Coordinator of Global Engagement

GENERAL SUMMARY OF DUTIES:

The Coordinator of Global Engagement provides strategic leadership and programming for Marywood University’s intercultural, global, and education abroad initiatives, with primary responsibility for the development, coordination, and long-term stewardship of Education Abroad programs and international partner sites. This role advances Marywood’s mission by fostering globally engaged, culturally responsive, and ethically grounded learning experiences for students, faculty, and staff.

Grounded in best practices from The Forum on Education Abroad, NAFSA, AIEA, NASPA, and ACPA, the Coordinator designs inclusive socio-cultural and immersion-based global programming while overseeing the establishment, assessment, compliance, and sustainability of education abroad programs that align with institutional priorities, student access, and global learning outcomes. The coordinator also shares responsibilities aligned with International Student and Scholar Services at Marywood University including but not limited to co-administering orientation and the transition of international students to campus, creating engaging cultural programming, intercultural development programming for students, faculty and staff and community engagement activities to engage with cultural organizations and entities within the greater Scranton community and beyond.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

PRIMARY FUNCIONAL AREAS

I. Education Abroad Program Development, Coordination & Site Management

The Coordinator serves as the primary institutional lead for Education Abroad, overseeing the full lifecycle of programs and international sites.

Program Establishment & Portfolio Development

• • Facilitate and assist in the development, expansion, and diversification of Marywood University’s education abroad portfolio, including faculty-led programs, exchange partnerships, and third-party provider collaborations.
  • Assist in maintenance and development of education abroad sites and with partner international education abroad organizations (eg: CIEE, ISI).
  • Identify, vet, and recommend new international partner institutions and program sites using Forum on Education Abroad Standards, institutional risk frameworks, and mission alignment criteria.
  • Coordinate Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), partnership reviews, and renewal processes in collaboration with university leadership and legal/administrative offices.
  • Support the strategic alignment of education abroad offerings with Marywood’s global initiatives, Catholic identity, and commitment to ethical global engagement and social responsibility.

Program Coordination & Operations

• • Manage education abroad program operations, including application cycles, selection processes, enrollment coordination, participant communications, and program timelines.
  • Coordinate logistics for faculty-led programs and partner-provider programs, including orientation planning, travel coordination support, housing arrangements (as applicable), and on-site support structures.
  • Develop and deliver comprehensive pre-departure, on-site, and re-entry programming emphasizing cultural adjustment, identity awareness, ethical engagement, health and safety, and intercultural learning.
  • Maintain accurate program documentation, policies, procedures, and digital records using education abroad management systems (e.g., Terra Dotta or comparable platforms).

Risk Management, Compliance & Student Support

• • Coordinate education abroad risk management processes in alignment with institutional policies and Forum standards, including emergency protocols, crisis response coordination, and incident documentation.
  • Serve as the central liaison for education abroad health, safety, and wellness coordination with campus partners (e.g., risk management, counseling, health services, campus ministry).
  • Ensure ethical and responsible international engagement practices, including community impact awareness, accessibility considerations, and inclusive participation.
  • Remain current on global risk conditions, travel advisories, and best practices while collaborating with university leadership on program-level decision-making.

Assessment, Evaluation & Continuous Improvement

• • Develop and implement assessment strategies for education abroad programs, including student learning outcomes, intercultural development, access and equity metrics, and program effectiveness.
  • Collect and analyze participation data, program evaluations, and qualitative feedback to inform strategic planning and program enhancement.
  • Prepare internal reports and summaries to support institutional decision-making, accreditation-related documentation, and strategic planning efforts.

II. Intercultural, Socio-Cultural & Immersion-Based Programming

• Design and manage a comprehensive calendar of global and intercultural programs for domestic and international students that emphasize socio-economic, historical, religious, and cultural understanding.
• Lead immersive experiences such as cultural dialogues, global issue forums, community engagement projects, and identity-conscious intercultural exchanges.
• Coordinate signature initiatives including International Education Week, global immersion experiences, interfaith and intercultural observances, and international heritage celebrations.
• Develop structured bridge programs that foster meaningful relationships between international and domestic students and promote sustained intercultural engagement.
• Create opportunities and pipelines into the Scranton and surrounding metropolitan areas with community members, organizations, places of worship and the Marywood alumni network in the US and abroad.

III. Faculty Engagement & Globally Inclusive Pedagogy

• Collaborate with faculty to support the development of globally inclusive and culturally responsive teaching strategies, particularly for internationally diverse classrooms and education abroad contexts.
• Design and facilitate faculty workshops, learning communities, and training related to intercultural learning, global engagement, and ethical education abroad practices.
• Support faculty leading education abroad programs through training, coordination, and ongoing consultation in alignment with Forum standards and institutional policies.
• Serve as a campus resource on internationalization, intercultural learning outcomes, and global engagement pedagogy.

IV. Collaboration, Leadership & Institutional Engagement

• Build and sustain campus-wide partnerships to integrate global learning and intercultural engagement into co-curricular life.
• Supervise and mentor student employees, peer mentors, and interns supporting global engagement and education abroad initiatives.
• Contribute to divisional and university-wide strategic initiatives related to global engagement, diversity, equity, inclusion, and student success.
• Ensure professional practice remains ethical, inclusive, and compliant with standards set by NAFSA, AIEA, the Forum on Education Abroad, NASPA, and ACPA.
• Engage in ongoing professional development and represent Marywood University in relevant professional networks and conferences.
• Other Duties as assigned

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (knowledge, skill, abilities):

• Academic Leadership: Ability to guide and support faculty within international program contexts.
• Strategic Collaboration: Works effectively across units to enhance program impact and student experience.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Understanding of accreditation standards and international education compliance.
• Communication: Clear, persuasive, and culturally sensitive communication with internal and external stakeholders.
• Global Perspective: Demonstrated interest in and commitment to global education.

Work Environment

• This role is based on Marywood University’s campus with regular scheduled office hours during the academic year, with an expectation of participation in institutional and programmatic meetings.
• Some evening or weekend commitments may be required for travel, events, or partnership activities.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in International Education, Global Studies, Higher Education, Student Affairs, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of professional experience in education abroad, global engagement, international education, or advising with demonstrated responsibility for program coordination or site management.
• Knowledge of education abroad standards, risk management principles, and ethical international engagement.
• Strong organizational, communication, and intercultural competency skills.
• Ability to manage complex projects, international partnerships, and multiple program timelines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Experience establishing or managing education abroad programs or international partnerships.
• Familiarity with education abroad management platforms (e.g., Terra Dotta).
• Experience living, studying, or working internationally.
• Second-language fluency or proficiency.

Core Values & Competencies

• Ethical and responsible global engagement
• Intercultural humility and cultural responsiveness
• Student-centered and equity-minded practice
• Strategic thinking and program sustainability
• Collaborative leadership and continuous improvement

Work schedule

Monday-Friday, 8 hours per day, 35 hours per week, 52 weeks per year. Some evenings or weekends may be required.

DISCLAIMER: While not comprehensive, this job description lists activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.