Katie Wiggins-Gawlik is the Assistant Director of Member Relations for US Exchanges at ISEP Study Abroad. She also volunteers as the Spain Country Coordinator on NAFSA’s EARP Consular Affairs Liaison Subcommittee, liaising to the Spanish Consulate in Chicago and the Italian Consulate in Detroit. Katie holds a master’s degree in counseling for student development administration and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish for secondary education. She is particularly interested in the effect of education abroad on the intersectionality of student identities and the role of intercultural education in transformative social justice. Prior to her role at ISEP, Katie held advising roles at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business and Ramapo College of New Jersey, and she lived and worked in Sevilla, Spain. In her free time, Katie enjoys cooking, gardening, and spending time with her family and three energetic dogs.
Why I Chose to Work in Education Abroad — Katie's Story
I actually started out as a study abroad student myself. I spent a semester in Sevilla, Spain, with the very same program I later ended up working for—which still feels surreal to say. At the time, I was majoring in secondary education for Spanish, and after returning from Spain, I went into student teaching.But midway through that experience, I had a moment. Like—wow. Here I was, a super senior in my fifth year, about to graduate after years of preparation, and I realized… I don't think this is what I want to do with my life.
Then, almost like the universe stepping in, a position opened up with the Sevilla program—a student development coordinator role. It felt like a dream. I loved the staff from my time there, had built a strong connection to the local community, and had made friendships I really wanted to keep nurturing. So I went for it—and got the job.
Being back in Sevilla, something clicked. I was right about my passion for education—it’s in my blood, really, coming from a family of educators. But I had been wrong about the age group. High school just wasn’t the right fit for me. Education abroad, though? That felt exactly right!
The People Who Shape Us — Katie’s Reflection on Mentorship in Education Abroad
There have been so many people and experiences that have shaped my journey in this field—it would honestly take hours to name them all. Some stepped into a mentor role with intention, while others just happened to be there at the right moment and had a lasting impact. But one person who stands out is Benjamin Levy.
Ben was my supervisor during my graduate assistantship at Ramapo, and he’s incredibly well known in the field—for good reason. He has this rare ability to make everyone he speaks with feel truly seen and valued. I had never met someone who carried that kind of presence before, and it left a mark.
I remember my very first NAFSA Annual Conference in 2016—it was in Denver, and I was just finishing up my grad program. That conference is huge and can feel really overwhelming. I mean, you hear ten different languages just riding the escalator up to the expo hall! It was exciting, but also a little intimidating. I didn’t have a strong professional network yet and was definitely feeling like the new kid in the room.
Ben, though, made sure I didn’t feel that way for long. He reminded me a bit of Barney from How I Met Your Mother—always introducing me with a friendly, “Have you met Katie?” Everywhere we went, he’d make sure I was included in conversations, even though I was just about to finish my assistantship and wouldn’t be working under him much longer. He went out of his way to make sure I felt like I belonged in that space.
I know he’s done the same for so many others in our field—sometimes intentionally, sometimes just by being who he is. But for me, Ben was my first real mentor, and thinking back, he played a huge role in helping me believe there was a place for me in education abroad.
Mentorship as Heart Work — Katie on Why She Mentors
That’s such a great question. Honestly, I had to sit with it for a minute because, for me, mentorship feels like something that just is—it’s not something I consciously set out to do. I don’t wake up and think, “Today, I’m going to be a mentor.” It’s just part of how I move through the world.
There’s a story I used to share with students during our farewell gatherings in Spain that really captures how I feel about mentorship. It’s about a young man who boasts that he has the most beautiful heart—it’s perfect, shiny, and unblemished. Then he meets an older man who says, “No, I have the most beautiful heart.” He shows his heart, and it’s scarred, patched, stitched together—a mess by comparison. But the old man explains that every time he had a meaningful interaction with someone, they exchanged pieces of their hearts. The patches and scars are from the people he loved, learned from, and connected with.
That story has stuck with me, and I think it sums up mentorship perfectly. For me, mentoring isn’t about checking a box or helping someone achieve a specific goal—although sometimes it does include that. More often, it’s about saying, “Hey, I’ve been there,” and listening deeply. It’s about sharing, connecting, and being open to learning from the person you’re mentoring just as much as they’re learning from you.
