Campfire
✅ Included for all participants
Peer mentorship can be a powerful support mechanism for early-career professionals and female leaders in international higher education. This session will explore how mentorship circles foster a sense of belonging, shared problem solving and collaborative leadership development. Join our circle as we draw on personal experiences and collective insights to share inspiring practices to create, cultivate and nurture these communities.
Leasa Weimer is the Director for Global Partnerships at the University of Denver, where she provides strategic leadership for the university's global engagement efforts. She oversees key international partnerships that support student and faculty mobility, collaborative research, and innovative academic programs. Leasa also serves as DU's Fulbright Scholar Liaison, helping faculty pursue international exchange and research/teaching opportunities.
Beyond her role at DU, Leasa contributes to the international education field as a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee on Partnerships and a Founding Board Member of the Institute of International Education's Community of Practice for Partnership Professionals.
Prior to joining DU, she spent more than a decade working in Europe in international education and research. Her experience includes positions with the Fulbright Finland Foundation, the European Association for International Education (EAIE), and the University of Jyväskylä in Finland. She has authored and edited numerous publications on international higher education and led research projects supported by UNESCO and the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture.
Leasa holds a doctorate from the University of Georgia and received a Fulbright grant to conduct dissertation research in Finland. She also earned an Erasmus Mundus joint master's degree, studying in Norway, Finland, and Portugal, and served as President of the Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association.
Alicia Betts has over 15 years of experience in international higher education, having served in various roles across higher education associations and universities. Currently, Alicia serves as the Strategic International Projects Manager at the University of Girona in Catalonia, Spain. In this role, she coordinates the COIL and Virtual Exchange Community of Practice, engages in Internationalization at Home (IaH) initiatives and is part of the local team at the European University for Cross-Border Knowledge Sharing (Across). Alicia graduated from the Universities of Oslo (Norway), Tampere (Finland) and Aveiro (Portugal) with an Erasmus Mundus Master's degree in Higher Education Policy and Management.
Since 2024, Alicia has been a member of the EAIE Thematic Committee Teaching, learning and curriculum.
Marina is the Director of Member Relations for Europe at ISEP Study Abroad and holds a PhD in International Higher Education. With over 25 years of experience in internationalization, she serves in the EAIE Leadership and is the creator of SUCTI, an award-winning professional development program for university staff. She is currently leading its evolution through SCOPE, and is a frequent speaker and trainer at international conferences.
