May 26-29, 2026
Orlando, FL
Conference
AASCU Presidential Delegation to NAFSA 2026
AASCU will convene a high-level delegation of presidents and chancellors to participate in NAFSA 2026, advancing global partnerships and elevating the leadership of U.S. regional public universities in international education.
Contact us.
Advance global impact by participating in AASCU’s curated program at NAFSA 2026.
AASCU will lead a high-level presidential delegation to the NAFSA 2026 Presidents, Vice Chancellors, and Rectors’ Summit during the world’s largest international education conference.
Through curated executive programming, targeted global networking, and direct engagement with international presidents and chancellors from over 50 countries, the AASCU delegation will cultivate strategic international partnerships and support institutional enrollment goals.
The Summit takes place during NAFSA’s 2026 annual conference of international educators from over 100 countries, offering additional opportunities to advance institutional internationalization priorities.
As an additional benefit to participating presidents and chancellors bringing an institutional delegation to the broader NAFSA conference, AASCU will offer tailored, concierge-style support to strategically design a customized NAFSA agenda.
Who should attend:
- Presidents and chancellors of AASCU member institutions
Benefits of participation:
- Engage in high-level, one-on-one dialogue with global presidents, vice chancellors, and rectors, leading to strategic partnerships and international student enrollments
- Receive tailored, concierge-style support from AASCU to strategically design a customized NAFSA agenda aligned with your campus goals
- Participate in forward-looking discussions on global trends influencing enrollment, partnerships, research, and workforce development
- Showcase the distinctive mission and strengths of regional public universities through an AASCU-hosted leadership panel discussion
preliminary schedule at a glance
NAFSA President’s Summit: open to presidents/chancellors/rectors
Provost Program: open to provosts/CAOs
NAFSA General Conference: open to all registered attendees
AASCU Delegation: open to all delegation participants
| Tuesday, May 26 | |
| 7–8:30 a.m. AASCU Delegation |
AASCU Delegation Welcome Breakfast (Optional) This informal gathering provides an initial point of alignment for AASCU presidents. |
| 9:30–11:15 a.m. General Conference |
NAFSA Opening Keynote: Leila Cobo on The Unifying Power of Music NAFSA general conference opening session and keynote with special seating for presidents and chancellors. |
| 12–1 p.m. President’s Summit |
Guided Expo Hall Tour This guided experience through NAFSA’s Expo Hall enables delegation members to engage intentionally with global partners, recruitment channels, and service providers. |
| 12:30–1:45 p.m. AASCU Delegation (presidents only) |
AASCU Presidential Delegation Official Lunch and Kickoff Meeting This AASCU-led session serves as the official launch of the AASCU delegation, aligning participants around AASCU’s strategic international priorities for the conference, including enrollment diversification, global partnerships, and workforce development. |
| 2–3 p.m. Provost Program |
Provosts and Chief Academic Officers Roundtable Join fellow university provosts, chief academic officers, and those responsible for the oversight of all academic, research, and service functions within a university for a dynamic, peer-to-peer facilitated roundtable focused on the global state of higher education. Come ready to exchange ideas, network, share leadership insights, and co-create strategies for a more resilient, inclusive, and impactful global academy. |
| 3:30–4:30 p.m. President’s Summit |
Peer-to-Peer Presidential Roundtable This highlight of NAFSA’s Presidents, Vice Chancellors, and Rectors Summit is a closed-door dialogue that provides global presidents and chancellors with a space for direct connection and candid exchange. |
| 7–10 p.m. General Conference |
NAFSA Global Networking Reception This large-scale celebration and informal networking event open to the entire NAFSA conference is an opportunity to initiate and strengthen relationships across the international education community. |
| Wednesday, May 27 | |
| 8–9 a.m. Provost Program |
AASCU Provosts’ Breakfast with Terry Brown A breakfast conversation with AASCU’s vice president for academic innovation and transformation, Terry Brown, bringing together provosts and CAOs to exchange ideas, align priorities, and explore partnership opportunities during the conference. |
| 9:30–10:20 a.m. President’s Summit |
Power and Promise for Internationalization This signature AASCU session at NAFSA’s Presidents, Vice Chancellors, and Rectors Summit highlights how regional public universities are advancing internationalization in ways that are both globally relevant and locally grounded. The discussion emphasizes integrating global engagement with community impact, workforce alignment, and institutional mission. |
| 1–2 p.m. President’s Summit |
U.S.–Japan Higher Education Bilateral Convening This bilateral convening brings together AASCU and Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for focused dialogue on research collaboration, student mobility, and workforce partnerships. It also serves as an initial strategic foundation for AASCU’s Presidential Delegation to Japan in 2027, positioning this engagement as an early step in strengthening long-term institutional and governmental collaboration. |
| 2:10–3 p.m. President’s Summit |
AI Is the New 2000s Infrastructure Moment for Higher Education An executive-level thematic session of NAFSA’s Presidents, Vice Chancellors, and Rectors Summit. |
| 3:30–6 p.m. AASCU Delegation |
