Doubling International Students: How VCU Plans to Expand Global Education with Jill Blondin

What does it look like to aim big—really big—in international education? For Jill Blondin, Vice Provost for Global Initiatives at Virginia Commonwealth University, it means putting students first while driving institutional change through smart strategy, collaboration, and an unwavering belief in the power of global experiences.

Jill’s own journey started with an art history study abroad trip—a moment that cracked the world wide open and inspired her mission: make sure every student gets that same chance. Now, as VCU sets its sights on doubling international student enrollment, she’s bringing decades of leadership and a faculty mindset to building sustainable, impactful programming.

• Student Success as the Why: Jill’s passion for global engagement flows from personal experience—she knows students thrive when the world is their classroom.

• Collaboration Over Silos: VCU isn’t creating a “mini-international VCU” but instead is focusing on supporting students by reducing redundancy and increasing collaboration across departments.

• Data-Driven Decisions: From compliance to reporting, Jill shows how metrics prove impact and guide smarter strategies—because if you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.

• Staying Centered During Uncertainty: Politics and policy shifts don’t dictate global education at VCU. With clear leadership and mission alignment, the team stays focused and student-centered, no matter the headlines.

• Faculty & Admin—Two Lenses: With experience on both sides, Jill brings a unique perspective on how to lead change, inspire teams, and deliver results

Jill Blondin is an entrepreneurial and innovative leader with more than 22 years of experience in higher education. As Vice Provost for Global Initiatives at VCU, she coordinates internationalization efforts and builds bridges across departments. As founding director of VCU Globe, Jill led award-winning initiatives that built cultural agility on campus. She’s also served as a Fulbright Specialist in Brazil, partnered with diplomatic programs worldwide, and shaped global strategy as both a faculty member and administrator.

[00:00] Podcast begins

[01:13] Why Higher Ed? Jill’s first study abroad experience & how it shaped her career

[05:24] Doubling International Students: How VCU measures global education success

[10:24] How Data Tells the Story: Compliance, reporting & international ed metrics

[13:43] Balancing Uncertainty Abroad: Politics, reactivity & staying student-centered

[15:54] Faculty vs Administrative: Education industry from multiple roles & perspectives

[21:43] Rapid Fire Questions: Jill talks travel, entertainment, careers & advice

Virginia Commonwealth University | vcu.edu

Book: My Name Is Barbra By: Barbra Streisand

Connect with Jill:

• LinkedIn

For More Information:
Learn more about the Association of International Education Administrators at AIEAworld.org. Visit ViaTRM.com to learn more about Via TRM and access to additional resources.

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