39th Annual Conference

Dates: October 18-20, 2023
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana

CSIET 2023 | Valuing Student Exchange

For CSIET’s 39th Annual Conference, CSIET and over 130 participants in the International Exchange Student Community gathered together to connect, learn, and strengthen their programs. 

We are grateful for those in our community who traveled from near and far to reconnect with one another, discuss the importance of Valuing International Student Exchange, and engage in relevant discussions. Participants included CSIET member programs, schools, government representatives, including Deputy Assistant Secretary Rebecca Pasini, international recruitment agencies, and vendors that support our programs and standards. We particularly appreciate the session speakers who took the time to enrich our community with their knowledge and share their practices with those in attendance. 

Keynote Speaker:

Program Value: The Magic Ingredient

Intercultural Competence Transforms the Exchange Experience! When our programs revolve around promoting/developing intercultural competence, everything gets better: Student failure rates drop & success rates soar. Host families are happier. Coordinators feel empowered to change the world one student at a time. The question is, how? How can we boost intercultural competence in tangible ways? In her keynote address, Brenda explored one recipe for integrating intercultural competence teaching/training/support into every facet of the J-1 & F-1 program experience.

Brenda Padilla Ericksen is a former agent (Spain), international student (Spain & Norway), host mother (Thailand, France, Austria & USA), and sending mom for her daughters’ international programs in France, Canada, USA, Nepal, and South Korea. She has prepared thousands of J-1 and F-1 students around the world for their exchange in the USA. She has created an innovative pre-departure training program for exchange students – and their parents (and agents). Brenda graduated from Western Washington University. She is from Seattle and has lived in Spain for 30 years.

A Special Thanks to the Conference Planning Committee

• Jacki Hartford, Pan Atlantic Foundation
• Scott Hume, AFS-USA
• Dian Joy, Venture International Academy
• Luiz Marzullo, ICES
• Gina McBean-Linton, Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, Maryland
• Kari Owens, ICES
• Theresa Nelson, STS Foundation
• Sam Scott, Youth for Understanding USA
• Nina Slupphaug, Educatius Europe
• Joey Banuelos, ISE

Checking Out These Fun Conference Pictures:

Have pictures from the conference you’d like to share? Email Charissa (cslack@csiet.org). We’d love to add them here!

Conference Agenda

Have pictures from the conference you’d like to share? Email Charissa (cslack@csiet.org). We’d love to add them here!