Taiwan–U.S. Higher Education Networking Forum This strategic forum, led by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education, is a special invitation for AASCU delegation members to strengthen U.S.–Taiwan collaboration across key sectors, including semiconductors, energy, and emerging technologies. It provides a platform for AASCU institutions to explore partnerships that connect academic programming with workforce and industry needs. |
| 6:30–8 p.m. AASCU Delegation |
AASCU Reception: Strategic Networking and Partnership Development This curated reception convenes AASCU leaders and invited global partners in a more focused setting, designed to facilitate high-value relationship building. |
| Thursday, May 28 | |
| 9–10 a.m. General Conference |
NAFSA Keynote: Tonee Ndungu on Innovation with Intention NAFSA general conference closing keynote examining the true meaning of innovation in an era defined by artificial intelligence and rapid technological change, with special seating for presidents and chancellors. |
| mid-morning AASCU Delegation |
AASCU x CACIE Forum Engagement with the China Association for International Exchange. This bilateral engagement brings together AASCU members and the China Association for International Exchange (CACIE) to explore partnership opportunities with Chinese institutions, with an emphasis on student exchange, dual-degree programming, and collaborative academic initiatives. |
| mid-morning AASCU Delegation |
President–Provost–SIO Debrief & Closing This internal session provides space for reflection and synthesis, enabling delegation members to translate conference insights into actionable institutional strategies and partnership priorities. |
| mid-morning AASCU Delegation |
Country-Specific Convening: Africa A focused engagement session aimed at advancing actionable partnerships with African institutions. |
| 3:15–5 p.m. President’s Summit |
NAFSA Forum on Global International Mobility Trends This executive session of NAFSA’s Presidents, Vice Chancellors, and Rectors Summit delivers data-driven insights into global student mobility, enrollment trends, and market conditions. It is designed to support evidence-based decision-making in recruitment and partnership development. |
| Tuesday, May 26 | |
| 7–8:30 a.m. AASCU Delegation |
AASCU Delegation Welcome Breakfast (Optional) This informal gathering provides an initial point of alignment for AASCU presidents. |
| 9:30–11:15 a.m. General Conference |
NAFSA Opening Keynote: Leila Cobo on The Unifying Power of Music NAFSA general conference opening session and keynote with special seating for presidents and chancellors. |
| 12–1 p.m. President’s Summit |
Guided Expo Hall Tour This guided experience through NAFSA’s Expo Hall enables delegation members to engage intentionally with global partners, recruitment channels, and service providers. |
| 12:30–1:45 p.m. AASCU Delegation (presidents only) |
AASCU Presidential Delegation Official Lunch and Kickoff Meeting This AASCU-led session serves as the official launch of the AASCU delegation, aligning participants around AASCU’s strategic international priorities for the conference, including enrollment diversification, global partnerships, and workforce development. |
| 3:30–4:30 p.m. President’s Summit |
Peer-to-Peer Presidential Roundtable This highlight of NAFSA’s Presidents, Vice Chancellors, and Rectors Summit is a closed-door dialogue that provides global presidents and chancellors with a space for direct connection and candid exchange. |
| 7–10 p.m. General Conference |
NAFSA Global Networking Reception This large-scale celebration and informal networking event open to the entire NAFSA conference is an opportunity to initiate and strengthen relationships across the international education community. |
| Wednesday, May 27 | |
| 9:30–10:20 a.m. President’s Summit |
Power and Promise for Internationalization This signature AASCU session at NAFSA’s Presidents, Vice Chancellors, and Rectors Summit highlights how regional public universities are advancing internationalization in ways that are both globally relevant and locally grounded. The discussion emphasizes integrating global engagement with community impact, workforce alignment, and institutional mission. |
| 1–2 p.m. President’s Summit |
U.S.–Japan Higher Education Bilateral Convening This bilateral convening brings together AASCU and Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for focused dialogue on research collaboration, student mobility, and workforce partnerships. It also serves as an initial strategic foundation for AASCU’s Presidential Delegation to Japan in 2027, positioning this engagement as an early step in strengthening long-term institutional and governmental collaboration. |
| 2:10–3 p.m. President’s Summit |
AI Is the New 2000s Infrastructure Moment for Higher Education An executive-level thematic session of NAFSA’s Presidents, Vice Chancellors, and Rectors Summit. |
| 3:30–6 p.m. AASCU Delegation |
Taiwan–U.S. Higher Education Networking Forum This strategic forum, led by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education, is a special invitation for AASCU delegation members to strengthen U.S.–Taiwan collaboration across key sectors, including semiconductors, energy, and emerging technologies. It provides a platform for AASCU institutions to explore partnerships that connect academic programming with workforce and industry needs. |
| 6:30–8 p.m. AASCU Delegation |
AASCU Reception: Strategic Networking & Partnership Development This curated reception convenes AASCU leaders and invited global partners in a more focused setting, designed to facilitate high-value relationship building. |
| Thursday, May 28 | |
| 9–10 a.m. General Conference |
NAFSA Keynote: Tonee Ndungu on Innovation with Intention NAFSA general conference closing keynote examining the true meaning of innovation in an era defined by artificial intelligence and rapid technological change, with special seating for presidents and chancellors. |
| mid-morning AASCU Delegation |
