Diversity Commitment

Academic Efforts at Our Centers (Ongoing)

• Community-Based Learning: A number of IES Abroad Centers connect with NGOs and other organizations to enable student hands-on learning for credit that also supports minority and/or marginalized local communities.
• Dialogues on Difference Seminar: Cape Town, Amsterdam, Barcelona, and occasionally other Centers offer this seminar for academic credit that centers on various issues related to diversity and inclusion while focusing on the development of students' listening and dialogue skills.
• Grupo Panas: IES Abroad Quito partners with this group of local university students from diverse backgrounds (indigenous, Afro-Ecuadorian, LGBTQ+) that organizes activities with our students and leads discussions on current events in Ecuador.
• Center Diversity Plans: All IES Abroad Centers have comprehensive diversity plans that they update periodically.
• Center Speaker Series: A number of IES Abroad Centers invite speakers from NGOs and advocacy groups to discuss current topics and issues (from social unrest/protests to relations between ethnic groups), often from a cross-cultural perspective.
• Center Field Trips: A number of IES Abroad Centers have reimagined field trips to move away from traditional/canonical emphases to focus on reclaimed histories and diverse minority perspectives, including those of Jewish/Sephardic, Black, and Muslim histories.

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Scholarships & Aid

We are committed to fostering and supporting a diverse student body. Our diversity scholarships and grants encourage and support students from a range of institutions and underrepresented populations. In addition to need-based financial aid, IES Abroad offers a number of donor-funded scholarships for underrepresented students:

• Disability Grants
• Charles H. Merrill, Jr. Endowed Scholarship (for Morehouse & Spelman students)
• Barbara A. Barker Vienna Summer Internship Scholarship
• David Porter Need-Based Diversity Scholarship
• Dr. Mary M. Dwyer and Jim Ahr Endowed Scholarship
• Ezio & Fiammetta Vergani Endowed Scholarship
• HACU - IES Abroad Need-Based Scholarships
• HBCU Tuition & Travel Grant
• The John and Ann Gearen Endowed Scholarship

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Recent Customized & Faculty-Led Programs

Customized, faculty-led, and short-term programs by their very nature can make study abroad more accessible; whether it’s a shorter program to minimize costs for students from low-income backgrounds or the level of support and comfort that comes from attending a program comprised of your home school faculty and classmates. The ability to create a program from scratch based on specific students’ needs or catering to a set of students creates opportunity. A few recent examples include:

Virtual Lectures (2020-21): To continue some programming plans affected by the pandemic, Customized & Faculty-Led Programs and select IES Abroad Centers partnered on virtual lectures centered around diversity for schools upon request.

• Global Nebraska Coalition of Diversity and Inclusion (University of Nebraska–Lincoln) – “Black and Indigenous Social Justice Movements Around the Globe” with IES Abroad Buenos Aires & Cape Town (March - April 2021)
• Arrupe College of Loyola University - Culture & Regionalism in Spain (July 2019): At former President & CEO Dr. Mary Dwyer’s initiative, IES Abroad Customized & Faculty-Led Programs fully funded a faculty-led program in Barcelona where the participants were all first-generation college students who identified as Latinx.
• Tuskegee University & University of Redlands - Storytelling in London (June 2019): IES Abroad awarded HBCU Tuskegee University in partnership with University of Redlands a $10,000 grant to host a joint London summer program centered around storytelling through photography and narrative writing.
• University of Montana - Music in Vienna (May-June 2019): This program led a group of septuagenarians to Austria to explore its capital city, rich culture, and music history. The student group was comprised of several LGBTQ+-identifying students as well as a Montana State Senator representing the 49th District in Missoula, Montana.
• University of Texas at Austin - Entrepreneurship in Beijing (May-June 2012-2019): Every other spring, IES Abroad partnered with University of Texas at Austin’s Division of Diversity & Community Engagement to send approximately 50 first-generation students who primarily identify as Black to study entrepreneurship at IES Abroad's Center in Beijing.
• University of Texas Rio Grande Valley - History & Culture in Tokyo (June-July 2018): The collaboration between IES Abroad's Tu Mundo, Customized and Faculty-Led Programs, and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) made it possible for several Latinx students to participate on a study abroad program exploring the history and culture of Japan. UTRGV serves the largest number of Latinx students of all Texas universities and eleven of its students from the inaugural Tu Mundo cohort embarked on this journey of powerful experiences.

