Presenters:
Todd Beard, Director of English Language Institute
Stephanie Sieggreen, Director of International Recruitment

Description:
This presentation explores how the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, can foster collaboration across our institution to enhance education, research, and business opportunities in our state. By leveraging expertise, these partnerships—both within the U.S. and abroad—help bridge the gap between global markets and local communities, driving economic growth and cultural exchange throughout Tennessee.

Presenters:
Kate Scott, Director of Programs Abroad Office
Shawn Lenker, Assistant Director of Global Security, Risk and Resilience

Description:
The Programs Abroad Office staff is here to assist our colleagues who wish to establish new international education programs. In addition to encouraging students in the classroom to explore educational experiences around the world, faculty and staff also have the opportunity to plan, create, and teach an education abroad program. We provide administrative and logistical support for all faculty-directed programs at UT. We work with faculty and staff to deliver faculty-directed programming to students in every college.
Whether you are a faculty member renewing your program or desiring to develop a brand new program or you’re a campus stakeholder wishing to know about the process of building a faculty-directed program, come learn how Programs Abroad supports you across all components to ensure you build a high-quality education abroad program, including:

• Program Development
• Logistics and Itinerary
• Academic Integrity and working with Providers
• Recruitment
• Program Budgeting and Finances

In this session, we will also feature faculty who have successfully developed and led programs abroad to share their first-hand experience and provide tips, recommendations, and points to consider throughout the process.

Presenters:
Lauren Wood, Director of International House
Cymone Samuels, Program Coordinator of International House

Description:

As UT’s global community center, the International House exists to prepare students to be global citizens, but it also supports them as the global citizens they already are.

This session will outline the programs and resources International House provides in alignment with our mission to educate, engage, and support all students as members of a global, culturally diverse society. It will highlight how and why we:

• Facilitate opportunities to reflect on one’s own cultural identity;
• Facilitate engagement and reflection to enhance learning;
• Organize activities that focus on the cultural values, current events, and historical and cultural traditions of featured countries, regions, and cultural groups and the U.S.A.;
• Educate students to lead cultural sharing activities;
• Partner with stakeholders to enhance student learning and experiences; and
• Communicate information about learning and engagement opportunities to our target audience.

Whether you are a faculty or staff member who has participated in I-House activities or are curious about how you can collaborate with us or encourage students to engage in our activities, come learn how we support all students in making connections, building community, and applying their learning.

Presenters:
Danielle Walters, COIL Manager
Mary Gitau, Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusion and
Associate Professor of Practice
Phyllis Thompson, Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work

Description:

Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) is an experiential learning pedagogy that joins international students together to expand global perspectives, foster intercultural competency skills, learn new ideas, increase empathy, and collaborate on projects that can increase the quality of human lives, especially in times of political divide. This session describes two COIL course designs involving partnerships between the University of Tennessee and two Kenyan universities. Students concurrently enrolled in Human Behavior in the Social Environment or International Social Work in their respective universities and collaborated on joint assignments for eight weeks.

Learning Objectives
1. Explain the Collaborative Online International Learning pedagogy and its the history.
2. Describe the course designs of COIL for Human Behavior in the Social Environment and International Social Work.
3. Discuss the strengths, benefits, and drawbacks of incorporating the COIL in social work courses.
4. Review the overall outcomes of COIL in both courses.

Presenter:
William Vittetoe, Director of International Student and Scholar Services

Description:
This session is designed to provide a functional understanding of the processes and best practices necessary for an academic department to hire, on-board, and maintain the status of an international student on a F or J visa.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand basic F and J status compliance requirements.
• Apply compliance processes and requirements to the on-boarding and hiring of F and J status students.
• Plan successful business processes that meet the compliance needs of F and J status students.

Presenters:
Rachel Rui, Director of Global Research, Innovation and Partnerships
Erin Young, MLS Director, Campus Contracts Office

Description:

This workshop provides a practical guide to understanding and developing international agreements in higher education and research collaborations. Participants will learn about the essential components, approval processes, compliance considerations, and best practices for drafting and managing agreements. The session will offer insights into different types of agreements—including Letters of Intent, Memoranda of Agreement, student exchange agreements, and collaborative academic agreements—along with a step-by-step overview of the agreement process, from planning to execution and assessment.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the key elements and types of international agreements.
• Identify the necessary approvals, signature authorities, and compliance requirements.
• Navigate the process of drafting, negotiating, and executing agreements.
• Learn best practices for sustaining international partnerships and ensuring agreement success.
• Gain familiarity with institutional policies and procedures governing international collaborations.

