These sessions are an invitation to be part of shaping what comes next. We look forward to the opportunity to advance our work and strengthen our community together.

J-1 Community Priorities: Shaping CSIET’s Path Forward*

Wednesday, October 21, 3:00pm-4:45pm
*Invitation to any J-1 Organization representatives attending the conference, CSIET Board Members and Working Group Members
A panel of representatives from the CSIET Board and J-1 Member Working Group will provide an update to the J-1 community on ongoing discussions within the Working Group, share identified priorities and outline potential next steps. The session will also include dedicated time for questions and discussion.

Behind the Scenes at CSIET: Ways to Engage, Contribute & Connect

Thursday, October 22, 4:45pm-5:45pm
This session offers members an opportunity to look under the hood of CSIET—how the organization operates, how priorities are established, what CSIET can influence and accomplish, and where its capabilities and limitations lie. The session will also include dedicated time for questions and discussion.

School Outreach: Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Going

Thursday, October 22, 3:30pm-4:30pm
What does it take to build stronger, more effective connections between exchange programs and schools? Join Charissa Slack, CSIET Interim Executive Director, to explore what CSIET has developed, learned, and accomplished—and where we go from here. Participants will hear about new and existing resources, and CSIET’s commitment to school-outreach efforts. The session will then break into round table discussions that will address national and local efforts. Discussions will cover what individual organizations are currently doing and what our collective efforts could be. Come share your priorities, ideas, and perspectives through an interactive discussion designed to help shape CSIET’s next steps

Post-Conference: Continued Engagement

January, April, September.Dates TBD
After the conference, CSIET will look to establish opportunities for members to virtually gather, share experiences, resources, and preferred practices on topics of interest with colleagues in a similar role at a different organization.

      Agenda (Subject to Change)

• Opening
• Approval of Minutes from the 2025 Membership Council Meeting
• Chair’s Report (Craig Anderson)
• Nominations Committee Report (Ellen Hoggard)
• Finance Committee Report (Luiz Marzullo)
• Elections
• Executive Director Report (Charissa Slack)

Hear the latest from the U.S. Department of State on J-1 exchange, including enrollment and visa trends, processing challenges, compliance, federal outreach, and emerging policy issues. The session will also explore opportunities to strengthen the U.S. high school exchange experience and conclude with an open Q&A.

Speaker: Casey Nealy, OPA U.S. Dept of State

Andrea Bodine, will give the J-1 Community a brief update from The Alliance for International Exchange

Speaker: Andrea Bodine, Senior Manager, Policy and Government Relations

What’s new in the F-1 landscape, and what questions are schools and exchange organizations still navigating? Join SEVP for an update on current F-1 regulations, policies, and guidance, followed by responses to questions submitted in advance by the international exchange community. Topics will include semester and short-term enrollment, I-20 requirements, pre-arrival school changes, SEVIS transfers, and questions surrounding existing F-1 visas when placements change. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of current requirements and where to find authoritative SEVP guidance to support consistent compliance.
Want to ensure your question is answered during this session? Please submit your questions by September 30th for the best chance of having them answered. (Submit Question Here)

Speaker: Cassie Hero

Trust is essential to strong partnerships, especially during times of change, uncertainty, and competing priorities. This interactive session will invite participants to explore what strengthens trust, what can quietly erode it, and how organizations can navigate tensions without losing connection to one another. Through reflection, dialogue, and perspective-taking, participants will examine the behaviors and conditions that support stronger relationships, greater collaboration, and a renewed sense of shared purpose across the international exchange community.

Facilitator: Dr. Pascal Losambe

What does it take to build stronger, more effective connections between exchange programs and schools? Join Charissa Slack, CSIET Interim Executive Director, to explore what CSIET has developed, learned, and accomplished—and where we go from here. Participants will hear about new and existing resources, and CSIET’s commitment to school-outreach efforts. The session will then break into round table discussions that will address national and local efforts. Discussions will cover what individual organizations are currently doing and what our collective efforts could be. Come share your priorities, ideas, and perspectives through an interactive discussion designed to help shape CSIET’s next steps.

