The Director is NSU’s chief academic officer dedicated to international engagement working to build and maintain strategic partnerships around the world in order to expand opportunities for international study, research, collaboration and exchange for faculty and students. The Director also works with other leaders of the university to maintain the reputation of NSU both at home and abroad through the use of strategic and effective communication. The current Director of the OEA is Dr. Cynthia McKinney. Under her leadership, the OEA team works day and night to brand NSU to the world. She says, “The best thing about this job is that I get to put all my skills to use on a daily basis like leadership, strategic planning, stakeholder management, team-building, advocacy, networking, diplomacy, research, facilitation, cross-cultural skills, and social and emotional intelligence. Most of all, I get to continue to learn, grow and experiment with people I admire and respect.”