Emerson Receives Simon Award for Campus Internationalization

November 16, 2020 Update:  President Lee Pelton will represent Emerson in a presidential panel of winning institutions hosted by NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

Emerson College was recently named one of four U.S. colleges and universities to receive a 2020 Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization.

The award recognizes overall excellence in internationalization efforts as evidenced in mission, strategies, programs, and results, and is given to fewer than five institutions a year.

NAFSA: Association of International Educators awarded four universities and colleges the Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization. Along with Emerson, the other higher education institution recipients were Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach Campus; United States Naval Academy; and University of California, Davis.

“Emerson College was selected due to the success of the Curriculum Internationalizing Studio, strong diversity and inclusion efforts, and a clear focus for internationalization in the institution’s strategic plan,” said Dale LaFleur, Senior Director, Academic Affairs and Internationalization. “These qualities exemplify the ability of Emerson College to integrate and infuse international, intercultural and global dimensions into the ethos and outcomes of their students’ education.”

The award is named after Paul Simon, who was a Democratic U.S. Senator for Illinois from 1984 to 1996.

“At NAFSA we are guided by our belief that international education lies at the core of an interconnected world characterized by peace, security and well-being for all,” said Esther D. Brimmer, NAFSA Executive Director and CEO via press release. “We are thrilled to honor the wonderful work of these … higher education institutions to internationalize their campuses and prepare their students to be globally competent individuals. With their innovation and commitment to internationalization, these campuses are leading us to be a more welcoming, globally engaged United States.”