Conferences 

• 2024 Diversity Abroad Global Inclusion Conference (October 2024)—The 2024 Global Inclusion Conference brought together educators, advocates, and students in Washington, D.C., to advance equity and inclusion in international education. With powerful discussions and inspiring stories, including insights from student panelists, the event reaffirmed the importance of collaboration and innovation in addressing systemic barriers. The conference highlighted shared commitments to empowering the next generation of global citizens through transformative experiences.
• Fostering Inclusion with IES Abroad: 2023 HACU & Diversity Abroad Conferences (December 2023)—In 2023, from November 1st through 3rd, we attended the HACU Annual Conference as a long-time partner of HACU (Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities). The HACU Annual Conference is a forum for the sharing of information and ideas for the best and most promising practices in the education of Hispanics. To further promote sharing and connection and to celebrate and highlight IES Abroad’s commitment to HSIs and supporting Hispanic/Latinx students participating in global education, we hosted a happy hour for colleagues from campus DEI, study abroad, first-generation outreach, and Hispanic/Latinx student services offices. It was also an opportunity to promote the IES Abroad HACU scholarship, which offers eligible students who attend a HACU member school up to $5,000 or $2,500 towards an IES Abroad semester or summer program, respectively.
• Diversity Abroad Global Inclusion Conference (May 2023)—In 2023, IES Abroad celebrated 15 years of partnership with Diversity Abroad. The Diversity Abroad, Global Inclusion Conference (GIC) took place in Chicago, Illinois. Diversity Abroad partnered with IES Abroad to enhance global education and change, while promoting inclusive practices to support diversifying the field of International Education. Serving as Global Impact Sponsors, IES Abroad celebrated this partnership and the impact it has made on diversifying the field of education abroad. IES Abroad will be hosted a reception with invited guests from our consortium members attending the GIC, Diversity Abroad team members, and friends & stakeholders. Hosted by the University of Illinois Chicago, the conference spanned from October 31st - November 3rd and allowed professionals to network, learn, share, and engage on how they participate in the world of global diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism work.

Workshops

• Building Community: Our Diversity Abroad Workshop Abroad (May 2023)—IES Abroad has a history of hosting Advisor Workshops Abroad, these workshops serve as a resource to the field for professional development. The idea for the Diversity Workshop Abroad was developed from the work we have already done but with an intentional focus on building resources for professionals around issues of equity, access, inclusion. This four-day workshop, hosted by our Diversity Recruiting & Advising Team, our AVP of DEIA, and our IES Abroad London Center, focused on fostering meaningful discussions, identifying effective strategies and developing best practices for actively and authentically embracing diversity, equity, inclusion and antiracism in study abroad. 

IES Abroad Monthly DIA-logues

Our monthly series of DIA-logues (Diversity, Inclusion & Antiracism dialogues) are employee engagement discussions on a range of relevant topics of choice.

• AAPI Employee Listen & Connect Session (May 2023) - The aim of this session was to provide an opportunity for colleagues with AAPI heritage to connect with each other and share about their experiences and concerns as we work to become a more #globallyconnected, equitable, and inclusive organization. This session was an opportunity to amplify the voices and contributions of our AAPI colleagues.
• "Dear Homeland" (October 2021) - For this DIA-logues conversation, IES Abroad staff made time and space to explore the lived experience of one such former student in viewing a documentary about Diana Gameros. The 2021 documentary film Dear Homeland follows the journey of the Mexican singer/songwriter. This film and conversation make room to elaborate on the complexity of the Latinx experience while lending towards growth and deeper understanding.
• "Does Hispanic Heritage Month Need a Rebrand?" (September 2021) - With topics associated with Latinx Heritage Month in mind, we joined to discuss New York Times OpEd piece “Does Hispanic Heritage Month Need a Rebrand,” which explores the debate over what this influential population calls itself, and the desire among some to commemorate the month that celebrates their heritage with renewed authenticity.
• Exploring our Multifaceted, Multicultural Identities (August 2021) - We work with IES Abroad colleagues around the world whose heritage or culture are “a little bit of this, and a little bit of that” and dove into the fascinating mosaic of race, religion, ethnicity, citizenship, regional backgrounds, and languages (including sign language) that make us each the unique human beings we are.
• "High on the Hog" (July 2021) - The group discussed a 4-part documentary series “High on the Hog,” which takes viewers on a culinary trip through American food traditions influenced uniquely by Black America, past and present, and by centuries-old linkages to African culture.  
• On Juneteenth (June 2021): The IES Abroad Diversity Committee held a Zoom discussion open to all staff members to discuss Annette Gordon-Reed’s new book, On Juneteenth. IES Abroad sent copies of the book to each U.S. staff member so they could read and reflect on the origins of this holiday in advance of the meeting. Read some highlights from that conversation.

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Identity-Focused Changes at IES Abroad

• Global Black Employee Listen & Connect Session (February 2023): Following our discussion with Dr. Janice Gassam Asare on Becoming an Antiracist Organization, the Global Black Employee Listen & Connect Session provides an overview of antiracist work while also exploring some nuances of the Black experience. This additional discussion gave attention to the unique aspects of those who directly live the Black experience and how that experience crosses over into the work space, into the world of study abroad/international education, and into the world at large. It also welcomed allies who do not directly live the Black experience but were looking to learn and hold space with their colleagues who do.
• "Becoming an Antiracist Organization" (February 2023): In February 2023, we gathered to discuss actionable and accountable ways to develop as an antiracist organization. This discussion was led by Dr. Janice Gassam Asare, award-winning DEI consultant specializing in racial equity.  Dr. Asare's work helped us unpack systemic racism while providing tools to foster an environment focused on equity, inclusion, justice, and systemic shifts within the organization. It is the first of many sessions to further orient IES Abroad towards DEIA work and developing competency and effeciency within everything we do.
• Diversity Statement (October 2021): In October 2021 we published an updated Diversity Statement on our site to expand on our dedication to prioritizing diversity and a constantly evolving organization.
• Gretchen Cook-Anderson's Promotion to Associate Vice President, Assistant to the President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism (April 2021): Read more about the role and promotion and what our President and CEO, Greg Hess, had to say in recognizing the importance of internal DEIA efforts.
• Employee Affinity Groups (April 2021): IES Abroad supported staff in the formation of Employee Affinity Groups to help foster equity, inclusion and belonging as essential features of our organizational health. Employee Affinity Groups are internal networks of support based on staff self-identification within a particular social identity category that serves as the focal point of group participation. These groups aim to enhance the personal and professional development of staff, and to foster a sense of community and belonging that exceeds the boundaries of internal departments and designated professional roles. They meet on an ongoing basis throughout the year, the frequency of which is determined by the members of each group. Groups include: IES Abroad Parents & Caregivers; IES Abroad LGBTQIA Staff & Allies; IES Abroad Staff of Color Resource Group; IES Abroad Women’s Resource Group; IES Abroad Managers Resource Group.
• IES Abroad Diversity-Led Guided Conversation (July 2020): Internal, virtual all-staff discussion led by IES Abroad Assistant Vice President, Diversity Relations & Recruiting, Gretchen Cook-Anderson in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. 

