Description  

Managing risk in international settings is challenging in its complexity and in the nature of the quickly evolving hazard landscape. In order to effectively navigate our programs to make them as safe as they should be, we need to understand the range of strategies and resources available. In this webinar we will present a summary overview of the state of the field of risk management in education abroad and explore a selection of strategies for managing various aspects of health, safety and security.

 
What topics will be addressed?

• The taxonomy of international risk management
• Student facilitation and behavior management
• Making staff trainings effective
• The legal landscape
• Liability vs safety
• Program assessment
• Defining the hazard landscape
• Information acquisition, knowledge management and communication
• Student screening
• Medical strategy
• Building capacity and continual improvement

Who should attend?

• Study abroad directors
• University risk managers
• On-site coordinators
• Study abroad program leaders
• Presidents
• Vice presidents
• Deans
• Department chairs
• Faculty

Who are the Speakers? 

Bill Frederick has been overseeing all aspects of safety for The School for Field Studies (SFS) since 2002 and directs Risk Management Education conducting international health, safety and security training and consultation for education abroad, service learning and adventure education programs. Prior to SFS, Bill served for 16 years with Outward Bound. He is also a faculty committee member for Wilderness Medical Associates teaching emergency response skills and remote medical strategy worldwide since 1991. Bill has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Colorado and an MEd from Harvard.

Natalie Mello is the Director of Global Operations in the Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). Mello oversees all aspects of the administration and management of WPI's global perspective program, including student recruitment, risk management, health and safety issues, participant orientation and faculty advisor training.  These programs exist in the US, Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia, Africa and the South Pacific and involve more than 600 participants yearly.  Mello has also served as an onsite advisor for WPI students as they have completed degree required projects in Venice, Italy; San Jos e, Costa Rica; and most recently Washington DC.  Mello is involved with national education abroad organizations particularly in the areas of risk management and has become recognized as developing a model for responsible risk management for off-campus experiences.  Mello currently serves as the Chair of the Advisory Council for The Forum on Educati'n Abroad and chaired the Forum's 2008 Annual Conference in Boston. She has served as Chair for NAFSA's Region XI, as The Education Abroad Representative for Region XI and was part of NAFSA's Strengthening the Association Working Groups in 2004.  Mello contributed to the 2005 edition on NAFSA's Guide to Education Abroad for Advisers and Administrators. She has also published and presented in the areas of engineering education, education abroad and educational outcomes assessment.  Mello is a member of the NAFSA Trainer Corp, and was a mentor in the NAFSA Academy.   Mello holds a B.A. in Art from Connecticut College, a Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language and a Master of Liberal Arts from Clark University.