[Video] U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand, Scott Brown, Encourages U.S. Students to Study Abroad in New Zealand

Still time to register for the 2017 IIE Summit on Generation Study Abroad being held in Washington, DC from October 1–3, 2017 #IIESummit2017 #GenerationStudyAbroad

There is still time to register for the 2017 IIE Summit on Generation Study Abroad and you can do so via the registration page here.

Last year I was invited to attend the 2016 IIE Summit on Generation Study Abroad on a press pass for IHEC Blog and it was an excellent experience.  There were many great sessions and the networking opportunities with both old and new friends and colleagues ere plentiful.  I would love to attend the Summit again this year but my work schedule prevents will prevent me from attending this year (more on this in a future IHEC Blog post).

I'm a huge supporter of IIE's Generation Study Abroad initiative.  I was honored to be invited by IIE to attend the Generation Study Abroad Think Tank with other leaders from the public, private and educational sectors at their New York headquarters on March 12, 2014 to discuss what it will take to double the number of students studying abroad and to launch the Generation Study Abroad initiative.

Disclaimer:  I make no profit or receive any other benefit for this post.

U.S. suspends all nonimmigrant visa operations in Russia on August 23 due to Russian government cap on U.S. diplomatic personnel

More via the U.S. Mission to Russia at https://ru.usembassy.gov/u-s-mission-russia-statement/

Live Feed Today - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to address State Department Student Programs & Fellowships participants at 10:10am EST

Updated August 19, 2017

Below is the talk by Secretary Tillerson yesterday:



I assume this live feed of U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson addressing State Department Student Programs and Fellowships participants will be held at 10:10am EST via https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/USDOS.

It also appears that it will be recorded should you be unable to watch the live feed.

12 students from Gaza who are participating in the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program visited and bowled at The White House

On Wednesday, August 16, 2017, 12 students from Gaza who are participating in the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program visited and bowled at The White House.  A key figure who appears to have worked with the Government of Israel to bring these students to the United States and then welcomed them to The White House was Jason Greenblatt.  Greenblatt is Assistant to President Donald Trump and Special Representative for International Negotiation.  I have embedded four of Greenblatt's tweets pertaining to the visit by these students below:

Thanks to the Government of Israel for working with my office to get travel permits for these students. pic.twitter.com/zjkwLoZf0B

— Jason D. Greenblatt (@jdgreenblatt45) August 17, 2017

After, the students and some of our staff went bowling at the @WhiteHouse Truman Bowling Alley. pic.twitter.com/eQque20SCg

— Jason D. Greenblatt (@jdgreenblatt45) August 17, 2017

These students will spend the next year in the US at high schools. I know they and their hosts will learn much from their experiences. pic.twitter.com/DIVXcuqaJU

— Jason D. Greenblatt (@jdgreenblatt45) August 17, 2017

Today, I helped welcome 12 students from Gaza who are participating in the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program to @WhiteHouse. pic.twitter.com/AZPvXq1vj6

— Jason D. Greenblatt (@jdgreenblatt45) August 17, 2017

A Change in Senior Leadership at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)

It appears (via @ECA_AS on Twitter) that Mark Taplin has left his role as Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State yesterday and has handed the reins over to Alyson Grunder. Grunder is currently Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.  It's unclear if Grunder will be Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs or if she is a permanent replacement.

Many thanks to Mark Taplin for his service to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and welcome to Alyson Grunder to her new role!