This session is ideal for faculty, administrators, and international engagement professionals looking to develop or manage global partnerships effectively.

Presenter:

TBD

Description:

For tenure-track faculty only: Join representatives from the Office of Research, Innovation & Economic Development to learn about different opportunities that are available.

Presenters:
Diondre Brown, Research Development Coordinator, ORIED
Jill Passano, Senior Director, Research Development & Foundation Engagement, ORIED
Rachel Rui, Director of Global Research, Innovation and Partnerships, CGE

Description:

This workshop will introduce PIVOT, a comprehensive database of funding opportunities and researcher profiles available to all UT faculty, staff, and students with a NetID. PIVOT includes federal, non-federal, foundation, and private funding sources across all disciplines, with both domestic and international opportunities.

Participants will receive an overview of PIVOT and a hands-on walkthrough of setting up tailored searches to identify funding for global research and activities. The session will focus on optimizing search strategies and setting up alerts.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be equipped with practical skills to proactively identify funding sources, optimize their research strategies, and strengthen their global engagement initiatives.

Presenters:
Hans Goertz, Assistant Director of Project Development, Smith Center
Sara Mulville, Program Administrator, Smith Center
Kristen Johnson, Assistant Professor of Family and Consumer Sciences, UTIA

Description:

Smith Center and UTIA representatives will discuss bringing international visitors to campus, connecting with immigrant communities in Tennessee, and the benefit of global programming in to the region, state and country.

Presenters:

Ashely Houston – CIEE
Annastasia Williams – CIEE
Sara Fulmer – CEA/CAPA
Heather Reed – CEA/CAPA
Sarah Warren – WorldStrides
Zac Macinnes – WorldStrides

Description:

Learn about working with vendors in planning for programs abroad, including topics such as budgeting and finances, marketing and recruitment, health and safety, and maximizing the relationship between academics and location.

Presenter:
William Vittetoe, Director of International Student and Scholar Services office

Description:
This session is designed to be a functional overview of the necessary requirements for hiring international staff, faculty, and researchers. In addition, this session covers the basic requirements for the placement of J Exchange Visitor Scholars in an academic department.

Presenter:
Janna Harvey, Associate Director of Undergraduate Research & Fellowships

Description:

Undergraduate Research & Fellowships will discuss the best ways to empower your students to take advantage of opportunities like the Fulbright Scholar Program.

Presenter:
Lamar Bryant, Associate Vice Chancellor of Assessment, Culture and Education, Division of Access & Engagement
Maria Martinez Weiss, Assistant Director of Education Development, Division of Access & Engagement

Description:

The Division of Access & Engagement will discuss ways in which they use international experiences to foster personal and professional growth by enhancing leadership, service, and community-building skills but also help students build global networks and gain a deeper understanding of cultures different and similar from their own.

Presenter:
Cheri Green, Assistant Director for Strategic Initiatives, Division of Student Success
Doug Porter, Associate Director for Strategic Initiatives, Division of Student Success

Description:

The Division of Student Success will discuss the ways Vol Edge can help students maximize international opportunities at UT in career development and applying for graduate programs.

Brie Knox works for the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service and manages the three offices in Tennessee located in Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville. Knox works with companies throughout the state to facilitate their export business and expand their global presence. She also collaborates with key stakeholders and economic development organizations to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Tennessee. In addition to these responsibilities, Knox is an Executive and Leadership Coach for the Treasury Executive Institute (TEI) which supports other branches of the federal government.

Previously, Knox worked for the U.S. Department of Commerce in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she was a Senior International Trade Specialist and a Global Team Leader. She also has a background in finance and international logistics and worked for FedEx Services, JPMorgan Chase, and PNC Bank. Originally from Portland, Oregon, she holds a Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, in International Studies and Spanish from the University of La Verne in California and the Cuauhnahuac Institute in Cuernavaca, Mexico.