CIEE's Annual Conference took place in Santa Fe, New Mexico on November 10-13, 2004. This year's theme, "Closing the Circle: Creating an Enduring International Experience" focused on preparing students to be global citizens - abroad and at home. The conference addressed such issues as quantifying the effects of study abroad on a student's education and development, evaluating program efficacy, and ensuring that a student's study abroad experience is only one part of a continuing circle that transforms their future.
The Opening Plenary Session was held a the Museum of Fine Arts in the St. Francis Auditorium. Museum galleries were open to CIEE conference participants before the speech and was greatly enjoyed by all.
McKinney Russell, President of the Public Diplomacy Council, gave the opening plenary. As a consultant on U.S. exchanges and training programs with the former Soviet Republics, a Counselor of the U.S. Information Agency, Minister Counselor for Public Affairs, among many other posts, McKinney's knowledge about public diplomacy and international exchange is invaluable during this crucial time. To read his speech, please click here.
Over 25 concurrent sessions were presented at the conference, including two half-day workshops. Click here to read the conference program which describes the sessions and workshops presented in Santa Fe.
Click here to read "Looking Through a Different Lens" Short and Long Term Impact on Alumni with Disabilities." This session helped to inform education abroad providers how to better serve students with disabilities while learning of issues that affected them while abroad, and upon the return home.
Click here to see a slideshow of the conference.