ABSTRACT
Connections with the community are integrally important to the profession, and most senior international officers (SIOs) engage with communities in ways that span geographic, disciplinary, professional, and conceptual boundaries. This chapter outlines some articulation in these domains and makes a case that engagement in the form of advocacy for international education contributes to the broad impact of the profession on the societies and cultures. Outreach and community connections vary across institutional profiles and are linked to commitments embedded in institutional mandates or defined mission. The professionalization of international education has prompted a significant expansion of research and critical thought in the field. Leadership activities are evident in SIO engagement in the world of non-governmental organizations ranging from semi-governmental international organizations, such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations, to non-governmental organizations working on topics as diverse as international climate change, education, justice and international law, sustainability, economic development, and assistance to displaced refugees, to name but a few.
