Fanta Aw executive director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, tells us how her first exposure to international education started at a young age when she moved from Mali to Liberia and eventually Washington where she attended international schools with students from various countries. This experience instilled in her a lifelong appreciation for diverse cultures and a sense of global citizenship.

Fanta emphasizes the need to demonstrate the value of international education to society, particularly in a time of geopolitical tensions, stressing how international education fosters interconnectedness, enabling positive change through peaceful people-to-people exchanges. She highlights the need to address equity and access advocating for "internationalization at home" initiatives which can bring global perspectives to those unable to study abroad, and stresses the importance of creating spaces where diverse voices are heard, fostering respectful dialogue and addressing the root causes of fear and polarization in society… and she shares the feeling of gratitude for having been able to experience our shared humanity through the memorable human connections in international education.