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Trainings

• Global Diversity Awareness Training (Started 2019): On-site, in-person global training initiative at all IES Abroad Centers designed to educate our faculty, staff and homestay family members abroad on non-discrimination, various types of harassment, sexual assault, mental health, and to provide them with a better understanding of the unique needs and backgrounds of our diverse student body. Secondary focus on the expectations of students, parents, and U.S. higher education institutions concerning the way our staff, faculty, and homestay family members treat our students and address current social issues/movements in the United States (e.g., the Me Too Movement, Black Lives Matter, Title IX, microaggressions, trigger warnings, and more). 

Recent Diversity-Related IES Abroad News Articles

• Black Brilliance Beyond Borders: Celebrating Black History Month 2025 (February 2025)
• Spotlighting IES Abroad’s Partnership with the Posse Foundation (October 2024)
• Heritage Takes on New Horizons: Celebrating Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month Through Study Abroad (September 2024)
• Fostering Inclusion with IES Abroad: 2023 HACU & Diversity Abroad Conferences (December 2023)
• Adventuring Abroad as a Latinx Trendsetter and Trailblazer (September 2023)
• Highlighting AAPI Trendsetters & Trailblazers with our IES Abroad Correspondents (May 2023)
• Celebrating Trendsetters & Trailblazers this Black History Month (February 2023)
• "Honoring AAPI Heritage Month with our IES Abroad Correspondents" (May 2022)
• "DACAmented Abroad: A Call to Action for All" (April 2022)
• "Call & Response: Being Black Abroad" (February 2022)
• "My Sankofa Story: Celebrating Black History Month by Remembering the Past" (February 2022)
• "Continuing the Conversation in Celebration of Latinx Heritage Month" (October 2021)
• "IES Abroad's Hernando Sevilla-Garcia Wins Diversity Abroad "Rising Star" Award" (October 2021)
• "IES Abroad's Hernando Sevilla-Garcia Promoted to Assistant Director for Special Initiatives – Diversity Recruiting & Advising" (October 2021)
• "Noelle Baldwin Named IES Abroad Associate Director for Diversity Recruiting & Advising" (September 2021)
• "IES Abroad Staff Share what Pride Means to Them" (June 2021)
• "The World is Reopening and so are our Hearts this Pride Month" (June 2021)
• "Honoring Immigrant Heritage Month at IES Abroad" (June 2021)
• "Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month at IES Abroad" (May 2021)
• "A Letter from Our President in Response to the Chauvin Trial Verdict" (April 2021) - In this message, IES Abroad President and CEO Gregory Hess, Ph.D., wrote to the organization after the Derek Chauvin Trial guilty verdicts were announced on April 20, 2021.
• "Global Leadership SerIES - Gretchen Cook-Anderson on Being Kind, Working Hard, and Taking Chances" (March 2021) - Watch and discover the life and leadership lessons Gretchen learned from her time abroad in Japan and her college years at an HBCU in the South, and from the special people who have touched and shaped her life. Gretchen also shares some of her own life and career advice with viewers, like "take chances," which is demonstrated in one of Gretchen's photo stories (and is very bold!).
• Gretchen Cook-Anderson Nominated as a 2021 "Black Excellence on the Hill" Honoree (March 2021) - IES Abroad Assistant Vice President, Diversity Recruiting & Advising Gretchen Cook-Anderson was nominated as a 2021 "Black Excellence on the Hill" Honoree. This annual award and event in honor of those nominated is hosted by the Massachusetts Black & Latino Legislative Caucus to "commemorate Black community leaders and trailblazers that are moving the needle forward in cities and towns across Massachusetts."
• "Sparking Change At Home & Away: A Student & Teacher Talk Social Justice & Study Abroad" (January 2021)
• "A Letter from our President on Systemic Racism" (June 2020) - Our statement in support of the Black Lives Matter movement
• "Standing Together in the Path to Progress" – (June 2020) In response to Black Lives Matter movement, providing resources and links
• "Things that Inspired Us to Keep Momentum this Week" (June 2020) - Highlighting student advocates and encouraging readers to keep up momentum in the fight against racism
• "Things Shining with Pride this Week" – In honor of Pride Month (June 2020)
• "Our Students, Alumni, and Colleagues Make Black History Abroad" (February 2020) - In honor of Black History Month
• "The Power of Advocacy: Mobilizing the Study Abroad Community"  (April 2018) - Senior Diversity Relations Manager Hernando Sevilla-Garcia talks about his experience at NAFSA Advocacy Day and how we can work to frame study abroad as an inclusive space

