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

Navigating uncertainties in the international world doesn’t have to halt study abroad or international student programs. Jill Blondin, Vice Provost for Global Initiatives at Virginia Commonwealth University, brings her expertise in leadership and global education to the forefront of today’s conversation about opening students’ minds and balancing politics and compliance without closing your university off from international opportunities. As VCU aims to double their international student enrollment, Jill talks global strategy, data-driven initiatives, and student-centered programming. Key Insights & Timestamps: [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 Guest Spotlight Jill Blondin: Jill Blondin an entrepreneurial, innovative leader and faculty member with more than 22 years of experience in higher education. Currently, Jill leads and coordinates international activities as the Vice Provost for Global Initiatives for Virginia Commonwealth University. Previously, Jill served as the inaugural director of VCU Globe, a global education living-learning program devoted to building cultural agility. Under her leadership, VCU Globe received the 2015 NAFSA Senator Paul Simon Spotlight Award and the 2018 Andrew Heiskell Award from the Institute of International Education (IIE). Jill has also served as a Fulbright Specialist to Brazil (2018), as a speaker with the U.S. Department of State Study Abroad Engagement Grant Program and Fulbright Portugal (2019), the U.S. Embassy Guyana (2022), Fulbright Philippines (2024), and the U.S. Embassy Turkey (2024). Key Takeaways: We’re Better When We Experience the World: “I made it my mission that if I am ever in the position as a faculty member, to open up the world, just as I had my world opened up by the study abroad experience.” While getting her graduate in art history, Jill experienced study abroad for the first time and fell in love with international education. This experience not only inspired her to further study abroad, but to also embrace a global education career. Optimizing Efforts in Global Education: “We don’t need a mini international VCU; what we need is to collaborate and support our students.” When working with international students and with returning study abroad students, Jill and her team in the Global Education Office at VCU have been very proactive in collaborating with other faculty and departments to limit duplicate and unnecessary efforts. Navigating the Unprecedented: “I think it’s incumbent on us to continue to show strong leadership and support for international initiatives, and to believe in the work we do.” When it comes to responding to new administration and increased awareness of global politics, Jill is firm in her belief that international education needs strong leaders who won’t be overly reactive and will guide students and faculty towards solutions that strengthen programming. Resources Mentioned: Virginia Commonwealth University | vcu.edu 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. Stay Connected: Support Via Voices by subscribing on YouTube: youtube.com/@viatrm Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/via-voices Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3R0BcoxUC6Xzr1SW7CCT2t