Every year, study abroad program faculty are presented awards to recognize their hard work and contributions to education abroad at JMU. Nominations are accepted on an annual basis in August and early September, with the recipients announced at the Fall Directors Meeting in September.

We will accept nominations for the following awards beginning in August:

The Anaza Benjamin Distinguished Director of the Year
This award is given to a study abroad program director who embodies what it means to put their heart and soul into their education abroad programming. This director provides a high level of student support and mentorship, models resiliency amidst adversity, and shows their passion for study abroad programming by going above and beyond basic director responsibilities. This prestigious award is named in honor of Dr. Emeka Anaza and Dr. Tatiana Benjamin, two program directors who passed away unexpectedly during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Catalyst for Transformation Award: Celebrating High-Impact Study Abroad Programs
This award goes to a study abroad program director who designs and successfully executes a program with a high level of experiential and engaged learning. The program could include field work, volunteer work, research components, internship opportunities, or other examples of hands-on work-based learning experiences in an applied setting.

The ECHO Award: Enhancing Community though Holistic Opportunities
This award is given to a study abroad program director who creates a program to go beyond the idea of just a classroom in context, and embraces a classroom within community approach to their program. This program director has identified outcomes and learning opportunities meant to create connections between student program participants and the community members with which the program engages to create a positive and lasting impact transcending identities and borders.

New Horizons Award: Excellence in New Program Development

This award is given to a new study abroad program director or a previous director who designed a new program. The awardee should be someone who embraced the challenge of a new program development and successfully launched a study abroad program that fosters intercultural learning and development, innovative curriculum design, and showcases impressive student support  

The Anaza Benjamin Distinguished Director of the Year 

2025: Drs. Bill and Cindy Evans; Italy: Examining 'La Dolce Vita' through Cross-Cultural Physcology 

2024: Dr. Chris Blake; JMU Semester in Florence, European Union Policy Studies (M.A.), Argentina: Political & Urban Culture and Spanish Language

2023: Dr. Augustus Hallmon, Global Perspectives on Civil Rights and Social Justice & Peace Studies in Ireland and The Culture of Leisure in London and Dublin

Catalyst for Transformation Award: Celebrating High-Impact Study Abroad Programs 

2025: Dr. John Allemeier; United Kingdom: Community Arts in London 

2024: Dr. David Owusu-Ansah; Ghana Summer Program & Internship

2023: Dr. Seán McCarthy & Dr. Rob Alexander; JMU X-Labs International: Innovative Responses to Sustainability in the Netherlands and Germany

The ECHO Award: Enhancing Community though Holistic Opportunities

2025: Dr. Andrew Witmer; Semester in Scotland

2024: Dr. Melissa Alemán and Dr. Carlos Alemán; Ireland: Communication, Conflict and Culture

2023: Dr. Debbie Sturm; Nature, Creativity & Well-Being Across the Lifespan in Scotland

New Horizons Award: Excellence in New Program Development

2025: Elisabeth Kvernen; Vietnam: Creative Cross-cultural Storytelling

2025: Dr. Nadine Plachta; Nepal: Environmental Justice and Sustainable Devlopment in the Himalayas