September 2, 2025 (Volume 49, Number 1)
Felix Ngassa, assistant vice president for Academic Affairs, is a member of the NAFSA Executive Internationalization Leadership e-Institute.
Photo Credit: Cory Morse
Felix Ngassa, assistant vice president for Academic Affairs, was selected to participate in the 2025-2026 cohort of NAFSA's Executive Internationalization Leadership e-Institute, a year-long professional development program for leaders responsible for implementing internationalization at their institutions.
The NAFSA e-Institute provides executive-level internationalization leadership training and is designed for leaders with more than three years of experience who are in those roles at their institutions. NAFSA is the largest association serving international educators.
Provost Jennifer Drake applauded Ngassa's selection to the cohort, adding it builds on his nine years of leadership experience with the University Academic Senate.
“Dr. Ngassa’s selection for the e-Institute is a testament to both his exceptional leadership and his deep commitment to advancing Grand Valley’s global engagement,” Drake said. “His experience, vision and collaborative spirit will not only enrich the cohort but also strengthen our university’s international education efforts."
During the 2023-2024 academic year, Ngassa served as an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow, which expanded his perspective on higher education leadership through executive leadership internships at multiple institutions, including international experiences at the University of Johannesburg, University of Pretoria, and University of Cape Town in South Africa.
"I am honored to be selected for this distinguished program," Ngassa said. "As a global citizen and leader with an international background, this opportunity aligns perfectly with my commitment to advancing Grand Valley's comprehensive internationalization strategies."
The e-Institute curriculum covers topics such as stakeholder engagement, leadership skills development, sustainability in international education, and integration with inclusion initiatives.
Cohort members will complete their work in July 2026.
This article was last edited on August 28, 2025 at 11:46 a.m.
Participants spent 10 weeks in an accelerator program offered by the DeVos Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, in partnership with GVSU's Northern Michigan Region.
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