AIEA Members brought their voices and expertise to Capitol Hill during the Association’s Pilot Advocacy Day on Thursday, February 19. Spearheaded by the AIEA Public Policy Committee, chaired by Imara Dawson, the initiative marked an important step in reigniting AIEA’s commitment to advocacy as a core part of advancing international education leadership.
Participants visited congressional offices in pairs to meet with policymakers to highlight the value of international education and advocate for policies that support global engagement and collaboration, and student mobility. In particular:
- Keep the STEM Talent Act: Support for allowing international STEM graduates to remain in the U.S., strengthening the workforce and innovation.
- OPT Stability: Advocating for the continued availability of Optional Practical Training, enabling students to gain work experience and contribute skills to U.S. employers.
- FY27 Funding Asks: Urging robust federal support for international education programs that expand global learning, partnerships, and cultural exchange.
“The meetings on Capitol Hill were truly insightful. I learned more about how policies are discussed and advanced, made valuable connections with staff in my representatives’ offices, and felt proud to contribute, even in a small way, to advocating for our field. Thank you, AIEA, for your leadership in this area.”
Nick Gozik
AIEA Pilot Advocacy Day Participant
Dean of Global Education & Assistant Professor, Elon University
Many thanks to (the) AIEA Public Policy Committee chaired by Imara Dawson, and the pilot’s participants: Blair Thomson, Dana Brolley, Nick Gozik, Voytek Wloch, Judith Pennywell, and Cheryl Matherly. We’re grateful to NAFSA and The Alliance for International Exchange for their partnership in supporting the strategy and logistics of this initiative, in particular Lisa Heyn, Jill Allen Murray, and Mark Overmann.
We look forward to sharing more as our advocacy work evolves. To learn more about how to get involved with the AIEA Public Policy Committee, contact us info@aieaworld.org.