About IFSA

The International Faculty and Staff Association (IFSA) aims at building collaborative connections for faculty and staff from different cultures and backgrounds at the University of Memphis (UofM). This organization assists in the university’s efforts to create an academic multicultural environment and encourages participation in projects and dialogues around internalization and the success of intercultural campus events.

International Faculty and Staff Association (IFSA) led initiatives aim to promote and participate in on-campus engagements for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds such as cultural fests, intercultural competence conversations, and additional campuswide and community activities. An active and sustained IFSA serves as a platform to discuss personal cross-cultural goals and challenges, will help improve intercultural competence, and provide support for the international faculty and staff population on campus.   

Goals

• Develop new connections based on shared research or teaching interests. 

• Support international faculty participation in conferences, workshops, and training sessions.  

• Connecting companies, organizations, and other institutions for their involvement, sponsorship and support of the international faculty and staff. 

• Host cultural events and facilitate service projects on campus and in the community. 

• Informally assist in the onboarding process for new international faculty and staff. 

• Provide mentorship to junior faculty seeking tenure and promotion advice.
  
  
• Create and promote professional development opportunities and exchange general institutional knowledge.