Plenary Sessions

LaNitra Berger is an associate professor of history and art history and the director of African and African American Studies at George Mason University and president and board chair of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Her scholarly interests are art and social activism in the African and Jewish diasporas. Her work as an educator focuses on creating and expanding cross-cultural educational opportunities for underrepresented students, particularly in international education. LaNitra is the author of Irma Stern and the Racial Paradox of South African Modern Art: Audacities of Color (Bloomsbury, 2020). She is also the editor of Social Justice and International Education: Research, Practice, and Perspectives (NAFSA, 2020).

Bernard Kippelen joined Georgia Tech in 2003 as a member of the faculty. He is a co-founder and co-president of the Institut Lafayette, an innovation platform located on Georgia Tech’s European campus, Georgia Tech Lorraine (Metz, France).  He was raised in Soultz, Alsace, France, and is a dual US and French citizen. He studied at the University Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg, France (PhD 1990), and was a member of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Before joining Georgia Tech, he was on the faculty of the Optical Sciences Center at the University of Arizona. Kippelen is also the recipient of numerous awards for his scientific contributions, his work as a faculty member, and his global engagement.

Carmen Lomellin served as the former US Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS) and the National Coordinator for the Presidential-level Summit of the Americas.  Ambassador Lomellin worked to advance US interests at the OAS and the Inter-American system and promote regional cooperation among OAS member states. Before leading the US Permanent Mission to the OAS, Ambassador Lomellin was the Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Commission of Women for the OAS. Ambassador Lomellin is a member of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and a member of the Board of Directors of the VCU Health System. She is also a member of the Advisory Board of DePaul University's Grace School of Applied Diplomacy.

Nicole Webster's scholarship and teaching incorporate facets of youth development, civic engagement, and equity in public spaces, specifically in relation to historically marginalized youth in domestic and international settings. In addition to her work in formal academic settings, she has designed, facilitated, and evaluated national and international training focused on equity and inclusion in civic educational spaces.

At AAC&U, Whitehead's work centers on integrative global learning with an emphasis on thematic local and international experiences that provide students with a variety of global learning opportunities across their educational experience. She also works on projects that integrate high-impact practices across general education and the majors to provide students with consistent, high-quality liberal learning, and engages and collaborates across offices at AAC&U on curricular transformation. She has published several articles and book chapters on these topics.

Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, a 30-year diplomat, previously held several senior positions that included Ambassador to the Republic of Malta, Foreign Policy Advisor to the Commander of US cyber forces, expanding US counterterrorism partners and programs as Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism, and Coordinating the largest evacuation of American citizens from a war zone since WWII. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Oman. She began her formal work in teaching and leadership development as Chairwoman for Middle East Area Studies at the Foreign Service Institute where US diplomats are trained. Earlier in her career, she served in Baghdad, Jakarta, and Cairo before taking on the position of Special Assistant to the Secretary of State. She is a strong proponent of excellence through inclusion across organizations and strives to break down barriers to the full participation of women and minorities.

At AAC&U, Whitehead's work centers on integrative global learning with an emphasis on thematic local and international experiences that provide students with a variety of global learning opportunities across their educational experience. She also works on projects that integrate high-impact practices across general education and the majors to provide students with consistent, high-quality liberal learning, and engages and collaborates across offices at AAC&U on curricular transformation. She has published several articles and book chapters on these topics.