U of A Director of Study Abroad Tapped to Serve on National Search Committee

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DeDe Long

DeDe Long, director of the Office of Study Abroad and International Exchange, has been selected to serve on the search committee for the next executive director and chief executive officer of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. The organization is the world's largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange.

The search committee is chaired by Christopher J. Viers, associate vice president for international services at Indiana University, who asked Long to serve along with four other committee members. They will work closely with Korn Ferry, the world's largest executive search firm, to attract applicants, screen candidates and conduct interviews. The search committee was formed in response to the retirement announcement of NAFSA's current leader Marlene Johnson.

"I am flattered and hugely honored by the invitation to serve on the search committee," Long said. "NAFSA is bigger, better and stronger because of Marlene's remarkable leadership these past 18 years, and it is vitally important to the field of international education that we identify an individual who can fill her shoes."

Long has been a member of NAFSA for her entire professional career, which spans 35 years. She has held several leadership positions within the organization including vice president of public policy and practice on the Board of Directors, Governance Committee member and chair of the organization's annual conference in 2015.

"I was not surprised to learn that DeDe was asked to serve on the search committee to identify the next executive director and chief executive officer of NAFSA," said Kim Needy, dean of the Graduate School and International Education. "She will provide significant value to this search process given her wealth of experience and vast network in international education."

The search committee hopes to present a final candidate to the Board of Directors for consideration at its September 2016 meeting.