Samantha Nissen
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Pronouns: she, her, hers
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Doctoral Student, CIDE (LIIE Cohort)
Areas of interest
- International higher education
- Career development and professional identity formation
- Student narrative and memory in formal and non-formal journalism education spaces
MEd, Cultural and Educational Policy Studies, Loyola University Chicago, 2017
BA, Journalism and International Studies (East Asia), University of Iowa, 2013
I am an educational researcher currently studying narratives from international students in U.S journalism schools on contested issues of democracy, press freedom, belonging. Broadly, I seek to collaborate with students to generate research that produces social justice outcomes, especially related to work and labor practices inside and outside formal school settings.
After a brief stint as a magazine editor, I have spent nearly a decade in higher education, working in career development, international education, and marketing and communications. Now, I am the associate director of strategic initiatives at the Northwestern University Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs, serving as a senior leader and strategic advisor on comprehensive internationalization initiatives. Most recently, I have been deeply engaged in how universities can contribute to global sustainable development.
I am currently the secretary for the Higher Education Special Interest Group in the Comparative and International Education Society and am serving as a mentor for the International Educators of Illinois. I live in Chicago with my partner and our two house rabbits, Poppy and Bean.
Professional Affiliations
American College Personnel Association
Comparative and International Education Society
NAFSA: Association of International Educators
Awards
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. College of Education and Human Development. Burkhardt Endowed Fellowship, 2023.
American College Personnel Association, Commission for Career Services. Commitment to Social Justice in Career Services. 2021.
Nissen, S. (April 2022). Journalism education and the production of democratic futures: international students in U.S. graduate journalism programs. Poster session at the Comparative and International Education Society Annual Conference. Minneapolis, MN.
Nissen, S., Tolman, S., Li, Q., Montonari, C. (March 2021). Building a community of advocates: supporting international student career development within non-STEM disciplines. Co-presented session at the International Educators of Illinois Annual Conference, Remote.
Nissen, S., Tolman, S., Hong, D. (March 2020). Crucial Intersection: International Student Career Advising. Co-presented session at the International Educators of Illinois Annual Conference, Bloomington, IL.
Nissen, S., Tolman, S. (March 2019). International Education 101: Welcome to the field. Co-presented session at the International Educators of Illinois Annual Conference, Wheaton, IL.
Nissen, S., Tolman, S. (March 2018). Newbies, Unite! An introduction to the field of international education. Co-presented session at the International Educators of Illinois Annual Conference, Palatine, IL.
Nissen, S. (February 2018). Introduction to International Education. Speaker at class “Working Internationally: Global Careers in Education, Translation, and Cultural Exchange” at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA.
Nissen, S. (October 2017). Open Meeting: Communications and Marketing Member Interest Group. Chaired meeting at NAFSA Region V Conference, Detroit, MI.
Nissen, S. (October 2017). The World Comes to Iowa: Cold War Politics and the International Writing Program (1960s-1970s). Paper presented at the annual Organization of Educational Historians Conference, Chicago, IL.
Nissen, S. (October 2015). Technology Makeover. Invited moderator at the Iowa City Book Festival, Iowa City, IA.
Nissen, S. (May 2015). Fostering Global Artistic Partnerships. Invited panelist at the Networking Performing Arts Production Workshop Conference, London, England.