (1988)
Ralph H. Smuckler,* Michigan State University (1987)
Charles Klasek,* Southern Illinois - Carbondale (1986)
Jack Van de Water, Oregon State University (1985)
Joe W. Neal*, University of Texas at Austin (1982 - 1984)

*deceased