Explore All News

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Publications

• "Your Passport to Social Identity Abroad"  (2020) print and digital companion resource to Social Identity Landing Pages
• "Family Guide to Study Abroad" published and printed in English (2020), Spanish (2020), & Mandarin (2019)
• Diversity & Identity sections in Family Guides and student Predeparture Guides (ongoing)
• "Latinx Students’ Guide to Global Programs" (2019) in partnership with Diversity Abroad
• "Navigating Identity & Diversity Abroad" predeparture guide (2018) distributed to all confirmed students three weeks prior to U.S. departure
• Why You Should Study Abroad (ongoing) - a guide written in collaboration with Diversity Abroad
• "The Diversity Issue" (2018) of IES Abroad's alumni magazine The Exchange
• Diversity Boarding Passes (2013-2020) - a series of individual boarding passes addressing the following concerns: disabilities, financially challenges, first-generation students, non-traditional majors, LGBTQ+, students of color/religious ethnicity
• Monograph Report of the Diversity Think Tank (September 2008) - includes a background concept paper on the lack of diversity among study abroad students and a summary of the discussion and recommendations of the Think Tank

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Global Leadership SerIES

• "Fireside Chat with Fascinating Faculty: IES Abroad Cape Town’s David Reiersgord on Mandela Day and the Influence of the Rainbow Nation" (2021) In this installment of Fireside Chats with Fascinating Faculty, part of the IES Abroad Global Leadership SerIES, David Reiersgord, Center Director of IES Abroad Cape Town, and Hernando Sevilla-Garcia, Senior Diversity Relations Manager at IES Abroad, connect for this Fireside Chat focused on Mandela Day.
• "IES Abroad Cape Town Professor Dr. Carla Lever" (2021) Gretchen Cook-Anderson chats with IES Abroad Cape Town professor Dr. Lever to discuss how her course Power & Protest: Apartheid to Present came about, from her interest in (and not to mention her thesis on) everyday acts of performance and how the course uses protest as a framework for understanding inequality, particularly in the South African context.
• "Gretchen Cook-Anderson on Being Kind, Working Hard, and Taking Chances" (2021)  In this installment of the Global Leadership SerIES, IES Abroad College Relations Manager Virginia Gabby had a virtual coffee chat with Gretchen Cook-Anderson, IES Abroad Associate Vice President, Assistant to the President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Antiracism, and Director of Diversity Recruitment and Advising. Using photos from Gretchen's life to guide their conversation, Virginia and Gretchen go deep on the life lessons, study abroad experiences, and special people who touched Gretchen's life.
• "Dr. Gregory D. Hess Shares the 3 U's of Leadership, Learning from Failures, and More" (2021) For the first installment in the Global Leadership SerIES, we interviewed IES Abroad President & CEO, Gregory D. Hess, Ph.D.

Discover the Global Leadership SerIES

Ongoing Partnerships

Posse Foundation (2023) - IES Abroad is the only international education career partner of the Posse Foundation, offering Posse Scholars valuable global experience and professional development in the field of study abroad. Through our collaboration, Posse Scholars gain unique internships that support inclusive global education initiatives, helping to make international study more accessible and welcoming to all students. 

Fund for Education Abroad (2023) - The mission of the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) is to provide scholarships and ongoing support to students who are underrepresented among the U.S. study abroad population. FEA makes life-changing, international experiences accessible to all by supporting students of color, community college, and first-generation college students before, during, and after they participate in education abroad programs. The following FEA scholars are participating in Spring 2023 IES Abroad programs:

• Darwin Leyva Ayala, Brandeis University – Madrid Business, Economics & Social Sciences
• Van Neih Lian, Hope College - London Study London
• Johandalys Montas, Providence College – London (CP)

COMPEAR Global Respectful Disruption Summit (2023) - COMPEAR and GoAbroad.com have formed a partnership to collaboratively highlight the experiences of the underrepresented around the globe, as well as how all of us can respectfully and actively disrupt practices and policies that make room for inequality and discrimination in international education. The Global Respectful Disruption Summit is a joint effort to bring together like-minded individuals for learning and discussion. This summit was transparent, honest, uncensored, and highlighted underrepresented voices.

Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration (2021) - In 2021, IES Abroad became an Affiliate Member of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, which is an alliance of American college and university leaders dedicated to increasing public understanding of how immigration policies and practices impact our students, campuses and communities.

Diversity Abroad (since 2007)

• Presentation at Inaugural Diversity Abroad Institute in London (February 2020)
• Co-published "Latinx Students’ Guide to Global Programs" (2019) and Why You Should Study Abroad
• Established partnership with Diversity Abroad's Diversity Network (2008)
• Serve as annual premier sponsor of Diversity Abroad Conference (ongoing)
• IES Abroad staff sit on Diversity Abroad’s Diversity Network Advisory Council and Race & Ethnicity Task Force (ongoing)

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Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities (HACU) (2009)

• IES Abroad hosted "A Night Celebrating Hispanic-Serving Institutions and the Latinx Community" (October 2019)
• Established HACU IES Abroad Scholarship (Summer 2010)

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Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) (1963)

• As of 2020, we partner with ≈10 HBCUs in our consortium; Established our first formal partnership with an HBCU, Spelman University (1963)
• Created Take Off with IES Abroad (2017) - An initiative created out of more than fifty years of partnerships with HBCUs to educate and support their students in their study abroad journeys
• Co-Sponsored and Hosted Inaugural Minority Serving Institution Global Education Summit at IES Abroad Cape Town Center (April 2016)
• Joined Institute of International Education's "Generation Study Abroad" (November 2014) an initiative with efforts to provide greater access to study abroad and international internship opportunities for more U.S. undergraduate students, including first generation and other underrepresented students through on-campus engagement, parent engagement, scholarships, and social media. 

