For more than 20 years, The Forum’s Conference has provided a space for dialogue exploring the pressing issues facing education abroad. The 2026 Forum Annual Conference will reflect on the history of education abroad, the current state of the field, and trends on the horizon.
IES Abroad looks forward to attending this year's Conference as a Diamond Sponsor. We also welcome you to stop by and meet the team at our tables (404 and 406).
In Person Event:
📅 When: March 11-13, 2026
📍 Where: Nashville, Tennessee
In-Person IES Abroad Sessions at Forum
- Wednesday, March 11. 2026 | 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. CT | Passport to Prosperity: Measuring the Career Impact of Education Abroad.
Speakers:
Gregory Hess | President and CEO, IES Abroad
Patrick Vogt | CEO, Academic Programs International (API)
Melissa Torres | President and CEO, The Forum on Education Abroad
Martha Johnson | Chief Academic Officer and Provost, CEA CAPA
Session: Education abroad fuels career success, yet its power as a career accelerator largely is under-recognized. In this session, leading education abroad professionals will share how they coordinated efforts to conduct four major research projects that yielded insights into skills development, employability, and impacts for employers and economies. These research findings can be applied to strengthen the case for education abroad and demonstrate career impact. - Thursday, March 12, 2026 | 8:45 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. CT | Belonging While Abroad – A Paradox to Navigate or a False Promise?
Session Leader: Jane B. Gunn-Lewis, Student Engagement Fellow, Arcadia University
Presenters: Jane B. Gunn-Lewis, Student Engagement Fellow, Arcadia University; Brittani Smit, AVP of Strategy & Global Community, IES Abroad; Maureen Gordon, Executive Director, Education Abroad & Overseas Campuses, Temple University; Anna Foster, Study Abroad and Exchange Manager, University of Canterbury
Session: We all know those photos of smiling students abroad with the subtext ‘experience the foreign and make new friends for life’. But are we selling a lie? Many Gen Zs despite their smartphones and eager parents experience more anxiety, depression and loneliness than previous generations. They want new experiences while still belonging. We discuss this paradox and share our strategies for creating new communities at home and abroad, welcoming participants to also share their strategies and successes. - Thursday March 12, 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. CT | Productive Discomfort: Designing Study Abroad for Growth in an Instant-Access World.
Students are arriving abroad with less practice navigating challenge. Technology, social media, and instant access have helped create a more “frictionless” mindset, yet study abroad is inherently the opposite. In this session, we’ll share how we proactively prepare students to be more patient, adaptable, and curious through advising, ENGAGE (Encouraging New Growth About Global Experiences)—IES Abroad’s signature, ongoing orientation program—and intentionally designed on-site experiences that build cultural competence through productive discomfort. We’ll discuss what we’re seeing in how students “show up” today, and the practical ways we respond to support growth and belonging. Participants will also experience an IES Abroad ENGAGE guided exercise firsthand, leaving with a tangible understanding of the approach.
Presenters: Matt Rader, Vice President for Student Life, Health, and Safety; Meghan Culhane, Director of Advising, IES Abroad; Rachel Gilman, Health and Student Life Manager, IES Abroad Berlin
- Friday, March 13, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. CT | Neurodivergence and Universal Design: Organizational Awareness and Access.
Presenters: Matthew Long, College Relations Manager, IES Abroad; Jess Denning, Registration Coordinator, Center for Executive and Professional Education, Portland State University; Robin Pipkin, Senior College Relations Manager, IES Abroad
Session: This session seeks to normalize neurodivergence in contrast to the narrow standards of “neurotypical” cognition as traditionally understood. Universal design will be introduced as a tool for access and inclusion. Participants will explore traits shared across neurodivergent conditions and consider how universal design fosters belonging. Through presentation and discussion, we will examine how organizations can create more accessible environments in their workplaces.
