Every year, we present three prestigious leadership awards at the IES Abroad Annual Conference to recognize study abroad professionals’ substantial contributions and achievements to the field.
The IES Abroad Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Rob Hallworth, Director of Study Abroad at The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. Hallworth has served on several of NAFSA: Association of International Educator’s National and Regional Teams, the Forum on Education Abroad’s Trained Facilitator Team, and has presented more than 35 times. He has also played a very active role in IES Abroad’s academic governance, serving on IES Abroad’s Academic Council, Board of Directors, Institutional Membership Committee, Task Force on Diversity in Study Abroad, Marketing Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, and Program Planning Committee. He was elected Chair of the IES Abroad General Conference, and was awarded IES Abroad’s Volunteer of the Year award in 2009.
The IES Abroad Professional Development Award was given to David Taylor, Director of Global Abroad Programs at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Taylor implemented a study abroad outreach plan for underrepresented populations that resulted in a 25% increase in first-generation and minority students studying abroad. This initiative helped the University receive the 2013 Institute of International Education (IIE) Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovation in Study Abroad. Taylor has served on IES Abroad’s Annual Conference Planning Committee and is an active member of NAFSA: Association of International Educators and the North Carolina Association of International Educators (NCAIE). He has also presented at the WISE Conference, IES Abroad Annual Conference, and the Forum on Education Abroad Conference.
The IES Abroad Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Amy Lancaster, Dean of International Programs at Wofford College, Spartanburg, South Carolina. Lancaster has served at Wofford College for 11 years, as Assistant Director of Programs Abroad and Assistant Dean for International Programs, before being promoted to her current role as Dean of International Programs. In her former position, she oversaw all of Wofford’s January Term faculty-led programs, which included many IES Abroad customized programs. Lancaster was the Chair of IES Abroad’s Barcelona Program Review, has participated in many site visits, and served as a member of the IES Abroad Academic Council for over two years. She has also presented at the Forum on Education Abroad Conference and IES Abroad’s Annual Conference.
Congratulations, Rob, David, and Amy!