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Awards

• EDIIE Rising Star Award: Hernando Sevilla-Garcia (2021)
• NAFSA Impact in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in International Education Award: Gretchen Cook-Anderson (2021)
• NAFSA Region V Conference Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in International Education Award: Hernando Sevilla-Garcia (2020)
• WIE Lifetime Advocate for Inclusivity Award: IES Abroad President & CEO Receives Lifetime Advocacy Award from Lead5050 and the Global Leadership League (2019)
• GoAbroad.com's Innovation Awards: Innovation in Marketing & Digital Media - Finalist for Global Citizen of the Year Awards (2017)
• Diversity Abroad's Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion in International Education (EDIIE) Award (2016)
• GoAbroad.com's Innovation Awards: People's Choice Award - Finalist (2016)
• GoAbroad.com's Innovation Awards: The STA Travel Start the Adventure Award - Student Finalist, Sergio Rodriguez Camarena (2016)
• GoAbroad.com's Innovation Awards: Innovation in Diversity - Finalist for IES Abroad/The University of Texas at Austin, Cape Town: Maymester Program for Traditionally Underrepresented Students (2015)
• GoAbroad.com's Innovation Awards: The STA Start the Adventure Award - Finalist for Gretchen Cook-Anderson, Director of Diversity Recruiting & Advising (2015)
• Excellence in Diversifying International Education Individual Award – Diversity Abroad: Gretchen Cook-Anderson, Director of Diversity Recruiting & Advising (2014)
• GoAbroad.com's Innovation Awards: Innovation in Access & Equity Award – Finalist for IES Abroad IDEA Bloggers (2014)
• GoAbroad.com's Innovation Awards: Access & Equity Award – Finalist for Diversity Boarding Passes (2013)
• GoAbroad.com's Innovation in Access & Equity Award - Finalist for Chicago Scholar's Abroad Diversity Initiative (2012)

Student Voices

• Exploring a World of OpportunitIES with our Black Correspondents & Alumni (February 2024) Each year, IES Abroad celebrates the diverse and unique identities of the students who study abroad with us. In February of 2024, we decided to celebrate opportunities abroad. OpportunitIES: Expanding the World of Study Abroad weaves threads through what study abroad brings to students, what they learned about themselves, how they advanced in their career goals, met new friends or colleagues, learned a new hobby, and more. In February, we celebrate Black History Month and explore these opportunities with our Black students and alumni.
• Trendsetters & Trailblazers: Exploring Native American Heritage (November 2023) In November of 2023, we continued our exploration of IES Abroad's Trendsetters and Trailblazers—remarkable students who have ventured abroad to explore more of themselves and the world. Native American Heritage Month allowed us to dive into the richness of Native American culture and tradition during our alumni panel. This month's panel featured alum, Bo Shimmin (IES Abroad Milan | Spring 2018), and Les Lo Baugh Jr. (IES Abroad Vienna | 1965-1966). Hosted by IES Abroad Brand Coordinator and alumna, Ashley Simmons (IES Abroad Granada | Spring 2016) the event opened with a welcome and land acknowledgment by IES Abroad Director of Diversity Relations & Advising, Noelle Baldwin. Our alumni panels are known to be dynamic and engaging discussions with opportunities for reflection and insight, constantly allowing us to learn more about our students, ourselves, and the world of study abroad. Read more on our event's featured guests below!
• Adventuring Abroad as a Latinx Trendsetter and Trailblazer (September 2023) Our students are exploring the world and changing for the better and we want to share some of those achievements and the ways that they've become Trendsetters and Trailblazers within their study abroad journeys.  Check out the blogs, student voices, and events celebrating our Latinx students and alumni, their heritage and authentic experiences, and explore scholarship opportunities for your own semester(s) abroad!
• Highlighting AAPI Trendsetters & Trailblazers with our IES Abroad Correspondents (May 2023)—This news story set out to explore perspectives from our AAPI Trendsetters & Trailblazers—students who have paved the way for the future of an ever-expanding world. Trendsetters and Trailblazers: Paving the Way for Study Abroad kicked off in February to acknowledge the dynamic stories of our IES Abroad students. We figured it can only rightly follow with honoring the journeys of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) friends,  colleagues, and students. Read along for a few pieces from our IES Abroad AAPI community that we thought would be great to shout out to the world.
• Stories in Study Abroad: A Conversation with Our AAPI Trendsetters & Trailblazers (May 2023) — We connected in May of 2023 to celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month through an engaging panel discussing the experiences of our AAPI Trendsetters and Trailblazers, hosted by IES Abroad's very own Marlowe Padilla (IES Abroad Sydney | Spring 2015), and featuring Correspondent of the Year, Avery Trinidad (IES Abroad Berlin | Fall 2021), and more as we celebrated their adventures and the adventure of study abroad.
• Celebrating Trendsetters & Trailblazers this Black History Month (February 2023) As Black History Month came to a close, we invited our IES Abroad community to join us in celebrating and elevating Black voices all year long, and continuing the conversations that challenge and better us and our world. We leaned into the discomfort and challenge that happens at the edge of our comfort zone—a space that we know through study abroad is the perfect opportunity for growth. The reality is that even as an organization with a longstanding, concerted effort toward diversifying our work and our student body, there’s always room for growth.
• Trendsetters and Trailblazers: Paving the Way for Study Abroad and Black History (February 2023)—As we hold discussions around how history is studied and taught to our young people, it's imperative we continue to celebrate the Trailblazers, history makers, and trendsetters in Black history…why? Because Black History is American history, it is shared world history that should be collective knowledge that is celebrated! Here at IES Abroad, our Alumni are continuing to make Black History abroad. We hosted an exciting panel with three IES Abroad Alumni who have made their own Black history abroad and are on their way to impacting future generations of students.
• Celebrating Black History Month: A Conversation with Dr. Shirley Marks (February 2022)—Advancement Associate Director Dawn DeBoard interviews Dr. Shirley Marks about her journey from Spelman to Vienna, and then to Harvard, as well as her contributions to the mental health community.
• IDEA Correspondents (2014, Ongoing)—Each term, IES Abroad students can opt to be an IDEA correspondent—students with diverse and intersecting identities who write blog posts about how their identities impact their experiences abroad.

