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Dakota State VP to Present at International Conference

Dr. Steven Shirley’s presentation of his recent doctoral dissertation earned top honors at the NAFSA Region IV Conference in St. Louis in November.  That distinction earned Shirley the opportunity to present at the International NAFSA Conference in May 2007 in Minneapolis. Shirley is the Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs at Dakota State University.  Former Secretary of State Colin Powell will serve as the keynote speaker at the May conference.

NAFSA’s Region IV includes South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri.  Over 40 presentations were made at the regional conference, with Dr. Shirley’s, entitled “Understanding the Gender Gap in Post-Secondary Study Abroad,” being named the “Regional Highlight Session.”  Only one presentation is selected for this prestigious honor at each regional conference.  Shirley’s presentation was based on his doctoral dissertation that explored the gender gap among US post-secondary students who study abroad.   

NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the world's largest professional association dedicated to international education. There are nearly 9,000 NAFSA members at 3,500 institutions worldwide, representing 84 countries. A majority of members work on college and university campuses but NAFSA also draws members from associations and foundations, international and national corporations, research centers, community organizations and cultural groups. The embassies and consulates of more than 160 countries participate in NAFSA activities as international affiliates.

 Dakota State University (DSU) is located in Madison, SD.  DSU offers 34 different undergraduate programs, 3 master’s degrees and a doctorate of science degree.  Named the top public comprehensive college in the Midwest by U.S.News in 2007, DSU is a recognized leader in integrating technology across traditional academic fields.