Connecting in New Orleans

Taking a break from intensive conference sessions in New Orleans’ parks

Director Tom Rankin spent three intensive days recently attending meetings and learning sessions at the annual NAFSA Conference in New Orleans. The theme was “resilience, renewal and community” and it brought together just under 10,000 (!) international education professionals in the massive New Orleans Convention Center. Big takeaways: people, place and partnerships won’t be replaced by virtual communities and artificial intelligence. But small is sometimes more beautiful.

As a NAFSA newbie I learned a lot from listening to the speakers, attending interactive sessions and chatting with long-time NAFSA attendees. There were far too many people to count on much casual networking but I did my best. I figure if I’m going to emit all that carbon on a long-haul flight from Europe I better meet as many humans face to face as possible; otherwise why not do this on zoom? But then I wouldn’t experience New Orleans, one of the greatest cities in the world.

TBI Director Tom Rankin

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