APLU Announces 2026 Malone International Leadership Award Recipient

Washington, DC – The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) today announced that Dr. Jamie Gurganus, assistant teaching professor and Director of the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), is the winner of the 2026 Malone P. Malone International Leadership Award. The Malone Award, a national honor sponsored by APLU and given annually, recognizes individuals who advance international education at public universities.

“Congratulations to Dr. Jamie Gurganus on winning the 2026 Malone Award,” said APLU President Waded Cruzado. “Her efforts to advance international education have increased global learning opportunities for students, advanced international skills among faculty, and bolstered global research partnerships.”

Dr. Gurganus has been a champion for global education at UMBC, expanding access to meaningful international learning opportunities for engineering and computing students – an important contribution given that the discipline traditionally offers fewer international opportunities.

Through her leadership, Dr. Jamie Gurganus has advanced global engagement by developing innovative global engineering initiatives, establishing sustainable international partnerships, and expanding opportunities for students and faculty alike. Her Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) model has connected students across multiple continents, embedding global learning into engineering curricula while broadening participation across disciplines and institutions. This work has transformed global engagement from isolated study abroad experiences into accessible, curriculum-integrated opportunities that prepare students to collaborate across cultures and address complex global challenges.

Dr. Gurganus has also played a significant role in advancing faculty development through UMBC’s Global Learning Lab, serving as both contributor and facilitator. The semester-long faculty cohort provides a collaborative framework for instructors to exchange best practices, develop innovative approaches, and expand access to global learning across the curriculum. Her leadership has helped cultivate a growing community of faculty committed to integrating global perspectives into teaching and learning.

APLU’s Office of International, Community, & Economic Engagement leads the association’s diverse array of international initiatives. These initiatives help support global engagement on campuses, enhance and expand study abroad opportunities, strengthen engagement with the developing world, and support members’ efforts to engage with partners worldwide to address global challenges.

The Malone Award honors the legacy of the late Michael P. Malone, a champion of international education and one-time chair of the APLU Commission on International Education. Malone served as president of Montana State University from 1991 to 1999.