When higher education becomes a battleground for political and cultural debates, what’s at stake for international education? In this episode of Via Voices, Kathleen Fairfax, Vice Provost for International Affairs at Colorado State University, shares her perspective on the growing challenges facing students and educators—especially when it comes to federal student aid and access to global opportunities.

With over three decades of experience, Kathleen has witnessed the evolution of technology, the shifting landscape of student needs, and the rising pressure of political realities. She discusses how Colorado State is working to ensure every student—regardless of background—can access life-changing experiences studying abroad, even as policy headwinds threaten to limit those opportunities.

• Health & Safety in International Ed: “Nothing can substitute for good technologies when you’re caring for students overseas and responding to a crisis.” As Kathleen has seen technology evolve throughout her career, the biggest change for international education has been the emergence of mobile technology. Gone are the days of ed abroad programs without connectivity; Kathleen’s students need to feel connected to their family back home and their university for safety.

• Concerns About Study Abroad Accessibility: “Accessible means financially, but it also means having a diverse participation that’s as diverse as your student body.” At the present moment, a concern Kathleen has encountered at Colorado State has been around making studying abroad accessible for all students. Regardless of financial background or ethnic background, Colorado State wants every student to have the opportunity, encouragement, and ease to study abroad and to achieve their goals in international education.

• Value vs Reality: “We’re dealing with a conflict between what we value, versus political realities.” Federal student aid being at risk due to current political policies has rocked the boat at Colorado State and other universities. For Kathleen, the particular focus on language around DEI has created a conflicting experience in her office, where so many of their programs celebrate the cultures of their students, as well as the countries they can visit while studying abroad.

Kathleen Fairfax is a seasoned leader in international education, with more than 3 decades of experience in both public and private sectors. As the Vice Provost for International Affairs at Colorado State University, she oversees the campus-wide comprehensive internationalization efforts, including student and faculty mobility, English language programs, international enrollment, strategic and academic initiatives, and the CSU facility in Todos Santos, Mexico.

Fairfax is passionate about improving access to international education opportunities, developing efficient and effective operational models, and aligning strategic priorities with concrete action items. She holds a PhD in International Education from Michigan State University and is fluent in Spanish.

[00:00] Podcast begins

[00:41] Entering the Industry: International ed, politics abroad & advising

[09:45] Family Life in an International World: Gender barriers in higher education

[11:37] Higher Ed Tech History: How Kathleen has seen tech change at universities

[19:22] Outreach & Accessibility: Representing Colorado State’s student body abroad

[23:07] Cross Cultural Connection: What international ed can give us all

Colorado State University | colostate.edu

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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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