Joan Gillespie
Joan Gillespie is a deeply respected academic leader in international education, with more than 20 years of experience shaping and advancing study abroad programming for U.S. undergraduates. Known for her thoughtful and caring leadership, Joan played a pivotal role at IES Abroad and beyond, particularly in developing standards for undergraduate research abroad, program quality, student learning assessment, and intercultural development. She authored the first IES Abroad MAP—a groundbreaking framework that remains foundational in the field—and continues to be a driving force behind academic quality and curricular innovation. Joan leads faculty development workshops, ensuring instructors are well-equipped to guide transformative off-campus experiences, and teaches graduate-level courses in comparative higher education and strategic international partnerships. A prolific scholar and sought-after speaker, she brings a rare blend of intellectual rigor, intercultural insight, and a steadfast commitment to student growth to everything she does.
“I keep a personal file of testimonials about international education, written by students, parents, and faculty. Some samplings: “Thank you for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.” “I was wary of sending my child so far away, but now I realize it was the best thing I could have done for them.” “My student came home after a semester in (Paris, Nantes, Madrid, Freiburg, etc.) showing so much improvement in (French, Spanish, German, etc.) I would not have believed it possible.” Whenever one of these notes arrived in an e-mail or, even better, as a handwritten thank-you, it made my day. The”Joan Gillespie