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Awards

Each year, DA Global celebrates institutions, organizations, and individuals who have developed innovative practices and strategies that leverage global education to advance student success. Awardees will be announced at the Global Impact Conference, DA Global’s annual conference.

Institutional / Organizational Awards

DA Global’s IMPACT Awards for organizations and institutions highlight outstanding achievements of members who have developed innovative practices and strategies that leverage access to global education to advance student achievemt, workforce readiness, and organizational impact.

Like the Global Impact Conference, the awards seek to recognize individuals who are embody the DA Global IMPACT framework.

I – Inclusion & Innovation
Advance innovative solutions to achieve inclusive access to global education’s benefits.

M – Mentorship & Support
Provide exceptional guidance and advocacy for international and domestic students.

P – Personal & Professional Growth
Cultivate resilience, leadership, and lifelong learning.

A – Academic & Career Success
Power academic and career success through access to global education opportunities.

C – Collaboration
Strengthen home campus and international networks for student and institutional success.

T – Transformational Leadership
Develop and empower professionals to drive meaningful impact in a dynamic international education sector.

The awards recognize innovation and excellence in the following categories:

Outreach, Marketing & Recruitment

Outreach, marketing, and recruitment are three areas by which professionals manage the message about what global opportunities can offer students. This award recognizes excellence, at the institutional/organizational level, in messaging and methods that resonate with and have led to proven results in attracting students from all backgrounds but particualry those not participating in global education in representative numbers.

Student Engagement & Support

Ensuring that all students have relevant  information during pre-departure, are effectively supported while abroad, and are provided with opportunities to reflect on their experiences when they return is critical to the success of global programming efforts. This award recognizes excellence, at the institutional/organizational level, in the implementation of innovative practices for engagement & providing targeted support  students.

Examples may include curricular and co-curricular activities that appeal to the diversity of all students participating in global programs, innovative systems to make global opportunities financially feasible for more students, among others.

International Student Success

How are universities and colleges supporting their academic success as well as personal and professional growth of international students? This award recognizes excellence, at the institutional/organizational level, in fostering a climate of belonging that supports international students as integral members of the campus community and encourages meaningful interactions among all students.

Organizational/Institutional Champion

The Champion Award recognizes an institution/organization that exemplifies the vision and ideals of DA Global to support access for all students to the benefits of global education. The institution/organization who receives this award will be recognized as a leader within the field of international education and cultural exchange in championing student success, workforce readiness, and  organizational impact through in global education on a broad scale.

Outreach, Marketing & Recruitment

Outreach, marketing, and recruitment are three areas by which professionals manage the message about what global opportunities can offer students. This award recognizes excellence, at the institutional/organizational level, in messaging and methods that resonate with and have led to proven results in attracting students from diverse & underrepresented backgrounds to global opportunities.

Student Engagement & Support

Ensuring that students from diverse & underrepresented backgrounds have relevant information during pre-departure, are effectively supported while abroad, and are provided with opportunities to reflect on their experiences when they return is critical to the success of global programming efforts. This award recognizes excellence, at the institutional/organizational level, in the implementation of inclusive practices for engagement & support of diverse and underrepresented students.

Examples may include inclusive curricular and co-curricular activities that appeal to students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds in global opportunities, innovative systems to make global opportunities financially feasible for more students, among others.

International Student Success

With the U.S. hosting over 1 million international students, how are universities and colleges supporting their academic success as well as personal and professional growth? This award recognizes excellence, at the institutional/organizational level, in fostering an inclusive climate that supports international students as integral members of the campus community and encourages meaningful interactions among all students.

Organizational/Institutional Champion

The Champion Award recognizes an institution/organization that exemplifies the vision and ideals of Diversity Abroad to support diversity & inclusive excellence in global education. The institution/organization who receives this award will be recognized as a leader within the field of international education and cultural exchange in championing Access, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity in global education on a broad scale.

Selected by a review committee of professional representing diverse perspectives, the DA Global IMPACT Awards are unique in their focus on recognizing exemplary practices at the institutional/organizational level that leverage access to global education to achieve student and institutional success. The institutional/organizational awards are open to educational institutions (e.g., institutions of higher education, post-secondary institutions) and international education organizations (e.g., associations, education abroad providers, fellowship programs, foundations, etc) both in the U.S. and abroad.

Recipients of the DA Global IMPACT Award are must have at least one institutional/organizational representative registered for the Global Impact Conference.

Nomination Process

All the nominations include:

  • A completed online nomination form.
  • A brief description (approx. 600 words) of the institution or organization’s collective efforts based on the nomination award type (see descriptions above). Applicants should include outcomes, statistics, testimonials, and other data that exemplify how their efforts have improved access and opportunities for these student populations.
  • A letter of support from the institution’s Chief Academic Officer, Provost, President or Chancellor.

NOTE: Nominees for institutional/organizational awards must be a DA Global Member.

Individual Professional Awards

The DA Global IMPACT Awards also recognize the outstanding advancements and achievements of individual administrators, faculty or staff in the U.S. and abroad who have made significant contributions to advancing student and professional success through global education.

Rising Star Award (2-10 years)

This award is open to professionals in the U.S. and abroad who are at the beginning stages of their career and who have made significant contributions to advancing diversity and inclusion in the field of international education and exchange.

Trailblazer Award (10+ years)

This award is open to administrators, faculty or staff in the U.S. and abroad who have made significant contributions to advancing diversity and inclusion in the field of international education and exchange.

Executive Leader Award

This award recognizes the leadership of an individual who has made it an institutional priority to elevate diversity, equity and inclusion in international education across campus.
A successful nominee will have made significant contributions, through strategic planning, fundraising, setting institutional goals and otherwise, that have supported all students having equitable access to global educational opportunities as well as the expansion of the institution’s international initiatives.
Note: Nominees for this award category must presently hold a position as President, Chancellor (or equivalent) of a higher education institution in the U.S. and abroad.

