The Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) announced that Chrissie Faupel has been selected as a 2026–2027 AIEA Presidential Fellow, one of the field’s most competitive and prestigious mentorship opportunities. The program pairs emerging international education leaders in the early years of their role with distinguished mentors to accelerate leadership growth, expand networks, and shape the future of international higher education.

Chrissie Faupel currently serves as the director of international affairs at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), where she leads the campus’s global engagement efforts as the senior international officer. Faupel has a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of South Carolina, an MA in International Education from SIT Graduate Institute (VT), and a BA in French & International Studies from the University of South Carolina. Faupel is among four international education leaders who have been selected for the 2026-2027 program. 

The program thoughtfully matches each Fellow with an experienced senior-level Mentor in international education, selected for their demonstrated leadership and expertise. For the duration of the fellowship, the Mentors work consultatively with their Fellow to provide tailored guidance and support on topics of interest, professional development goals, and institution-specific challenges, helping to translate strategic advice into concrete steps for growth and impact. The program gives Fellows a unique opportunity to gain knowledge from experienced international education leaders by observing firsthand how their Mentors operate within their institutional contexts, navigate complex challenges, solve problems, and make decisions that shape internationalization. Beyond the immediate mentorship experience, Fellows become part of AIEA’s lasting international network of peers and leaders, a valuable source of connection and support throughout their leadership journey.

AIEA has selected Cheryl Matherly as Chrissie Faupel’s Mentor. Matherly is vice president/vice provost for international affairs at Lehigh University, where she serves as senior international officer. An internationally recognized leader in global higher education, she is past president of AIEA. Her scholarship focuses on international internships, experiential learning, and graduate employability. She was named IIE Senior International Officer of the Year (2020), is a member of the National Academy of International Education, and received Fulbright grants to Japan and Germany.