Louise Yahiaoui

The Office of International Affairs is pleased to announce Louise Yahiaoui has been named the 2021 Region VI Champion of Diversity and Inclusion in International Education by NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

This award recognizes the efforts of an international education professional to enhance greater access, cultivate broader perspectives and celebrate the diversity of the international education community. These efforts often include working to create access and provide support to underrepresented and underserved students and can include specific initiatives, programming, outreach and strategic planning.

Louise is a tireless advocate of underrepresented and underserved students in global education and has gone to extraordinary lengths to think about how to recruit and support all Buckeyes on Ohio State programming. She works hard to connect students to sources of funding,  provides support as they apply for passports, considers international travel from their perspective and lends an empathetic ear to all Buckeyes when they need help and assistance.

“Ohio State is very fortunate to have someone like Louise; she is kind, hard-working and always thinks of our students first when she approaches her work," Jeannie Simmons, director of global education, said. "She is extremely adept at managing challenging conversations and situations and never fails to provide support when it matters most.”

Most recently, Louise has been an integral part of establishing the Office of International Affairs’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group and works closely with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The Office of International Affairs believes global education is for every Buckeye, and Louise wonderfully demonstrates this by delivering global education services and programs to historically underrepresented and underserved communities.

Congratulations, Louise!