Jennifer Clinton, PhD | President & CEO, Cultural Vistas

This time of year always brings a sense of transition—graduations, weddings, vacations, and moments of reflection as routines shift and new chapters begin. For me, this season also marked a deeply personal milestone: my son’s high school graduation.

As both the CEO of Cultural Vistas—and as a mother—I’ve found myself thinking more than ever about the future of international education and global engagement. This isn’t just a professional concern. It’s profoundly personal.

My 17-year-old son has grown up immersed in global connection. His father is from Argentina. Our home has always been open to international visitors—students, professionals, and emerging leaders from around the world. He attended schools with large international populations, was exposed daily to diverse cultures and worldviews, and recently earned the State of Maryland’s Seal of Biliteracy. When he was accepted into his university of choice to study International Affairs, it felt like the natural continuation of everything we had instilled in him.

And then, last week, he looked at me and said: “I don’t know why I’m going to study international affairs. That degree is useless now.”

When I asked why, he shrugged:“There won’t be any jobs.”

That moment landed hard. Not just as a parent, but as someone who has spent decades championing global learning. His doubt reflects a broader uncertainty facing the field—and one that should concern all of us.

The Cost of Disengagement

We’re living in a moment when the world is turning inward. Globally, we’re seeing a rise in isolationist tendencies—a retreat from collaboration and a growing skepticism of international engagement. Countries, starting with the U.S., are tightening immigration pathways, reducing investment in student mobility, and reevaluating long-standing exchange programs.

These trends are visible and destabilizing:

• Recent layoffs and non-renewals across the foreign assistance sector are more than staffing decisions—they’re signals.
• U.S. enrollment of international students—who contribute over $56 billion to our economy—is in decline.
• Some elected officials have even described international education as an “industrial complex” that should be dismantled.

These shifts affect more than just programs. They shake trust in America’s commitment to global leadership, weaken our influence, and suggest to the next generation—like my son—that this path may no longer be viable.

But I believe it still is. And I believe it must be.

Why Global Skills Still Matter

This is about more than programs—it’s about trust, understanding, and preparing the next generation to lead with empathy in a complex world. When we undervalue global learning, we risk sending the wrong message: that bridge-building no longer matters.

At Cultural Vistas, we define global skills as the essential capabilities needed to thrive in a connected world:

• Critical Thinking – to evaluate information and solve complex problems
• Intercultural Awareness – to communicate with empathy and respect
• Global Mindset – to lead across diverse settings
• Collaborative Networks – to partner effectively across boundaries

In 2024 alone, Cultural Vistas supported over 3,800 individuals across 22 immersive programs—ranging from internships and fellowships to professional study tours and skills-building workshops. These weren’t just travel experiences. They were purposeful investments in the people and perspectives the world needs now more than ever.

A recent multi-program study confirmed that our programs consistently move the needle in four core learning outcome areas:

• 96% of participants report applying advanced critical thinking skills.
• 88% demonstrate meaningful intercultural competence.
• Over 96% say they’ve built lasting social and professional networks.
• 96% feel a strong sense of self-efficacy and leadership capacity.

These aren’t “soft skills.” They are core competencies—whether you’re launching a startup, teaching in a diverse classroom, managing global supply chains, or responding to a public health crisis. In a world defined by complexity, change, and interdependence, global skills are not a luxury. They are a necessity.

A Personal Plea—and a Professional One

That’s what I told my son. And I meant it—for him, and for all of us.

The world still needs people who bridge divides, who lead with empathy, and who believe in the power of global cooperation. That’s not a naïve dream—it’s a vital responsibility.

International education and exchange are not relics of a more optimistic past. They are how we build a more informed, resilient, and humane future.

At Cultural Vistas, we remain steadfast in our mission: to connect lives, enhance global skills, and drive positive change. And with your support, we will keep showing up. We will keep connecting. We will keep building bridges.

To the educators, funders, policymakers, and students reading this: don’t give up. Don’t look away. Stay open. Stay curious. Stay global.

Because the stakes are too high to do otherwise.