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Original Content

• "Sparking Change At Home & Away: A Student & Teacher Talk Social Justice & Study Abroad" (January 2021)
• "The Truth Revealed: 9 Misconceptions about Latinx Students & Study Abroad Debunked" (October 2019)
• "Hear from Underrepresented Students in Study Abroad" (September 2015)

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"Student Voices" Series

• "A Queer Student’s Perspective in Morocco" (October 2018)
• "Examining Identity Within the Study Abroad Experience" - Eunice Shek (July 2018)
• "Being a First-Generation Student Abroad" - Yesenia Ayala (July 2017)
• "Interning Abroad as a First-Generation Student" - Christian Canizal (December 2017)
• "Interning Abroad with a Visual Impairment" - Holly Stevens (October 2017)

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Alumni Perspectives

"The Power of Trusting Yourself: Traveling & Abundance" (February 2022) - IES Abroad Brand Coordinator, Grananda Alum, and previous Blogger of the Year Ashley Simmons fulfilled a childhood dream and became strongly rooted in her self-identity while studying abroad. Here, Ashley shares the furtherance of her journey with a focus on self-trust, empowering other students to study abroad and follow their dreams.

#WorldOfDifference (April 2018) - An ongoing profile series and space for diverse IES Abroad alumni stories.

Alum of the Month Series – Ongoing series of profiles of our esteemed and fascinating IES Abroad alumni like the following that specifically address diversity:

• Jimmie Briggs (May 2020)
• Jamila White (April 2020)
• Jose Campos (February 2020)
• Marcus Davis (December 2019)
• Taylore Fowler (September 2019)
• Lisa Travis (October 2018)

65 Faces - Several profiles from a group of 65 IES Abroad alumni created in honor of IES Abroad’s 65th birthday (2015-16) address the experience of being abroad through the lens of diversity and representation, including:

• Les Lo Baugh (February 2016)
• Sue Chen (September 2015)
• Dr. Donald Hopkins, MD, MPH (March 2016)
• Howard F. Jeter (April 2016)
• Erika Martinez (August 2016)
• Aurelio “Gigi” Montinola III (June 2016)
• Adrienne S. O’Neal (March 2016)
• Nedgine Paul (March 2016)
• Christy Rupert Shibata (May 2016)
• Faye Sahai (December 2015)

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Alumni Spotlights

• José González (October 2021)

• "Virtual Panel: The Vital Role of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Study Abroad Experiences" (June 2024)
• "LGBTQIA+ Perspectives on Study Abroad: IES Abroad Alumni + Staff Voices Panel" (June 2022)
• "Global Leadership SerIES - IES Abroad London Professor David Neita" (March 2021)
• "Global Leadership SerIES - Gretchen Cook-Anderson on Being Kind, Working Hard, and Taking Chances" (March 2021)
• "Sparking Change At Home & Away: A Student & Teacher Talk Social Justice & Study Abroad" (January 2021)
• "Channeling Study Abroad as an Instrument for Social Justice and Equity in a Post-Pandemic World Video" (August 2020)
• "Finding Courage in the Midst of Social Change: A Conversation with Jimmie Briggs" (August 2020) - Virtual event, discussion, and recording
• "5 Incredible Student Videos About Diversity While Abroad" (April 2020)
• "Being Me Abroad: Traveling with Natural Hair" (September 2019) - Video series, online content, and resource links
• "Celebrating Worldwide #PRIDE" (June 2019) - Video for Pride Month 2019
• Student Voices (November 2018) - Videos featuring IES Abroad Global Citizen of the Year awardees Yesenia Ayala and Lydia Carr
• "It Gets Better" (November 2010) - Video contribution to the It Gets Better Project for LGBTQ+ youth 

