One of the hallmarks of the International Education Management (IEM) program at the Middlebury Institute is a strong emphasis on applied practice. One example of this is the collaboration between Sayre Weir MAIEM ‘20 and Milira Tillman MAIEM ‘20 and Professor Paige Butler on a published book review of Integrating Worlds: How Off-Campus Study Can Transform Undergraduate Education by Scott D. Carpenter, Helena Kaufman, and Malene Torp.
Weir and Tillman both work as graduate research assistants with Professor Butler. This collaborative research publication was their first project, beginning just weeks after arriving to Monterey and beginning their professional master’s program.
“I was grateful to have the opportunity to collaborate with Milira and Paige on reviewing such an innovative book on the integration of off-campus study and the undergraduate experience,” Weir shares and adds that while at first it felt daunting to evaluate and review the book, she
“was pleasantly surprised to see strong overlaps between the content of the book and our class readings and discussions.”
I found myself assuming a professional role while reading because I was able to connect my new knowledge of high impact practices with the suggestions mentioned in the book.
“It was reassuring to read through this text and identify varying topics that have been discussed throughout this semester,” Tillman says. “I found myself assuming a professional role while reading because I was able to connect my new knowledge of high impact practices with the suggestions mentioned in the book.”
Butler says it was a real pleasure to work with Weir and Tillman on this invited book review project for Columbia Teachers Record. “As rising scholar-practitioners, it is important to develop the skills to critically analyze texts and explore the application of research and theory to practice. Contributing back to the field through book reviews is an opportunity for professional engagement and service and serves a mutual goal of staying up to date on new publications. With their combined effort, it was exciting to see that they were able to achieve their first professional publication before fall break in their first semester of the degree program!”
With their combined effort, it was exciting to see that they were able to achieve their first professional publication before fall break in their first semester of the degree program!
Many students in the International Education Management program take advantage of graduate research and on-campus employment to build their experience and professional development alongside their academic work while at the Institute. Students apply their new-found knowledge and skills directly while working as graduate assistants, teaching assistants, and research assistants directly with faculty or holding positions in many departments across campus such as Admissions, Student Services, Dean’s Office, and Alumni Engagement to name a few. Many students and alumni have taken advantage of opportunities to collaborate with faculty to co-author articles, present at conferences, and engage in various professional development opportunities available to them through their connections at the Institute. The program helps prepare students by building their written and oral communication skills in professional settings and bringing a strong practitioner focus to apply theory and research directly into applied practice.
Eva Gudbergsdottir
eva@middlebury.edu
831.647.6606
International Education Management alumni Yuki Ueda MAIEM ’17 and David Saide MAIEM ’15 recently completed the 2019 Academy for International Education, an an intensive yearlong training program.
International Education Management faculty members Daniel Chatham, Chris McShane, Katherine Punteney, and David Wick, joined by current student Alexandra Ramos Lopez MAIEM ’20, presented Research Updates 2019 at the NAFSA Region 12 Annual Conference.
Middlebury Institute students Beth Magyar MAIEM ’20, Kathryn Murata MAIEM ’20, and Thi Nguyen MAIEM ’20 joined International Education Management professor Katherine Punteney to lead a workshop at the NAFSA Region 12 Conference in Pasadena, CA in November 2019.
