Rebecca Clothey

I am deeply honored to be nominated for Vice President of the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES), and I welcome the opportunity to support and advance the Society’s mission. In this moment—when education systems worldwide are shaped by conflict and displacement, climate disruption, widening inequality, and pressures on academic freedom and public trust—CIES is more important than ever. As a global community of scholars and practitioners, we are uniquely positioned to convene rigorous comparative research, foster cross-cultural dialogue, and illuminate how education both reflects and transforms social, political, and economic life.

If elected, I would seek to build on the strong foundation laid by past leaders by strengthening what CIES does best: connecting people across regions and disciplines, supporting ethically grounded international scholarship, and creating spaces where difficult conversations can happen with intellectual generosity and care. As Vice President and President, my goal would be to help CIES remain a vibrant professional home for long-time members while also expanding pathways for early-career scholars and colleagues who face barriers to participation.

I have been an active member of CIES for the past 25 years, and my service has given me a deep appreciation for both the Society’s remarkable strengths and the work required to sustain them. I have served on the Board of Directors (2020–2023), as Chair of the Honorary Fellows Committee (2023), as Co-Chair of the SIG Oversight Committee (2020–2022), and as a member of the Nominations Committee (2024). I also previously chaired the Higher Education SIG Awards Committee (2016–2018) and served as Asia Desk Editor for the Higher Education SIG newsletter (now the Journal of Comparative and International Higher Education). Through these roles, I have learned how much CIES depends on the often-unseen labor of committees, SIG leaders, reviewers, and conference organizers—and how important transparent governance and communication are for sustaining member trust and engagement.

As a leader, I am collaborative and member-centered. I value listening carefully, communicating clearly, and building shared priorities across diverse perspectives. If elected, I would focus on member-driven goals, for example, strengthening SIG and member engagement, expanding access and inclusion, and supporting early career scholars.

CIES has tremendous potential to help scholars and practitioners navigate—and shape—this complex educational landscape. It would be a privilege to serve the Society as Vice President and, if elected, as President. I would welcome members’ ideas and look forward to working with the Board, SIGs, and the broader membership to sustain CIES as a leading global forum for comparative and international education.