Member Spotlight: Erin Hillis
Dr. Erin Hillis, Executive Director - Buckman Center for Global Engagement, Rhodes College
This is the latest in a series of interviews with members of NAFSA: Association of International Educators to share insights, knowledge, and expertise about career opportunities and growth. Today we hear from Dr. Erin Hillis.
1. What made you choose international education as a career path, and specifically your specialty?
My first job as an undergraduate student was tutoring international students in ESL. From the friendships that developed in those tutoring sessions, I began to learn about their immigration regulations. It was the first time I had heard that people who needed to work to be able to afford college may not, actually, be able to just go find a part-time job. I began to learn about US regulations and I realized the important role that our school’s compassionate, expert DSOs played in my friends’ lives. Later, as a study abroad student, I entered the world of visa regulations for US citizens and appreciated the expert advice I was given by my school’s study abroad advising team. My experiences abroad transformed my understanding of humanity, peace, and history; I was suddenly on fire to make sure no one missed an opportunity for cross-cultural experiences like the ones I had had. Then, academically, my interest in languages and linguistics led me to my discipline of Applied Linguistics, focused on ESL/EFL. The beginning of my career came as an entry-level role in an international education office for both study abroad and international student services. After several promotions, I went back to school and earned my PhD in Applied Linguistics, which then opened the doors for me to design and teach a two-course sequence in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (the sequence results in a 150 Hour TEFL certificate). I’m teaching these courses as an adjunct each year while keeping my position as the Executive Director of the Buckman Center for Global Engagement at Rhodes College. This wonderful field has opportunities like this; I essentially created my own dream job – though I think it’s equally true that this career chose me.
2. What are you looking forward to at the NAFSA Annual Conference in New Orleans this year?
It’s going to be really wonderful to meet many of our new partners face to face! My team and I have been building new affiliated and exchange partnerships this year and this will be the first opportunity I’ve had to shake their hands and deliver a few tokens of our appreciation to them.
3. What membership benefits offered by NAFSA have helped you in your career?
The opportunity to develop as a leader on NAFSA’s committees is the most influential part of my NAFSA membership. NAFSA staff take great care to nurture and mentor their volunteer leaders, especially as they are taking on their first leadership roles.
4. Which of NAFSA’s special Member Interest Groups, regions, or knowledge communities do you belong to?
I’m in the incomparable NAFSA Region VII and these groups: International Student Advising Network, Education Abroad Knowledge Community Network, Global Learning in a Domestic Setting Network, International Enrollment Management Knowledge Community Network, International Student Advising Network, Rainbow SIG, and Summer & Customized International Programs (SCIP) Member Interest Group.
5. What advice would you share with job seekers or rising international educators?
Join in – take any opportunity for volunteering with NAFSA. Once you’ve made a few connections, begin inquiring about mentorship and ask an established leader for a short 3-6 month period of targeted mentoring in this field. If you’re already an established leader and seeking the next step in your career, I recommend seeking a professional coach who specializes in international education. Finally, I recommend contributing to the field through your own writing and research. Find or create a group of peers who write in international education; this aids the field’s continued professionalization and establishes you in the areas where you are a subject matter expert.
Dr. Hillis is the Executive Director of the Buckman Center for Global Engagement and senior international officer (SIO) at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. She is responsible for the College’s comprehensive internationalization initiatives and all aspects of international education, guiding the College into ever-wider intercultural understanding and inclusion. Her professional interests include LGBTQ+ issues, diversity, collaborative programming, and academic ethics in international education. She holds a PhD is in Applied Linguistics from The University of Memphis and offers a “150 Hour TEFL Certificate” two-course sequence at Rhodes as an adjunct faculty member. She is a member of the Phi Beta Delta honor society for international scholars.
