Join NIEA
Membership in the NIEA is open to all public and private institutions of higher education in the Pacific Northwest. The Board of Directors is made up of representatives of member colleges who plan and evaluate programs and services. Member colleges pay annual dues to support the activities of the organization.
Benefits of Membership
NIEA offers opportunities in the international arena that are not available or practical for members individually. Some of the benefits include:
Mini-Grant Program
For more than 30 years, NIEA has awarded mini-grants for projects to internationalize curriculum. Awards range from $900-$1,500, depending on the extent of curricular development. NIEA’s mini-grant program has benefited hundreds of faculty and students in the region. Abstracts of projects and course materials are available to the NIEA membership. For colleges looking to international their curriculum, this is a great place to start due to the plethora of projects housed in our database.
Visiting Scholars Program
NIEA is licensed through the U.S. State Department to provide the paperwork and tracking to support J-visas to host visiting faculty, scholars and teaching assistants from around the world. Through this program, over 90 exchange visitors from 20+ different countries have come to our campuses to share their expertise.
Community College Master Teacher Institute (CCMTI)
NIEA collaborates with the University of Washington Center for Global Studies in the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies to provide a two-day annual summer institute for community college faculty. The goal of the institute is to increase capacity for college faculty to internationalize curriculum in order to help college students expand their knowledge and understanding of the world and global issues.
Global Education Conference
Every year, NIEA sponsors a one-day conference for college faculty, staff and students to learn about current global issues and world events. The theme of the conference builds on the yearly theme of the Community College Master Teacher Institute with world-renowned researchers, discipline-specific experts and community leaders presenting.
Current Member Colleges
NIEA partners with the University of Washington’s Center for Global Studies to provide a two-day annual summer institute for community college faculty. The goal of the institute is to increase capacity for college faculty to internationalize curriculum in order to help college students expand their knowledge and understanding of the world and global issues.
Current Board Members

NIEA President
Olympic College
Dean of Student Success & Engagement
hlukashin@olympic.edu
360.475.7199

NIEA Secretary
Pierce College
SEVIS Manager, Office of International Education
Adjunct Faculty for College Success
sjtaylor@pierce.ctc.edu

NIEA Treasurer
Edmonds College
Accounting Faculty
sophia.ju@email.edcc.edu
425.640.1124

Board Member
Edmonds College
Associate Director, Global Engagement and Study Abroad
emily.schifferling@edcc.edu
425.640.1618

Board Member
Shoreline Community College
Senior Associate Director of International Outreach
bfu@shoreline.edu
203.327.8085

Board Member
Olympic College
Intensive English Faculty
jwalton@olympic.edu

Board Member
Lane Community College
Dean of Student Engagement
falzeranoj@lanecc.edu
541.463.3413

Board Member
Whatcom Community College
Associate Director of International Programs
uschraml@whatcom.edu
360.383.3244

Board Member
Highline College
Program Manager, Global Co-Curricular Programs
Instructor for Global Studies/Political Science
jritchey@highline.edu
206.592.3458

Board Member
Portland Community College
Chair, Internationalization Steering Committee (ISC)
rbekey@pcc.edu

Board Member
Pierce College
International Outreach Specialist
kstrittmatter@pierce.ctc.edu

Board Member
Portland Community College
Assistant Director, Office of International Student Services
alicia.adams3@pcc.edu
971.722.7194