Leadership
AIEA’s work is guided by a dedicated community of leaders who generously devote their time, expertise, and vision to guide our Association’s strategy and initiatives. Through the contributions of our board, presidents, committees, and task forces, our members work collaboratively to shape the future of global education.
AIEA Board of Directors
Officers
Paulo Zagalo-Melo
Immediate Past 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
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.
Jill Blondin
President-Elect
Jill Blondin is Vice Provost for Global Initiatives at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Blondin has served as a Fulbright Specialist to Brazil and the Philippines, and as a speaker with the U.S. Department of State Study Abroad Engagement Grant Program and Fulbright Portugal, the U.S. Embassy Guyana, Fulbright Philippines, and the U.S. Embassy Turkey.
A 2021-2022 AIEA Presidential Fellow, Blondin has served as Chair of the Association’s Member Outreach and Awards Committee. In 2023, Dr. Blondin was named one of the PIE 50 Top Voices in North America, and IIE honored her as the Senior International Officer of the Year. Currently she serves on the Executive Committee of APLU’s Commission on International Initiatives. Blondin holds a B.A. from Indiana University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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.
Imara Dawson
Secretary
Imara Dawson is the Managing Director of the Michigan Program for Advancing Cultural Transformation at the University of Michigan (M-PACT). He previously served as the Managing Director of the International Institute at the University of Michigan (2017–23) and as the Executive Director of the Rinker Center for International Programs at Ball State University (2013–17). He is the immediate Past Chair of the AIEA Public Policy Committee (2023-2026) and 2015-16 AIEA Presidential Fellow. Imara brings expertise in higher education leadership, policy advocacy, faculty development, and organizational transformation. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (cum laude) in History (high honors) from Hampton University and a J.D. and M.P.A. from Indiana University–Bloomington.
Clare Overmann
CEO
Clare Overmann is the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA), the professional association for international education leadership. In this role, she oversees the strategic direction and growth of the 700+ member organization. Prior to AIEA, Clare served as a senior leader at the Institute of International Education (IIE), leading the organization’s strategic engagement, member associations, major U.S. government-funded programs, and corporate external affairs. Within this portfolio, she also led the growth and transformation of IIE’s Center for International Partnerships. Clare studied abroad in South Korea and Chile, and started her career in the petrochemical industry in The Netherlands. Clare holds degrees from Georgetown University and New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.
AIEA Board of Directors
Officers
Jane Gatewood
President
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.
Paulo Zagalo-Melo
Immediate Past 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.
Jill Blondin
President-Elect
A 2021-2022 AIEA Presidential Fellow, Blondin has served as Chair of the Association’s Member Outreach and Awards Committee. In 2023, Dr. Blondin was named one of the PIE 50 Top Voices in North America, and IIE honored her as the Senior International Officer of the Year. Currently she serves on the Executive Committee of APLU’s Commission on International Initiatives. Blondin holds a B.A. from Indiana University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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.
Imara Dawson
Secretary
Imara Dawson is the Managing Director of the Michigan Program for Advancing Cultural Transformation at the University of Michigan (M-PACT). He previously served as the Managing Director of the International Institute at the University of Michigan (2017–23) and as the Executive Director of the Rinker Center for International Programs at Ball State University (2013–17). He is the immediate Past Chair of the AIEA Public Policy Committee (2023-2026) and 2015-16 AIEA Presidential Fellow. Imara brings expertise in higher education leadership, policy advocacy, faculty development, and organizational transformation. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (cum laude) in History (high honors) from Hampton University and a J.D. and M.P.A. from Indiana University–Bloomington.
Clare Overmann
CEO
Clare Overmann is the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA), the professional association for international education leadership. In this role, she oversees the strategic direction and growth of the 700+ member organization. Prior to AIEA, Clare served as a senior leader at the Institute of International Education (IIE), leading the organization’s strategic engagement, member associations, major U.S. government-funded programs, and corporate external affairs. Within this portfolio, she also led the growth and transformation of IIE’s Center for International Partnerships. Clare studied abroad in South Korea and Chile, and started her career in the petrochemical industry in The Netherlands. Clare holds degrees from Georgetown University and New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.
