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Chancellor Justin Schwartz today announced a new vision to elevate CU Boulder’s global presence by bringing together the university’s international offices under one umbrella, appointing a vice chancellor for global affairs and launching an international enrollment plan.����

“The global initiative I introduced in my��State of the Campus address in April generated a range of recommendations for how CU Boulder can lead in sending our students into the world; support and value our international students, faculty and staff; and better coordinate the outstanding global work already happening across campus,” Schwartz said. “One of the key recommendations is to appoint a senior leader to elevate and align our global vision and activities.”

The vice chancellor for global affairs will lead the Office of Global Affairs, which will unify International Student and Scholar Services, Education Abroad, the International English Center and the Global Engagement Office under one umbrella. In this role, the vice chancellor for global affairs will collaborate with campus units and university constituents to develop and implement a comprehensive global vision, foster a culture of global engagement across the university, represent CU Boulder to international partners and elevate the university’s standing as a globally connected institution. The position will report to the senior vice chancellor for strategic initiatives.

The recommendation to hire a vice chancellor for global affairs emerged from an�� of CU Boulder’s current global activities and structures that drew on dozens of interviews in summer 2025 with CU Boulder deans, administrative office directors, shared governance leaders and other university constituents.��

The need for a�� was also expressed by many department chairs and institute and center directors in meetings conducted during the course of the evaluation. Establishing a unified Office of Global Affairs under a vice chancellor will position CU Boulder to strategically align its global engagement with research and creative work; sustainability; and student, faculty and staff success priorities.

Schwartz noted the search for a vice chancellor for global affairs reflects recommendations from past CU Boulder internationalization reports and aligns with peer institutions, most of which have senior leaders overseeing global affairs. Seth Marder, director of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI) and professor of chemical and biological engineering, will chair the��search advisory committee.

“I’m honored to serve as chair of this committee,” said Marder. “The vice chancellor for global affairs will be a visionary leader who unifies, coordinates and elevates the outstanding international work already happening across our campus. This position, along with the Office of Global Affairs, will play a critical role in showcasing the world-class research and creative work of our faculty to the international community.”

Schwartz also announced today the launch of an international student enrollment strategic plan, to be led by Amy Hutton, vice chancellor for enrollment management. The plan will provide a blueprint for Enrollment Management, the new global affairs office and academic units across the university to ensure CU Boulder is an attractive and supportive destination for international undergraduate and graduate students.

“International students enrich every facet of our campus life, as their perspectives broaden our global outlook, strengthen critical thinking and deepen our appreciation for intercultural engagement,” Hutton said. “This strategic plan will help to ensure CU Boulder not only attracts exceptional talent from around the world but also provides the comprehensive resources and support they need to excel academically, culturally and professionally, while contributing in a meaningful way to our community.”

In the�� released on Nov. 17 and coinciding with this year’s International Education Week, Nov. 17–21, CU Boulder ranked fifth among peer institutions in the number of students sent abroad on semester-length programs during the 2023–24 academic year and 13th nationally among institutions awarding credit for study abroad.

The report also showed that CU Boulder ranked first in Colorado for the number of international students it hosts with total enrollment at 3,648 in 2024–25, including new and continuing students and individuals participating in optional practical training. The Open Doors Report, released annually by the Institute of International Education, includes statistics on U.S. students studying abroad for academic credit and international student enrollment at universities and colleges across the United States.��

“Our standing in international rankings underscores the university’s commitment to global engagement, both in sending students across the globe and in attracting them to join us here on campus,” Schwartz said. “This achievement reflects the extraordinary work of the many units dedicated to international education, whose efforts enrich our academic community and expand our global reach.

Creating an Office of Global Affairs will unite these initiatives under a single, strategic entity, so we can strengthen collaboration and advance a shared vision to prepare our students to thrive and create impact in an interconnected world.”