What I get out of it is that exchange. Those conversations remind me of why this work matters. It brings me back to the idea we talked about earlier—that the work we do in education abroad is deeply impactful. We may not be aid workers or peacekeepers in the traditional sense, but the connections we help foster are essential to building understanding and empathy across borders.
Mentorship, to me, is one way to ensure that impact continues—through relationships, through heart work, and through the people who carry it forward.
Lessons in Mentorship — Katie on Reaching Forward and Reaching Back
One of the most meaningful lessons I’ve learned about mentorship actually came from my graduate school advisor. He described working in higher ed—particularly in student development—as this ongoing motion where you’re always walking forward with one hand stretched out in front of you, and the other reaching back.
That image has really stayed with me. You’re constantly being guided by those who came before you, learning from their experiences and wisdom. But at the same time, you have a responsibility to reach behind you—to support and lift up those who are newer to the field, who are figuring things out just like you once did (and let’s be real, still are).
I never set out thinking, “I want to be a mentor.” I wouldn’t necessarily describe myself as someone who planned for this role. I just try to be myself, to show up, to contribute to a sense of community. If that creates space for others to grow or feel supported, then I’m doing something right.
Another huge piece of the puzzle? Don’t take yourself too seriously. Every time I think I have something figured out, life humbles me real quick. There’s always more to learn. And in mentorship, just like in leadership, you have to listen at least as much as you talk. That balance keeps you grounded. None of us are the magic key to making everything work—we’re all in it together.
How NAFSA Has Shaped My Professional Journey
NAFSA has played such a huge role in my growth as an education abroad professional. I’ve had the honor and privilege of volunteering as part of the Consular Affairs Liaison (CAL) team since around late 2020 or early 2021—and wow, time flies. Being part of that community has been incredibly rewarding.
I think there’s a perception that volunteering with “Big NAFSA”—especially at the national level—can be intimidating, especially for folks who are newer to the field. It’s easy to wonder, What do I have to contribute here? But what I’ve found is that NAFSA is built on the idea that everyone belongs and everyone matters. The organization literally can’t function without the contributions of its volunteers, and that creates a really empowering atmosphere.
Through NAFSA, I’ve gained so much—not just knowledge, but confidence. I never thought I’d feel comfortable speaking publicly about something as complex as visa issues, but here we are! It’s not that any of us have it all figured out (because, let’s be honest, the rules change constantly), but having a community to learn from and lean on makes all the difference.
Volunteering with NAFSA has also broadened my professional lens. After spending over a decade on the university side, I’ve recently shifted to a provider role, and I now work with colleagues from public and private institutions, both in the U.S. and internationally. That variety of perspectives is incredibly valuable—it’s like being part of a big choir of voices, all working together to keep things moving forward.
And then of course, there’s the conferences, the resources, and all the other support NAFSA provides. Honestly, I don’t think I’d be where I am in my career today without those experiences. If you're on the fence about getting involved, whether you're brand new to the field or a seasoned pro, I can’t recommend it enough. Volunteering with NAFSA opens doors—and more importantly, it connects you to a truly global community.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Katie
When I think about where I see myself in five to ten years, the first thing that comes to mind is: hopefully deep in a doctoral program! I've started applying to PhD and EdD programs—though I’ll admit, it's been a journey. I didn’t get into the program I applied to this year, but that’s part of the process. Now I’m back to evaluating my options and trying to navigate all the moving parts: the financial logistics, the research focus, everything. It’s so different from applying to undergrad or even a master’s program—this is a whole other beast.
What really drives me right now is a topic I’ve started to explore more publicly in my professional work: supporting fat students in study abroad. I’ve presented on this at Regional NAFSA, at the Global Respectful Disruption Summit, and I’m excited to be bringing it to the national NAFSA conference, too.
This is a conversation we need to be having more often. In the U.S., weight and body size is only a protected class in the state of Michigan. That means in most other states, you can still be fired for being “too fat”—with no legal recourse. A few cities and counties have protections in place, but Michigan is the only state with that level of legal recognition.Despite its relevance, weight is almost entirely left out of DEI conversations, especially in international education. But for fat students, body size is a visible identity they carry with them every day—especially when traveling or living abroad, which can come with added complexities, stigmas, and logistical barriers. I’ve lived it myself, both as a student and during the years I spent abroad.