2026 AIEA Annual Conference

Faryal Atif

Lead Conference Intern

Faryal Atif is a doctoral student in the Educational Leadership – Higher Education Administration program at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She currently works full-time at the UL Lafayette Alumni Association as the Assistant Director of Student Engagement. With a rich and diverse background in education, Faryal has gained valuable professional experience in both Pakistan and Malaysia. In her current role, she designs and implements programs that promote community engagement, international student success & belonging, and foster involvement among a diverse student body.
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Faryal is an active member of NAFSA: Association of International Educators and was honored to serve as the 2025 intern for the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA). She is excited to return as the lead intern and a conference presenter, continuing her commitment to advancing global education and leadership.

Her doctoral research interests center on internationalization in higher education, with a particular focus on exploring domestic partnerships as sustainable models for global engagement. She also examines broader trends such as student mobility, digital transformation, internationalization policies, student belonging, and university support systems.

Jonathan Carmona

Conference Intern

Jonathan Carmona is currently pursuing a PhD in Education with a concentration in Higher Education at George Mason University and is an eighth-year professional in international education. He serves as the Assistant Director for International Engagement in the Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS) at George Mason. In this role, he oversees the development of educational, sociocultural, and professional development programs designed to foster a sense of belonging and success among international students from more than 130 countries. Jonathan has prior experience in international admissions and enrollment services, as well as Spanish translation at the federal level. He also studied abroad in Havana, Cuba. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Jonathan is a proud Afro-Latino and two-time alumnus of George Mason University, holding both a B.A. and M.A. in Global Affairs. He was a recipient of the 2024–2025 NAFSA RISE Fellowship and continues to be an active member of NAFSA.​

Linnea Saxton

Conference Intern

Linnea Saxton is an undergraduate student at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, set to graduate next year with a B.A. in Public Policy and a minor in French. She hopes to pursue a career in education policy. Originally from a small town in Connecticut, Linnea has dedicated the last several years to working at both a public library and a D.C. middle school. She is passionate about working with schools and relishes opportunities to learn from teachers and administrators. In a previous role, she interned on the Corporate Social Responsibility team at Arc, a French glassware company, supporting their women’s network. Currently, she serves as a research and writing assistant for a project concerning the history of international education.

Emmanuel Wanjala

Conference Intern

Dr. Emmanuel Wanjala’s research centers on international higher education, youth agency, sustainability education, and climate justice. His dissertation examines the motivations and strategies used by youth activists in Kenya to promote climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience. He earned his Master of Arts in Higher Education, Student Affairs, and International Education Policy from the University of Maryland in spring 2021, and later pursued a Ph.D. at the same university, specializing in International Education Policy. He holds a Bachelor of Education with majors in Linguistics and Literature and a minor in International Studies from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Wanjala volunteered with AIEA in 2020 and interned there in 2021. He is eager to return as an intern in 2026, recognizing that AIEA offers a valuable opportunity to build professional networks, share insights, and enhance his social capital. He enjoys working out, trail running, and biking.​