Diversity at IES Abroad Playlist

Events

• Expanding Horizons: Empowering FLI Students with Global Ed Experiences (October 2024) In the second webinar of the fall series, Liana C. Mentor from Johns Hopkins University and Noelle Baldwin from IES Abroad led a powerful discussion on expanding equitable access to global education for FLI students. Their insights offered actionable strategies for removing barriers and fostering inclusion in study abroad.
• The Vital Role of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Study Abroad Experiences (June 2024) BeGlobalii by Diversity Abroad and IES Abroad hosted a virtual alumni panel featuring IES Abroad and IES Internships IDEA Correspondents speakinging about the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within their study abroad experiences and how their perspectives may have shifted while abroad.
• Trendsetters & Trailblazers: Exploring Native American Heritage (November 2023) In November of 2023, we continued our exploration of IES Abroad's Trendsetters and Trailblazers—remarkable students who have ventured abroad to explore more of themselves and the world. Native American Heritage Month allowed us to dive into the richness of Native American culture and tradition during our alumni panel. This month's panel featured alum, Bo Shimmin (IES Abroad Milan | Spring 2018), and Les Lo Baugh Jr. (IES Abroad Vienna | 1965-1966). Hosted by IES Abroad Brand Coordinator and alumna, Ashley Simmons (IES Abroad Granada | Spring 2016) the event opened with a welcome and land acknowledgment by IES Abroad Director of Diversity Relations & Advising, Noelle Baldwin. Our alumni panels are known to be dynamic and engaging discussions with opportunities for reflection and insight, constantly allowing us to learn more about our students, ourselves, and the world of study abroad. Read more on our event's featured guests below!
• Highlighting AAPI Trendsetters & Trailblazers with our IES Abroad Correspondents (May 2023)—This news story set out to explore perspectives from our AAPI Trendsetters & Trailblazers—students who have paved the way for the future of an ever-expanding world. Trendsetters and Trailblazers: Paving the Way for Study Abroad kicked off in February to acknowledge the dynamic stories of our IES Abroad students. We figured it can only rightly follow with honoring the journeys of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) friends,  colleagues, and students. Read along for a few pieces from our IES Abroad AAPI community that we thought would be great to shout out to the world.
• Stories in Study Abroad: A Conversation with Our AAPI Trendsetters & Trailblazers (May 2023) — We connected in May of 2023 to celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month through an engaging panel discussing the experiences of our AAPI Trendsetters and Trailblazers, hosted by IES Abroad's very own Marlowe Padilla (IES Abroad Sydney | Spring 2015), and featuring Correspondent of the Year, Avery Trinidad (IES Abroad Berlin | Fall 2021), and more as we celebrated their adventures and the adventure of study abroad.
• Trendsetters and Trailblazers: Paving the Way for Study Abroad and Black History (February 2023)—As we hold discussions around how history is studied and taught to our young people, it's imperative we continue to celebrate the Trailblazers, history makers, and trendsetters in Black history…why? Because Black History is American history, it is shared world history that should be collective knowledge that is celebrated! Here at IES Abroad, our Alumni are continuing to make Black History abroad. We hosted an exciting panel with three IES Abroad Alumni who have made their own Black history abroad and are on their way to impacting future generations of students.
• Africans and African Descendants in the Rio de la Plata (May 2023)—On May 5th, 2023, we had the privilege of engaging in a captivating discussion with Historian Magdalena Candioti, Ph.D. regarding slavery and emancipation in 19th century Argentina. In her lecture, Dr. Candioti shed light on the Afro-Argentine community. In the 1820s, Afro-Argentines constituted approximately 30% of the population in Buenos Aires and actively participated in civil society. Challenging prevailing misconceptions, Dr. Candioti revealed that Afro-Argentines were a substantial and culturally vibrant community during the colonial period and its aftermath. Dr. Candioti's lecture aligns with IES Buenos Aires' objectives to explore the historical development of race relations in our country and region, offering an invaluable opportunity for our students to contemplate the similarities and differences with their own national history.
• LGBTQIA+ Perspectives on Study Abroad: IES Abroad Alumni + Staff Voices (June 2022)—In honor of Pride Month, IES Abroad’s LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group hosted the "LGBTQIA+ Perspectives on Study Abroad: IES Abroad Alumni + Staff Voices" panel and came together with IES Abroad and SAF (Study Abroad Foundation) staff and alumni from within the community who have either studied or lived in one of IES Abroad’s geographic regions – Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and South America. The panel discussed local laws and protections in each location, as well as authentic LGBTQIA+ experiences, struggles, and successes abroad.
• Call & Response: Being Black Abroad (February 2022)—In celebration of Black History Month, we’ve continued to uplift Black voices and stories with an Instagram Live bringing together IES Abroad staff and alumni in the African and African-American tradition of Call and Response. This enriching and soulful conversation focused on the Black experience while studying abroad. IES Abroad Brand Coordinator Ashley Simmons (Granada | Spring 2016), Diversity Relations Manager Quinn McMurtrey (Granada | Spring 2017), and IES Abroad alumni Miles Nabritt (Madrid | Fall 2019) and Jordan Goode (Barcelona | Fall 2021). The four discussed the importance of accessibility, community, culture, and more, following in the spirit of Sankofa, a West-African tradition of finding value from the past and bringing it to the present for growth and prosperity.
• Live From London: Meet the First Beneficiary of IES Abroad’s Charles Merrill, Jr. Endowed Scholarship! (March 2022)—This special IES Abroad Scholarship event featured stories of alumni, whose study abroad journeys in the 1960’s – the 1980’s were funded personally by Mr. Merrill, as well as a lively question and answer conversation featuring IES Abroad and Merrill Scholarship alumni Dr. John Hodges and Dr. Ed Wheeler, and current Merrill Scholarship student, Michael Henry, a Morehouse College Junior, who was abroad in the IES Abroad London.
• Voices from Abroad | A Student Conversation Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month (October 2021)—In celebration of Latinx Heritage Month, IES Abroad Correspondents who were currently studying abroad across several IES Abroad Centers, came together to discuss their Latinx heritage and their experiences at home and abroad. Each of these students is an IDEA (Initiative to Diversify Education Abroad) Correspondent, which means they're both open and committed to discussing their identity in their blog and social media posts.
• DREAMers Abroad | DACA, Identity, and Studying Abroad (September 2021)—This 60-minute Instagram Live session hosted by IES Abroad Brand Coordinator, alum (IES Abroad Granada | Spring 2016), and 2015-2016 Blogger of the Year, Ashley Simmons, celebrated Latinx Heritage Month as Ashley connects with IES Freiburg alum (Fall 2015) and 2015 Ambassador of the Year, Sergio Rodriguez Camarena. In their chat, Ashley interviews Sergio on the importance of intersectional identity, his personal experience and reflections on study abroad as a DACA recipient, and how his story contributes to promoting diversity in stories abroad for students worldwide.
• Life After IES Abroad: Alum Perspectives (March 2021)—In this panel discussion co-hosted with Diversity Abroad, IES Abroad Senior Diversity Relations Manager Hernando Sevilla-Garcia moderates a panel of three IES Abroad alums, Christian Curry (IES Abroad European Union | Spring 2019), Thamine Nayeem (IES Abroad Rabat | Fall 2015), and Samekh Harris Reed (IES Abroad Tokyo | Spring 2017). This webinar seeks to elevate the voices of students of diverse identities as they share how their global experiences contributed to their professional and academic endeavors after study abroad.
• Intergenerational Black Experiences Abroad: A Celebration of Black History Month (February 2021)—Senior Diversity Relations Manager Hernando Sevilla-Garcia hosts an intergenerational panel of IES Abroad alums and partners. This dialogue focuses on the Black student experience and perspective as well the impact of IES Abroad study abroad on personal and professional endeavors.

