WISE Conference 2024

 February 8 – 10, 2024

Enhancing Intercultural Learning at Home and Abroad

See highlights from WISE 2024!


2024 Plenary Keynote

Shifting the Paradigm Around Intercultural Learning in Higher Education

One of the foremost challenges of our time is to develop a pluralistic society that truly works. Higher education has a responsibility to help all students develop interculturally so they can contribute to developing such a world. Yet how do we do that effectively? For many educators and institutions, it will require moving beyond our current ways of approaching intercultural learning. Drawing on decades of experience fostering intercultural competency inside and outside the classroom, Tara Harvey, Ph.D., will share insights on how the understanding of intercultural learning and development has evolved significantly and challenge WISE Conference participants to rethink how we move forward with this crucial work. 

Tara Harvey, Ph.D., is a specialist in intercultural teaching and learning in higher education. She brings together broad experience in international education with a deep understanding of the intercultural development process. She has worked at institutions such as the University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange), in both teaching and administrative roles. In 2016, Tara founded True North Intercultural LLC to help colleges and universities fulfill their missions to develop interculturally-competent global citizens in a sustainable way, by building intercultural capacity among faculty and staff. Her Ph.D. is in Comparative and International Development Education from the University of Minnesota.


Our Focus

WISE is the pioneering conference for faculty leaders, program coordinators, and administrators to develop the knowledge and skills needed to help students advance their intercultural skills and awareness, for abroad experiences and life beyond college.

Our Audience

  • Faculty who lead or teach programs abroad
  • Study abroad directors and advisors
  • Administrators and Faculty who support international experiences
  • International student & scholar directors and advisors
  • Educators interested in improving the intercultural skills of students