With NAFSA just around the corner, members of the international education community who are “left behind” or can’t make it to Pennsylvania for whatever reason are being invited to take part and connect with each other through a social media hashtag and professional development webinar series.

Founder of Melibee Global Education Consulting Missy Gluckmann told The PIE News that she created the #NotatNAFSA2018 hashtag after speaking with several people who were “truly disappointed” to not be attending North America’s largest annual higher education conference this year.

“A couple of years ago I used the occasional #notatNAFSA hashtag for my own musings,” she explained.

“I loved attending the national, but when I didn’t go to the conference I wondered what else people did when they weren’t at NAFSA. This is how it started – I was curious.”

Instead, Gluckmann said she began offering some online professional development for those who were “left behind” at the office or who weren’t yet employed to have an office to leave behind.

“People seemed to really appreciate it,” she said.

“This year, after making the decision not to attend, I thought it would be fun to be more playful with the hashtag #NotatNAFSA2018.

“Ultimately, I’d like it to be a playful way for us to know each other more than we might as we pass through a busy conference.”

In addition to the hashtag, there is a series of webinars being made available on the Melibee the week of NAFSA 2018, including a free one on May 30.

Gluckman described the hashtag campaign as an opportunity to reuniting with colleagues who have become friends and learn what is innovative in the field without being in the exhibit hall.

“I’m excited to see the participation and where the conversations go, so I would love for people to contribute to the hashtag on Twitter,” she added.

If you are lucky enough to be heading to the NAFSA 2018 conference between May 27-June 1, 2018, you can meet some of The PIE team at booth 1040.