Higher education is getting caught in the crossfire of cultural and political debates in the US, and one of the biggest components at risk for international education is federal student aid. Kathleen Fairfax, Vice Provost for International Affairs at Colorado State University, has more than 3 decades of experience in public and private sectors, and she’s bringing that experience to being a voice of reason and an advocate for accessibility for international students and study abroad programs across the country.

Key Insights & Timestamps:

• [00:00] Podcast begins

• [00:41] Entering the Industry: International ed, politics, abroad & advising

• [09:45] Family Life in an International World: Gender barriers in higher education

• [11:37] Higher Ed Tech History: How Kathleen has seen tech change at universities

• [19:22] Outreach & Accessibility: Representing Colorado State’s student body abroad

• [23:07] Cross Cultural Connection: What international ed can give us all

Guest Spotlight
Kathleen Fairfax:
Kathleen Fairfax is a seasoned leader in international education, with more than 3 decades of experience in both public and private sectors. As the Vice Provost for International Affairs at Colorado State University, she oversees the campus-wide comprehensive internationalization efforts, including student and faculty mobility, English language programs, international enrollment, strategic and academic initiatives, and the CSU facility in Todos Santos, Mexico.

Fairfax is passionate about improving access to international education opportunities, developing efficient and effective operational models, and aligning strategic priorities with concrete action items.

She holds a PhD in International Education from Michigan State University and is fluent in Spanish.

Key Takeaways:

• Health & Safety in International Ed: “Nothing can substitute for good technologies when you’re caring for students overseas and responding to a crisis.” As Kathleen has seen technology evolve throughout her career, the biggest change for international education has been the emergence of mobile technology. Gone are the days of abroad programs without connectivity; Kathleen’s students need to feel connected to their family back home and their university for safety.

• Concerns About Abroad Accessibility: “Accessible means financially, but it also means having a diverse participation that’s as diverse as your student body.” At the present moment, a concern Kathleen has encountered at Colorado State has been around making studying abroad accessible for all students. Regardless of financial background or ethnic background, Colorado State wants every student to have the opportunity, encouragement, and ease to travel abroad and to achieve their goals in international education.

• Value vs Reality: “We’re dealing with a conflict between what we value, versus political realities.” Federal student aid being at risk due to current political policies has rocked the boat at Colorado State and other universities. For Kathleen, the particular focus on language around DEI has created a conflicting experience in her office, where so many of their programs celebrate the cultures of their students, as well as the countries they can visit while studying abroad.

Resources Mentioned:
Colorado State University | colostate.edu

Connect with Kathleen:

• LinkedIn

For More Information:
Learn more about the Association of International Education Administrators at AIEAworld.org. Visit ViaTRM.com to learn more about Via TRM and access to additional resources.

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