Claire Chen is the Senior Executive of the Global Initiatives Department at the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA), where she leads strategic efforts to strengthen transatlantic collaboration in research administration. She has represented NCURA in Joint Committee Meetings in Italy and Finland and has played a key role in advancing partnerships through projects such as BILAT USA and ENRICH in the USA. Under her leadership, NCURA Global Initiatives has delivered training in over 23 countries and built sustainable networks with European partners including the German Aerospace Center (DLR), French Universities network (UDICE), and the Finnish-American Research and Innovation Accelerator (FARIA). Claire also serves as the U.S. National Contact Point (NCP) Coordinator and NCP for Legal and Financial Issues for the EU’s Horizon Europe program, further bridging U.S.-EU research cooperation. She serves as a board member for Women in Science Diplomacy Associatioin (WiSDA) and Science Diplomacy Grid

Dr. Florent Bernard is the Counsellor for Research and Innovation at the European Union Delegation to the United States in Washington, DC. He assists in the strengthening of transatlantic research and innovation synergies, notably through the European R&I programme ‘Horizon Europe’. Prior to this position, he was an International Relations Officer for the European Commission working on EU-China and EU-India cooperation. Dr. Bernard has a Ph.D. in molecular biology from the Université Libre de Bruxelles, he also studied at the University of Georgia, USA; the University of Barcelona, Spain; and the University of Florence, Italy.

He is an Honorary Citizen of the State of Georgia, USA.

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

SU 262 A

This session is designed to create an opportunity for the campus community to ask questions and receive guidance on issues related to upcoming immigration regulatory updates, student visas, employment, travel, and other matters. In addition, a brief overview of compliance considerations for employment-based sponsorship, exchange visitors, and international student status will be provided. William Vittetoe, Director of International Student and Scholar Services, will be on hand to give a presentation on behalf of the Center for Global Engagement

Presenter: Gretchen Neisler, Vice Provost for International Affairs and Director of the Center for Global Engagement

SU 262 B

Africa is the world’s fastest-growing talent market, projected to hold more than 40% of the global youth population by 2050, with Sub-Saharan Africa’s population set to double . At the same time, the continent will need 8 million+ new university seats by 2030 and faces a projected shortage of 6 million nurses. This session explores how University of Tennessee faculty can lead high-impact research and workforce partnerships—particularly in Rwanda, a politically stable, innovation-driven nation investing in health, AI, agriculture, and infrastructure. Discover data-backed opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, funded research, and transformative global engagement.

SU 262 C

Join us for an engaging conversation on how science diplomacy is shaping global research collaboration. Moderated by Claire Chen, Senior Executive at the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA), this panel brings together science attachés from several embassies in Washington, DC to share firsthand insights into how governments and research institutions work together across borders.

Panelists will discuss how international partnerships are formed, the priorities driving global research cooperation, and how universities and researchers can effectively engage with diplomatic channels to advance innovation and address shared global challenges.

This session offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from diplomatic representatives working at the intersection of science, policy, and international collaboration.

Presenters: Rachel Rui, Director for Global Research, Innovation, and Partnerships; Dylan Daniel, Assistant Director for Global Research, Innovation, and Partnerships; and RJ Youngblood, Director of Economic Engagement and Strategic Initiatives at ORIED

SU 262 A

How can faculty and staff strategically engage with global partners to advance research, innovation, and impact? This session introduces UT’s Global Partnership Engagement Model, a framework for building meaningful and sustainable international collaborations.

Presenters will share UT’s partnership strategies in Japan and Africa, highlighting how institutions identify strategic partners, build trust through engagement—including international travel—and translate relationships into research collaboration and funding opportunities.

The discussion will also show how the Global Partnership Engagement Model works hand in hand with the Industry Partnership Engagement Model. Both approaches rely on similar principles of strategic alignment, relationship-building, and long-term value creation. Together, they demonstrate how global collaborations can strengthen industry partnerships and local economic development, connecting international networks with regional innovation ecosystems.

This session offers practical insights for UT faculty and staff on how to engage more strategically with global partners and maximize the impact of international collaboration.

Presenters: Lauren Wood, Director for the International House; Kate Scott, Director of the Programs Abroad Office; and Will Jennings, Associate Vice Provost of Global Learning and Impact

SU 262 C

This panel will offer an opportunity for attendees to engage with Programs Abroad Office Director Kate Scott, international House Director Lauren Wood, and COIL Faculty on dynamic programmatic options for implementing the Global Pathway of VolEdge and utilize NACE Cultural Competencies to supercharge student career outcomes and prepare Volunteers for the workforce of the future

Presenters: Todd Beard, Director of the Language English Institute, and Stephanie Sieggreen, Director of International Recruitment at Enrollment Management

SU 262 B

The global recruitment landscape in higher education is being reshaped by geopolitical realignment, AI-driven engagement, shifting mobility patterns, and heightened scrutiny of return on investment. Students are acting as informed consumers—prioritizing employability, post-study work, digital learning flexibility, and institutional reputation over destination prestige. Growth is accelerating in emerging markets across South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia, while legacy markets face volatility. Advanced analytics, predictive modeling, and personalized digital outreach are redefining recruitment strategy. Institutions that diversify risk, embed career pathways, leverage partnerships, and align academic innovation with workforce demand will lead in this increasingly competitive, data-informed global marketplace.

Tyvi Small, Vice Chancellor for Access and Engagement, will discuss the value UT’s engagement with Japan.

Presenters: Noriko Horiguchi, President of the SEC Association for Asian Studies and the UT Japan Center; Krista Wiegand, Director of the Center National Security and Foreign Affairs; and Rachel Rui, Director of Global Research, Innovation, and Partnerships

The UT Japan Center is scheduled to launch in Fall of 2026. Following comments from Chancellor Plowman, representatives from the center’s stakeholders — College of Arts & Sciences, Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs, and the Center for Global Engagement — will discuss the launch and what it means for the university.