Kevin Sulivan, assistant director of education abroad was selected for the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA): Association of International Educators’ prestigious Rising Star Young Leader Award for 2023.
“Through the skill, talent and leadership he has shown in his young career, Kevin has demonstrated a commitment to advocacy, education, and innovation that are the hallmarks of NAFSA’s Rising Star Young Leader Award,” said Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of NAFSA. “In nominating Kevin, his colleagues note that he goes beyond expectations for initiatives both on and off campus. He advocates for inclusion of students with physical or mobility issues, non-apparent disabilities, ethnicity, gender concerns and more. Our association is eager to encourage Kevin’s growth as an international educator and we believe he has the promise to make further contributions to international education.”
The Rising Star Young Leader Award is given annually by NAFSA in recognition of a professional who has impacted the field of international education during the first five years of the recipient’s area of work. Each of NAFSA’s 11 regional chapters are invited to nominate a professional for the Rising Star; Kevin was nominated by his peers in NAFSA Region VI, which includes Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.
“During his short time in the Center for International Affairs, Kevin facilitated the Case Western Reserve at Xi’an Jiaotong University program for Chinese students during the pandemic, helped reimagine a robust advising structure for education abroad students, and created programs to spread awareness of education abroad and international education on campus,” said David Fleshler, vice provost for international affairs at Case Western Reserve. “Kevin is well deserving of this award, and we are excited to see him honored in this way.”
NAFSA is the largest and most comprehensive association of professionals committed to advancing international higher education. The association’s work promotes the idea that international education advances learning and scholarship, fosters understanding and respect among people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives, which is essential for developing globally competent individuals, and builds leadership for the global community.