The 60th Anniversary International Plenary and Luncheon took place on the final day of NAFSA’s 2008 Annual Conference. Keynote speaker Amy Chua, the John M. Duff, Jr. Professor of Law at Yale Law School, signed copies of her book. The gathering provided an opportunity to recognize conference participants from outside the United States. Dr. Muwaffak Al-Rubaie, Iraqi National Security Advisor, announced a new Iraqi study abroad-related educational initiative.

The closing reception focused on celebrating the success of the annual conference in Washington, D.C., and looking forward to NAFSA’s 2009 Annual Conference and Expo in Los Angeles, CA.

See you in LA!

At the NAFSA 60th Annual Conference, author Amy Chua spoke to thousands of attendees and provided revolutionary insights into global power, politics, and economics (above).

At the 60th NAFSA Conference, Dr. Muwaffak Al-Rubaie, Iraqi National Security Advisor, announced the Iraqi Educational Initiative which will include study abroad scholarships for 10,000 Iraqi students each year for the next 5 years. This initiative was created because education is the key to Iraq’s development. (above, with Marlene Johnson and Everett Egginton).

More than 9,000 individuals attended the 60th NAFSA Conference. Next year’s NAFSA conference will be in Los Angeles. Photos from the Closing Reception are above and below.

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The morning started off with a dialogue with advisers to U.S. presidential candidates on the topic of U.S. Global Leadership and Engagement. The forum was moderated by Dr. Moisés Naím, editor-in-chief of Foreign Policy magazine, and included panelists Denis McDonough of Obama for America, Mara Rudman of Hillary Clinton for President, and Richard Fontaine of John McCain for President. Read more about the panel and watch the full session online here.

Thursday’s plenary featured Ishmael Beah, former child soldier, who signed copies of his book, A Long Way Gone, which tells how he was recruited at age 13 to fight as a child soldier in Sierra Leone.

Recognition of four of NAFSA’s founding leaders took place prior to the plenary, as did several award ceremonies.

The Marita Houlihan Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Field of International Education was awarded to Ellen E. Mashiko.

The Homer Higbee Award for Distinguished Service to NAFSA was awarded to Peter Briggs.

The 2008 Senator Paul Simon Awards for Campus Internationalization were awarded to Goucher College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Pittsburg State University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Valparaiso University. Three schools—Colorado State University, Miami Dade College, and Webster University—also received recognition as “spotlighted” schools in 2008.

Life Membership Awards were given to Dixon Johnson, David Larsen, and Jerry Wilcox.

Advisors for each of the three presidential candidates provided a lively discussion at NAFSA’s 60th Annual conference. Moderator, Dr. Moises Naim, editor-in-chief of Foreign Policy and and presidential advisors Denis McDonough (Barack Obama), Mara Rudman (Hillary Clinton), and Richard Fontaine (John McCain).

At the 60th NAFSA Conference, Ishmael Beah, himself a boy soldier in Sierra Leone, spoke on the plight of children affected by war around the world and the importance of international education and exchange on global understanding a peace (above).

Students from Washington DC area schools, McLean High School, the School Without Walls, and Woodrow Wilson High School, joined students from North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Georgia to welcome Ishmael Beah to NAFSA’s 60th Annual Conference (above).

NAFSA’s 60th Conference welcomed Mary Thompson who was a NAFSA founder and president from 1972-73 (above).

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NAFSA’s 60th Anniversary Plenary Panel focused on Examining Public Diplomacy and its Effects. The panel discussion was moderated by Judy Woodruff of The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and featured Keith Reinhard of Business for Diplomatic Action, Shashi Tharoor, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Pat Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and Hisham Melham, journalist with Annahar, Al-Qabas, Radio Monte Carlo, and Al-Arabiya.

Conference participants had a chance to visit poster displays of presenters to hear about their experiences, programs, and services and to exchange ideas in areas such as research findings, assessment and evaluation tools, and outstanding models in international education.

In the evening, conference-goers enjoyed a special event called “Dinner at an Embassy,” where they were able to visit one of several embassies in Washington, D.C., for dinner and a cultural performance.

Judy Woodruff, senior correspondent and 2008 politics editor for The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer moderated the panel discussion examining the role of public diplomacy in global affairs (above).

Panelists Hisham Melhem, Pat Harrison, Keith Reinhard and Shashi Tharoor joined moderator Judy Woodruff to discuss the role of public diplomacy in global affairs (above and below).

Thousands of NAFSA Conference attendees attended the Wednesday plenary session (above).

The NAFSA Commons was a center of activity at the NAFSA Educational EXPO (above).

More than 500 exhibits filled the NAFSA Educational EXPO (above).

Attendees at the 60th NAFSA Conference attending one of over 200 sessions on international education and exchange (above).

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The opening day of conference kicked off with the opening of the International Education Expo Hall at 9:00 a.m., featuring more than 600 exhibitor booths. NAFSA’s Conference Symposium on Leadership, “Excavating the Layers of Institutional Culture,” addressed the critical need of “Knowledge of the Home Institution” for those occupying leadership positions and contributing significantly to campus internationalization and policy formulation.

Vicente Fox, former president of Mexico, was keynote speaker at the opening plenary session and signed copies of his autobiography, Revolution of Hope: The Life, Faith and Dreams of a Mexican President.

The Cassandra Pyle Award for Leadership and Collaboration in International Education and Exchange was awarded to Ward Chamberlain.

The Opening Reception and 60^th Anniversary Celebration took place in the International Education Expo Hall, where participants had an opportunity to experience the colorful and diverse flavors in Washington, D.C, neighborhoods.

Everett Egginton and Mary Reeves cut the ribbon at the Educational EXPO at NAFSA’s 60^th Annual Conference (above).

Thousands of NAFSA Conference attendees attended the opening plenary session (above).

Vicente Fox, President of Mexico from 2000 to 2006, was the opening plenary speaker at the 60^th NAFSA Conference (above).

The Cassandra Pyle Award for Leadership and Collaboration in International Education and Exchange was presented to Ward Chamberlain, former chairperson and life trustee of the AFS board and former CEO of PBS (above).

Attendees at the NAFSA Conference networked and visited the more than 500 exhibitors at the NAFSA Educational EXPO (above).

Watch the official opening of the Expo Hall at the 2008 NAFSA Conference (thanks to NAFSA Member Ruth Sylte for the video)

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C-SPAN is planning to broadcast the opening plenary address of Vicente Fox, former president of Mexico, at 4:30 p.m. (ET) on Tuesday May 27, 2008.

Visit http://www.c-span.org/ and scroll down to “This Week on C-SPAN” for information.