Inclusive Excellence in Teaching Award

This award is open to faculty (of any rank or status), instructors, or others who has developed and offered education abroad programming in an inclusive manner. Individuals are working to ensure that students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds are supported through the curriculum and teaching practices is critical to student success and participation in global learning opportunities. Examples may include the curriculum they designed and/or practices they employ on-site to ensure an inclusive learning environment for all students.

Rising Star Award (2-10 years)

This award is open to professionals in the U.S. and abroad who are at the beginning stages of their career and who have made significant contributions to:
  • Belonging in the Workplace:
    Advance practices and policies that increase professional access to the field of international education and promote a climate of belonging in the workplace.
  • Leverage Global Opportunities as a Driver to Success: Promote global education as a driver of academic achievement, personal growth, and workforce readiness.
  • Broaden Access to Global Education: Champion trategies that ensure all students have access to the benefits of global education.

    Trailblazer Award (10+ years)

    This award is open to administrators, faculty or staff in the U.S. and abroad who have made significant contributions to:
    • Belonging in the Workplace:
      Advance practices and policies that increase professional access to the field of international education and promote a climate of belonging in the workplace.
    • Leverage Global Opportunities as a Driver to Success: Promote global education as a driver of academic achievement, personal growth, and workforce readiness.

    • Broaden Access to Global Education: Champion trategies that ensure all students have access to the benefits of global education.

    Executive Leader Award

    This award recognizes the leadership of an individual who has made it an institutional priority to elevate access to international education for all across campus.
    A successful nominee will have made significant contributions, through strategic planning, fundraising, setting institutional goals and otherwise, that have supported all students having access to global educational opportunities as well as the expansion of the institution’s international initiatives.
    Note: Nominees for this award category must presently hold a position as President, Chancellor (or equivalent) of a higher education institution in the U.S. and abroad.

    Inclusive Excellence in Teaching Award

    This award is open to faculty (of any rank or status), instructors, or others who has developed and offered education abroad programming in an inclusive manner. Individuals are working to ensure that all students are supported through the curriculum and teaching practices is critical to student success and participation in global learning opportunities. Examples may include the curriculum they designed and/or practices they employ on-site to ensure an inclusive learning environment for all students.

    Applicants may be nominated by a colleague or may self-nominate.

    Recipients of the DA Global IMPACT Individual Award must be in attendance at the Global Impact Conference.

    Nomination Process

    All the nominations include:

    • A completed online nomination form.
    • A brief description (approx. 600 words) of the individual’s contributions to advancing student success through access to global educational opportunities. Applicants should outline career and professional highlights and may include additional letters of reference or materials that exemplify the individual’s efforts.
    • A resume highlighting the applicant’s qualifications.

    NOTE: Nominees for individual awards must be affiliated with a DA Global Member institution/organization.

    Individual Student Awards

    The Global Student Leadership Awards highlights the passion and commitment of students at the undergraduate and graduate level. Awardees are particularly known on their campuses for embodying the mission and vision of DA Global by advocating for global education in their communities; engaging in research contributing to our understanding of global education’s impact on student success; and/or innovative social impact programming.

    Global Student Leadership Award - Graduate

    The award is open to one graduate student at DA Global Member institution who has participated in a global education experience.

    Awardees have made significant contributions to increasing awareness of and access to global opportunities for all students, but particularly those underrepresented in international education, at their home institution through academic, research, community and/or campus engagement activities.

    Graduate nominees are encouraged to register for the Global Impact Conference by the end of the Early Bird Registration period.

    Global Student Leadership Award - Undergraduate

    The award is open to one undergraduate student at DA Global Member institution who has participated in a global education experience.

    Awardees have made significant contributions to increasing awareness of and access to global opportunities for all students, but particularly those underrepresented in international education, at their home institution through academic, research, community and/or campus engagement activities.

    Undergraduate nominees are encouraged to attend the Global Student Leadership Summit (GSLS).

    Global Student Leadership Award - Graduate

    The award is open to one graduate student at DA Global Member institution who has participated in a global education experience.

    Awardees have made significant contributions to increasing awareness of and access to global opportunities for all students, but particularly those underrepresented in international education, at their home institution through academic, research, community and/or campus engagement activities.

    Graduate nominees are encouraged to register for the Global Impact Conference by the end of the Early Bird Registration period.

    Global Student Leadership Award - Undergraduate

    The award is open to one undergraduate student at DA Global Member institution who has participated in a global education experience.

    Awardees have made significant contributions to increasing awareness of and access to global opportunities for all students, but particularly those underrepresented in international education, at their home institution through academic, research, community and/or campus engagement activities.

    Undergraduate nominees are encouraged to attend the Global Student Leadership Summit (GSLS).

    Applicants may be nominated by a supervisor, other campus-based contact, or provider program representative.

    Student recipients of the DA Global Impact Award are encouraged to register for the Global Student Leadership Summit or the Global Impact Conference.

    Nomination Process

    All the nominations include:

    • A completed online nomination form.
    • A brief description (approx. 600 words) of the student’s contributions to advance student success through access to global educational opportunities. Applicants should outline highlights based on the descriptions above and may include additional letters of reference or materials that exemplify the individual’s efforts.

    NOTE: Nominees for student awards must be affiliated with a DA Global Member institution/organization.

    Submission Process

    Nominations for the 2024-2025 DA Global Impact Awards will open in April 2025. All nominations must be submitted electronically using the below nomination form. All materials, including required letters of support and supplementary documents must be received and submitted by Friday, June 13, 2025 to be  considered.

    Nomination Form