Angelina Palumbo, director of Education Abroad, takes the lead on fostering relationships with international partners to give all NAU students options to studying abroad, regardless of their major or background. And she’s doing a darned good job: Arizona International Educators (AIE) just recognized her with the Distinguished Contributions to Global Initiatives in Arizona Award! We asked Palumbo a few quick Q’s about this recognition and what it means to her.
Tell us about the Distinguished Contributions to Global Initiatives in Arizona award.
The Distinguished Contributions to Global Initiatives in Arizona Award, presented by AIE, recognizes individuals, institutions or programs that have demonstrated outstanding leadership and sustained commitment to advancing global education across the state. The award highlights efforts that expand international learning opportunities, build meaningful partnerships between Arizona and institutions around the world and foster deeper cross-cultural understanding among students, educators and communities. By acknowledging innovative programs, collaborative initiatives and impactful leadership, the award celebrates those whose work strengthens Arizona’s global engagement and truly makes a difference in international education.
What does this recognition mean to you personally and professionally?
Honestly, I could not do my job as well as I do without my colleagues, both in and out of Education Abroad. The cross-campus collaborations and shared excitement to see NAU students have an experience abroad make all of the work I do have value beyond the paycheck. It is an honor to receive the award—an extra cherry on top to celebrate all the amazing work happening in Education Abroad at NAU. While my name is on the award, it really does go to everyone on my team. Moving forward, this recognition encourages me to expand partnerships, support inclusive global initiatives and contribute to projects that create sustainable impact. It also inspires me to mentor others and help broaden access to global opportunities so that more students and communities can participate in meaningful international collaboration.
How do you hope this award influences your future work or goals?
I hope this award brings awareness of the importance of learning abroad. It shows that our programming is high impact, beyond the campus and promotes international engagement and global problem-solving. Ultimately, this award serves as a reminder that thoughtful global engagement can drive positive change, and it strengthens my determination to continue pursuing work that connects people, ideas and solutions across borders.