University of Mississippi Director Joins Board of International Education Association

Oxford, Mississippi

Senior International Officer and Director of Study Abroad at the University of Mississippi, Blair McElroy, has been elected to the board of the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA). McElroy will serve as a board member and will also hold the position of chair-elect for the association’s publications and resources committee. As the only body committed to promoting leadership in international education, the AIEA encapsulates various facets of higher education, including research, study abroad, immigration, advocacy, global and intercultural competence, diversity, and admissions.

The Role of International Education in Higher Education

McElroy emphasizes that the impact of international education spans across a diverse array of higher education areas, making way for meaningful discussions and resources that cater to managing and leading these efforts. “With such a wide scope of topics and issues that relate to our international community and efforts to develop our campuses and constituents for global competencies and careers of the future, it is valuable to have conversations and resources related directly to leading these efforts and managing them in comprehensive, realistic and fruitful ways,” McElroy commented.

As a senior international officer, she has been an active AIEA member since 2018 and expresses gratitude for the invaluable networking opportunities the association has provided, particularly in challenging times.

Expanding Digital Outreach and Education Efforts

McElroy’s role in the publications and resources committee has fuelled her ambition to expand the group’s digital outreach and education efforts. Specifically, she aims to foster the development of podcasts and other digital media, maintaining the group’s commitment to support peer-reviewed publications. She mentioned, “I am excited to be part of the collaborative information-sharing and development of peer-reviewed pieces across the world to assist in the goals we all have for the internationalization of higher education.”

Blair’s tenure on the board and committee is scheduled to last until 2027, during which she will endeavour to contribute heavily to the goals set for advancing international education, keeping in line with the association’s overall aim.

McElroy’s commitment to enhancing international education is demonstrated further through her work at the University of Mississippi, meeting with students worldwide and visiting international schools like the International School of Kigali in Rwanda. Her recent appointment represents a significant development for international education and a testament to her dedication to improving the global competency and diversity in higher education.