Speaker: Charissa Slack

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how organizations work—but what does that mean for international student exchange? In this interactive panel and roundtable session, participants will explore how organizations are using technology and AI to improve workflows, increase efficiency, and prepare for the future while preserving the human connection at the heart of exchange.
Starting with an expert perspective on the current state of AI and its potential applications, Panelists will then share real-world examples of technology and AI applications within their organizations, and how technology supports the international student exchange community. Following the panel discussion, attendees will then participate in roundtable discussions where we’ll explore both the opportunities and the challenges— giving participants an opportunity to share what their organizations are already doing, identify appropriate and inappropriate uses of AI, discuss potential pitfalls, and consider whether organizational policies are needed to guide responsible AI use.
Participants will leave with practical ideas for using technology and AI more effectively, insights from peers across the exchange community, and a clearer understanding of how to balance innovation with the human-centered mission of international student exchange.

Speakers: Anatoliy Kochnev (Safe Exchange), Milos Prokic (ExLink), TBA

What does it take to build stronger, more effective connections between exchange programs and schools? Join Charissa Slack, CSIET Associate Director, to explore what CSIET has developed, learned, and accomplished—and where we go from here. Participants will hear about new and existing resources, and CSIET’s commitment to school-outreach efforts. The session will then break into round table discussions that will address national and local efforts. Discussions will cover what individual organizations are currently doing and what our collective efforts could be. Come share your priorities, ideas, and perspectives through an interactive discussion designed to help shape CSIET’s next steps.

Speaker: Charissa Slack

International students bring tremendous value to American high schools—and participation in school athletics is an important part of that experience. Yet navigating state athletic association rules, visa classifications, program approval, and eligibility requirements can create barriers for students, schools, and exchange organizations alike .Come hear directly from the people making and interpreting the rules. Join athletic association leaders Mark Uyl and Craig Anderson for an inside look at how state associations approach international student eligibility, what CSIET certification means from the athletic association perspective, and how exchange organizations and schools can work proactively to expand opportunities for students. The session will also explore the distinctions between J-1 and F-1 students and consider why F-1 students may face different eligibility pathways at the state level.

Speakers: Craig Anderson, Mark Uyl

What does it mean to be an active member of CSIET? This session offers members an opportunity to look under the hood of CSIET—how the organization operates, how priorities are established, what CSIET can influence and accomplish, and where its capabilities and limitations lie. Participants will learn more about CSIET’s member committees and working groups and the many ways members can get involved.

​Whether you are interested in serving on a committee, sharing your expertise, connecting with peers, or simply gaining a better understanding of how CSIET works, this session will provide practical insight into how members can make the most of their membership, contribute to the organization, and help shape its future direction.

The session will also include dedicated time for questions and discussion.

Today’s exchange students arrive with unique expectations, mental wellness needs, and digital habits. At the same time, the host family demographic is shifting—millennials are entering the hosting space, bringing different communication preferences and technology expectations than veteran host parents. To adapt for the future, host family preparation must evolve beyond logistics and static handbooks. This interactive roundtable workshop explores how to modernize host family training. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to equip families for modern digital citizenship, foster deep student belonging, and use AI to enhance—rather than replace—human connection.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
1. Assess current host family training to identify gaps in digital citizenship, mental wellness support, and ethical AI integration.
2. Prepare hosts to set digital boundaries around screen time, social media, AI tools in schoolwork, and maintaining real-world connection, and to spot early warning signs of isolation, anxiety, or tech burnout.
3. Design an adaptable host family onboarding roadmap that balances digital tools (apps, AI-driven FAQs, virtual check-ins) with meaningful face-to-face relationship building.

Speaker: Jennifer Wilson

Strong student experiences begin with strong partnerships. This interactive panel will bring together international agencies and U.S. organizations representing J-1, F-1, and combined programs to explore how sending and receiving partners can work together more effectively before, during, and after a student’s arrival. Panelists will discuss what each side needs from the other, how to establish clear expectations, and practical tools for reducing misunderstandings and student frustrations. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for strengthening partner relationships, clarifying shared responsibilities, and creating a more consistent and supportive experience for students.

Speakers: Oliver Rodriguez, Bettina von Sandersleben, Tammy Becker, and Sarah Jensen Averill

International exchange is more than a program—it’s a shared experience that can shape students, families, schools, and communities for years to come. This heartwarming luncheon brings together voices from across the exchange journey: current exchange students, a host family, an exchange alum, and a school representative who welcomes exchange students into their community.
Through personal stories and a moderated conversation, panelists will share the moments, relationships, challenges, and lasting connections that make international exchange so meaningful. Together, their perspectives offer a powerful reminder of the impact created by the collective work of everyone in this room—and why we continue to do what we do.
Come ready to be inspired, celebrate the people who make exchange possible, and reconnect with the heart of our work.