AASCU x CACIE Forum Engagement with the China Association for International Exchange. This bilateral engagement brings together AASCU members and the China Association for International Exchange (CACIE) to explore partnership opportunities with Chinese institutions, with an emphasis on student exchange, dual-degree programming, and collaborative academic initiatives. |
| mid-morning AASCU Delegation |
President–Provost–SIO Debrief & Closing This internal session provides space for reflection and synthesis, enabling delegation members to translate conference insights into actionable institutional strategies and partnership priorities. |
| mid-morning AASCU Delegation |
Country-Specific Convening: Africa A focused engagement session aimed at advancing actionable partnerships with African institutions. |
| 3:15–5 p.m. President’s Summit |
NAFSA Forum on Global International Mobility Trends This executive session of NAFSA’s Presidents, Vice Chancellors, and Rectors Summit delivers data-driven insights into global student mobility, enrollment trends, and market conditions. It is designed to support evidence-based decision-making in recruitment and partnership development. |
| Tuesday, May 26 | |
| 7–8:30 a.m. AASCU Delegation |
AASCU Delegation Welcome Breakfast (Optional) This informal gathering provides an initial point of alignment for AASCU presidents. |
| 9:30–11:15 a.m. General Conference |
NAFSA Opening Keynote: Leila Cobo on The Unifying Power of Music NAFSA general conference opening session and keynote with special seating for presidents and chancellors. |
| 2–3 p.m. Provost Program |
Provosts and Chief Academic Officers Roundtable Join fellow university provosts, chief academic officers, and those responsible for the oversight of all academic, research, and service functions within a university for a dynamic, peer-to-peer facilitated roundtable focused on the global state of higher education. Come ready to exchange ideas, network, share leadership insights, and co-create strategies for a more resilient, inclusive, and impactful global academy. |
| 7–10 p.m. General Conference |
NAFSA Global Networking Reception This large-scale celebration and informal networking event open to the entire NAFSA conference is an opportunity to initiate and strengthen relationships across the international education community. |
| Wednesday, May 27 | |
| 8–9 a.m. Provost Program |
AASCU Provosts’ Breakfast with Terry Brown A breakfast conversation with AASCU’s vice president for academic innovation and transformation, Terry Brown, bringing together provosts and CAOs to exchange ideas, align priorities, and explore partnership opportunities during the conference. |
| 3:30–6 p.m. AASCU Delegation |
Taiwan–U.S. Higher Education Networking Forum This strategic forum, led by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education, is a special invitation for AASCU delegation members to strengthen U.S.–Taiwan collaboration across key sectors, including semiconductors, energy, and emerging technologies. It provides a platform for AASCU institutions to explore partnerships that connect academic programming with workforce and industry needs. |
| 6:30–8 p.m. AASCU Delegation |
AASCU Reception: Strategic Networking & Partnership Development This curated reception convenes AASCU leaders and invited global partners in a more focused setting, designed to facilitate high-value relationship building. |
| Thursday, May 28 | |
| 9–10 a.m. General Conference |
NAFSA Keynote: Tonee Ndungu on Innovation with Intention NAFSA general conference closing keynote examining the true meaning of innovation in an era defined by artificial intelligence and rapid technological change, with special seating for presidents and chancellors. |
| mid-morning AASCU Delegation |
AASCU x CACIE Forum Engagement with the China Association for International Exchange. This bilateral engagement brings together AASCU members and the China Association for International Exchange (CACIE) to explore partnership opportunities with Chinese institutions, with an emphasis on student exchange, dual-degree programming, and collaborative academic initiatives. |
| mid-morning AASCU Delegation |
President–Provost–SIO Debrief & Closing This internal session provides space for reflection and synthesis, enabling delegation members to translate conference insights into actionable institutional strategies and partnership priorities. |
| mid-morning AASCU Delegation |
Country-Specific Convening: Africa A focused engagement session aimed at advancing actionable partnerships with African institutions. |
Join AASCU’s presidential delegation to NAFSA 2026.
Our interest period has closed. Contact Jody Dixon with questions.
NAFSA 2026 Registration information
- Early Bird: Feb. 3–April 1
- Regular: April 2– May 23
- On Site: May 24–29
NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the world’s largest professional association dedicated to international education and exchange. It serves as a global hub for advancing international engagement in higher education through thought leadership, professional development, policy guidance, and convenings that bring together leaders and practitioners from around the world.
Presidential Summit participation includes:
- Exclusive programming for presidents, vice-chancellors, and rectors
- VIP access to plenary sessions and keynote speakers
- Curated one-on-one meetings with global university leaders and partners
- Participation in internal and external AASCU-led leadership sessions
- Access to the full NAFSA conference and International Education Expo
- Invitation to a private AASCU presidential reception
- Special conference registration rate for presidents who bring a senior campus team member
Presidents and chancellors of AASCU member institutions.
Presidents and chancellors will be invited to VIP-level activities, including curated meetings, leadership sessions, and a special AASCU reception. A three-day engagement is being designed with flexibility and presidential priorities in mind.
Questions about this opportunity? Let us know.
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