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Student Affairs Webinars

• 'Neurodiversity Among College Students Studying Abroad" (December 2020)
• "Assisting Students with Disabilities on Study Abroad Programs" (November 2020)
• "Making A World of Difference: IES Abroad’s Diversity Initiative is All About You” (November 2020) - a diversity-focused session that was part of our Zoom Around the World webinar series, which features Diversity staff in each session.
• "Juntos: Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Latinx Students, and the Future of Study Abroad" (November 2020) - a panel discussion featuring Latinx study abroad alumni from Hispanic-Serving Institutions.
• ​Student Diversity Webinars (2014-15) - We frequently partner with other companies and institutions to host webinars on diversity- and inclusion-related topics. Learn more about key aspects of the study abroad experience by viewing these webinars before you go. 

Cultivating and educating global citizens who reflect the world’s rich diversity is complex. At IES Abroad, we’re invested in the complexity of human connection that inclusive excellence requires.

We prepare and support students on their journeys around the globe. At the same time, IES Abroad’s entire workplace family is striving along our own journey to be the most inclusive, diverse and equitable global organization we can be.

IES Abroad was founded on the idea that students learn and grow in environments that take them out of the comfort zones. We recognize that the destination countries where we educate our culturally and ethnically diverse students are often culturally heterogenous. Our students learn best in programs that offer them a variety of encounters that reflect both the complexities of the societies where they are studying, and their own unique identities.

By exposing our students, faculty, and staff to diversity around the world, we deepen their understanding and awareness of issues related to the ethnic, cultural and sociological mosaic of the United States or wherever they call home. With a keen eye to creating living and learning environments where everyone’s voices and perspectives are heard and matter, we’re preparing our students more effectively to work and live in a pluralistic, 21st-Century world, and thrive with the intercultural fluency necessary to actively contribute to our collective global future.  

Just as we are strongly committed to increasing the diversity of our student body, we are also committed to increasing the diversity of our global workforce.  We’re aspiring to be a workplace family that is highly reflective of our headquarters city of Chicago and of our world.  It is critical to our mission to better position IES Abroad to attract, inspire, and champion our students, and to play a role in reversing societal inequities. We realize that when all people feel included and valued in the workplace, our work environment is enhanced, and our mission becomes more achievable.

Diversifying our workplace family globally means expanding the diversity, culturally, ethnically, and otherwise, of our Center staff, faculty and host families abroad to help broaden our students’ perspectives on their host countries. Greater diversity as a workplace makes us more creative, dynamic, and successful at what we’ve been doing for more than 70 years.

An academic environment that brings together people from different worlds with varying perspectives is like an orchestra that takes advantage of diverse talents. That’s why we will continually retool our curriculum and faculty training to maximize inclusive classroom and co-curricular learning as the world, and the needs of our student body, shift and change.

At IES Abroad, we’re also continuing to widen the inclusive lens through which we see the world. Our belief in diversity extends beyond students, staff, and faculty of different races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, socioeconomics, sexual orientation, and gender identities to include opportunities for people of a wide array of ideas, ideologies, hopes and dreams.

As the world turns, we remain ever evolving along a continuum of inclusion and equity where perfection will likely be elusive. We understand that. Nevertheless, we are determined to travel the road toward true diversity, equity and inclusion around the world in every way we can.

There’s more to come as we work hard to keep making a world of difference, together.