Episode 10: Double Your Impact Without Doubling Your Workload
with JILL BLONDIN (Vice Provost for Global Initiatives Virginia Commonwealth University)
Uncertainty on the global stage doesn’t have to stall study abroad or international student programs. Jill Blondin, Vice Provost for Global Initiatives at Virginia Commonwealth University, shares her leadership approach to keeping doors open, even amid shifting politics and compliance challenges. In this episode, Jill discusses how VCU is working to double international student enrollment through bold strategy, data-informed decisions, and programs that put students at the center of it all.
Key Takeaways:
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Why international education needs strong leaders who aren’t overly reactive to changing policies and political climates, who will guide students and faculty towards solutions that strengthen programming
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How being “profoundly collaborative” is the key to her success, and how she and her team in the Global Education Office at VCU work to limit the duplication of efforts among faculty and departments
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Why participating in AIEA’s Peer Learning Circles in 2020 was a game changer for her career and how years later, she and her colleagues continue to meet monthly to collaborate and support each other.