Two Graduate School and International Education staff members — Andrew Van Lew, graduate and international recruitment coordinator, and Sloane Jeffery, graduate assistant for welcome and belonging in the Office of International Students and Scholars — won awards for Best Poster in two categories at the NAFSA Association of International Educators during its annual conference last week in Washington, D.C.  

Van Lew and Jeffery won Best Poster for Crisis Management in International Education for the topic, "Using Statistical Analysis to Identify International Students at Risk," and Van Lew and a colleague from Texas A&M won Best Poster for Intercultural Initiatives for Campus for their poster, "Behind Every Great J-1/F-1 Is a Great J-2/F-2."  

The first topic analyzed how to use data-driven models and algorithms to identify international students at risk and perform effective interventions. The second poster examined how student and scholar spouses play an often invisible yet essential role in student and scholar success, and programs and strategies to support spouse dependents.  

"It was a great honor to receive recognition for our work on the national level for international education," Van Lew said. "Our GSIE international retention and information technology teams put a considerable amount of time and effort into the Crisis Management in International Education project. I by no means view these as my own individual awards."  

"This is such a meaningful project for the department and university, and I couldn't be more honored to have that recognized at a national level," Jeffery said.  

Van Lew stepped into his current role as graduate and international recruitment coordinator after serving as the international student advisor in the Office of International Students and Scholars. Jeffery is a history major from Calgary, Alberta who has worked as a graduate assistant in ISS since fall 2022.  

About NAFSA: Association of International Educators: The association is the world's largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange. NAFSA serves the needs of more than 10,000 members and international educators worldwide at more than 3,500 institutions, in over 150 countries. The association holds an annual conference and expo each year that is the premier global professional learning and networking event for international educators and organizations supporting international education programs.