The Office of the President annually presents the President’s Awards for Leadership in International Education to honor outstanding faculty and staff who advance international education at U-M. The university offers a wide array of global learning opportunities, including study abroad, language immersion, internships, and service learning, while international students and scholars significantly enrich the campus community and academic scholarship. These awards recognize the faculty and staff who lead and support these efforts, showcasing their dedication, creativity, and cross-cultural expertise. Thanks to funding from the Year of Global Engagement, the awards now include a Rising Professionals category in addition to the Distinguished Service category:
Distinguished Service — recognizes individuals with a long-standing, sustained commitment and significant achievements in advancing international education, including program development, curricular innovation, and leadership role
Rising Professionals — recognizes early- to mid-career professionals who have made notable contributions and show strong potential for future leadership in international education
Eligibility
Open to all active U-M faculty and staff on all campuses (except employees in the Office of the Vice Provost for Engaged Learning or the Office of the President).
Nominees must meet the criteria for either the Distinguished Service or Rising Professionals category.
Nomination Process
Nominations may be submitted by any active U-M faculty, staff, or student and are typically due in February. Each nomination must include:
Nomination cover sheet summarizing the nominee’s service and roles
A 500-600 word statement describing the nominee’s achievements and impact
Three letters of support
Current curriculum vitae
Selection
A faculty/staff committee reviews nominations, with members drawn from the Council on Global Engagement, International Education Network, and campus departments. Nominees remain eligible for two consecutive years.
