The Member Engagement Committee represent NAFSA members and serves as a conduit between the leadership of the association and those served by it. Per the NAFSA Standing Rules, Member Engagement Committee (MEC) members:
- Welcome and engage new members with quarterly outreach and at engagement events and programs during the annual conference.
- Support knowledge communities and national committees with their member engagement activities.
- Manage the portfolio of Member Interest Groups, providing on-going support of MIGs as appropriate throughout the year, and convening with leaders on a quarterly basis.
- Approve and dissolve MIGs according to the guidelines in the Guidance for MIG Leaders & Organizers
- Complete tri-annual reviews of MIGs in accordance with the Standing Rules. Offer guidance to MIG leaders to improve group engagement activities.
Leadership
Daniel Whitmer
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Indiana University Bloomington
Chair, Member Engagement Committee
Daniel Whitmer is the associate director of Sponsored Student Services in the Office of International Services at Indiana University, Bloomington. Before IU, Daniel worked at Vincennes University where he was director of International and Multicultural Student Affairs. His overseas experiences...
Vivian Yamoah
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Virginia Tech
Member at Large, Member Engagement Committee
Vivian Yamoah is the associate director for international student services at Virginia Tech. She has been in the field of international education for over 15 years. She is a member of the NAFSA Trainer Corps and has presented workshops at the local, regional, and national levels. She has her...
Brian Henry
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University Of Denver
Member at Large, Member Engagement Committee
Brian Henry is an international educator from Harpers Ferry, WV. He has a BS in Political Science and an MA in College Student Development & Administration from Shepherd University. He currently serves as a Program Manager, Office of International Education at the University of Denver. Brian has...
Leigh Lane Peine
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Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
Member at Large, Member Engagement Committee
Leigh Lane Peine is the senior director of marketing for ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators). Holding undergraduate and graduate degrees in marketing, Lane Peine has more than 20 years of experience in the field of marketing. Her past two roles as chief marketing officer and senior director of...
Ben McKelfresh
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Iowa State University
Chair-elect, Member Engagement Committee
At Iowa State, Ben McKelfresh manages all Study Abroad Center marketing efforts including web and print communications, events, and more. McKelfresh also oversees a suite of study abroad programs in Central, Eastern, and Northern Europe. He has served as one of the cochairs on NAFSA's Marketing and...
Maki Natori
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University of British Columbia
Member at Large, Member Engagement Committee
Maki Natori is Director, Strategic Partnerships & Projects at the University of British Columbia’s International Student Initiative (UBC-ISI). Maki previously served on the NAFSA Canada MIG committee and as the BC Rep on the NAFSA Region I committee. She has presented at the BC Council for...
Mattie Stevens
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Duke University Global Education For Undergraduates
Member at Large, Member Engagement Committee
Mattie Stevens is the first in her family to go to college and has enjoyed studying abroad as part of her educational experience (at the University of Stirling in Scotland, Innsbruck in Austria, as well as LaTrobe University in Australia). She encourages everyone to consider the opportunity to see...