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We are delighted to share that we have appointed Brittani Smit, Ph.D., as our Associate Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism (DEIA), effective June 1st. At IES Abroad, we have had a focused commitment to diversity and inclusion throughout our 70-year history with efforts such as our Initiative to Diversify Education Abroad (IDEA). We are committed to doing all that we can to continue that work to not only make study abroad accessible to underrepresented students, but to foster a culture of inclusion and belonging for all our students, staff, faculty, and partners. Learn More about Dr. Smit's Experience
Gregory D. Hess, Ph.D., President and CEO of IES Abroad, commented: “We are excited to welcome Dr. Smit who we know will bring dedication, experience, and passion to our ongoing commitment to elevate our diversity initiative into every aspect of IES Abroad. We are determined to travel the road toward true diversity, equity, and inclusion around the world in every way we can, and there’s more to come as we collaborate with Dr. Smit to keep making a world of difference, together.” |
“I am passionate about international education because I have experienced its transformative power firsthand. Studying abroad gave me a broader perspective on my own experiences and opened my eyes to the global manifestations of the systemic inequities I noticed in my local community in the US.”Dr. Brittani Smit, Associate Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism
More About the Associate Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusions, and Anti-Racism Role
In this role, Dr. Smit will serve as a member of the Management Team and will drive and further foster a culture of inclusion and belonging. She will also lead efforts across all departments to coordinate and ensure that the IES Abroad Diversity Initiative continues to be broadly integrated into:
- IES Abroad culture, including policies, as well as practices, and training for staff
- Staff recruitment efforts and practices
- Outreach efforts to current and prospective students
- The overall student experience
- Our partnerships with Consortium schools and professional organizations
- IES Abroad Academic Centers around the world
This is what Dr. Smit has to say about her appointment: “I am passionate about international education because I have experienced its transformative power firsthand. Studying abroad gave me a broader perspective on my own experiences and opened my eyes to the global manifestations of the systemic inequities I noticed in my local community in the US. I believe these life-changing opportunities should be accessible to all students. I am excited to join IES Abroad and continue building on the strong foundation of diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism work that has been established thus far."
Our Diversity Recruitment & Advising team will continue to be led by Noelle Baldwin, Associate Director for Diversity Recruiting & Advising. Noelle and her team will be focused on the important and fulfilling work of bringing about more socially just and equitable study abroad opportunities for our students, and work with the AVP of DEIA to elevate that work even further.
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism is the work of not just a few, but many, and we look forward to welcoming Dr. Smit and what she will bring to the role and our organization to deliver and continue the importance of this work. There’s more to come as we keep making a world of difference, together.
Learn more about our Commitment to Diversity, and how we support diverse students on their study abroad journeys.