AIEA Board of Directors
Jennifer Evanuik
Georgia State University (2029)
Heather Ward
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (2029)
Christina Sanchez
Augustana University (2028)
Mihaela Metianu
Florida Atlantic University (2028)
Hilary Kahn
Indiana University Indianapolis (2028)
Wojciech (Voytek) Wloch
College of Lake County (2028)
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)
Jennifer Evanuik
Georgia State University (2029)
Heather Ward
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (2029)
Christina Sanchez
Augustana University (2028)
Mihaela Metianu
Florida Atlantic University (2028)
Hilary Kahn
Indiana University Indianapolis (2028)
Wojciech (Voytek) Wloch
College of Lake County (2028)
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)
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 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: Jane Gatewood
Members: Paulo Zagalo-Melo, Imara Dawson, David Fleshler, Jill Blondin, Clare Overmann (Ex-officio)
Governance Committee
Chair: Jane Gatewood
Members: Paulo Zagalo-Melo, Jill Blondin
Audit Committee
Coming Soon
Finance Committee
Chair: David Fleshler
Members: Paulo Zagalo-Melo, Jane Gatewood, Kalpen Trivedi, Jill Blondin, Clare Overmann (Ex-officio)
Standing Committees
Professional Development & Engagement Committee
Chair: Wing-Kai To (Bridgewater State University)
Chair-Elect: Nick Gozik (Elon 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; 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 & Awards Committee
Chair: Christina Sanchez (Augustana 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: Mihaela 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 & Resources Committee
Chair: Blair Thomson (University of Mississippi)
Chair-Elect: Mirka Martel (IIE)
Members:
Brian Benison (George Mason University) – 2027; 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: Paulo Zagalo-Melo (Virginia Commonwealth University)
Task Forces
AIEA 2026 Leadership Academy Faculty
Jane Gatewood, AIEA President (Emory University), Paulo Zagalo-Melo, AIEA Immediate Past President (Virginia Commonwealth University); Amir Reza, AIEA Past President 2024-2025 (Babson College); Cristina Alfaro (San Diego State University)
Conference Reimagining Task Force
Fabiola Riobé (Satis Sum Consulting, LLC); Kalpen Trivedi (University of Massachusetts Amherst); Katie Riggs (Riggs & Co); Imara Dawson (University of Michigan); Mary Kay Hyde (API); Hilary Kahn (Indiana University); Douglas Proctor (York University); Kyle Rausch (University of Illinois Chicago); Philipp Reichert (University of British Columbia); Brooke Roberts (Via TRM); Blair Thomson (University of Mississippi); CJ Tremblay (Alethea Global Cooperative); Heather Ward (UNC Chapel Hill)
Rebrand Task Force
Maureen Manning (The Global Nexus Collective LLC); Orlina Boteva (University of Maine); Stephanie Doscher (Global Citizenship Alliance), Jennifer Evanuik (Georgia State University); Todd Lee Goen (Global Puzzles, LLC), Keiko Ikeda (Kansai University), Courtney Kroll (McGill University), Maggie Mahoney (University of Houson), Leterah Munnings (University of the Bahamas), Judy Peter (Nelson Mandela University), Douglas Proctor (York University); Laura Rumbley (EAIE); Amrita Sadarangani (University of York Mumbai)
SIO Standards Task Force
Cheryl Matherly (Lehigh University); Wojciech (Voytek) Wloch (College of Lake County); Patricia Céspedes-Sanchez (REIMAGINE | Global Education, Peru); Jeff Cohen (Appalachian State University); David DiMaria (University of Maryland BC); Mirka Martel (IIE); Wing-Kai To (Bridgewater State University)
Strategic Services Task Force
Kara Godwin (Pomona College); Philipp Reichert (University of British Columbia); Imara Dawson (University of Michigan); Vinitha Gengatharan, (Simon Fraser University); DuBois Jennings (Education New Zealand); Randy Kluver (Oklahoma State University); Fabiola Riobé (Satis Sum Consulting, LLC); Brooke Roberts (Via TRM); Jamie Snow (Technical University Munich)
Past Presidents
AIEA’s past presidents represent a legacy of dedicated leadership and service to the Association and the broader international education community. We’re deeply grateful for their vision and commitment, which have helped shape AIEA’s growth and strengthen its impact on advancing global engagement in higher education.