The Community College International Education Research Initiative is a research group organized by Dr. Melissa Whatley in William & Mary’s School of Education. Our work focuses on all aspects of international education in the U.S. community college context. We are especially interested in unconventional, less common, and new approaches that promote access to international learning opportunities for underserved populations and that result in outcomes that lead to a more just world.
The Team
Our team is made up of faculty, staff, and students primarily but not exclusively affiliated with William & Mary’s School of Education. While most everyone on our team is involved in a research project or two, some members of our team also play key organizational and leadership roles in advancing the Research Initiative’s work.
The Research
Our current research focuses on a variety of topics related to community college international education, including access to global learning opportunities, financial support for study abroad, discourses that frame international education, and support for international students.
Upcoming Events and Presentations
We share about our work on a regular basis at a variety of virtual and in-person events and conferences. Sign up for our newsletter to learn more about upcoming events and presentations.
| Title | Description | How to Attend |
| Laboratories of Democracy: How State Context Relates to International Education in U.S. Community Colleges | In this paper, Melissa Whatley, Albert Yalley, Katira Ahmed, and Mandy Brar examine factors from state context that predict the presence of international education at U.S. community colleges. | This paper will be presented in-person at the annual Association for the Study of Higher Education conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico November 3-7, 2026. |
| Opening the Black Box: Experiential Learning in Community College Virtual Exchange Programs | In this paper, Alena Chaplygina, Bingqing (Bianca) Wu, and Melissa Whatley explore how experiential learning manifests in community college virtual exchange programs. | This paper will be presented in-person at the annual Association for the Study of Higher Education conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico November 3-7, 2026. |