CIES moves to FIU, Landorf named executive director


FIU students and faculty will gain direct access to a global network of leading educational scholars and potential collaborators through a new partnership with the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES).

The main administrative office for CIES is moving to FIU as part of the university’s Office of Global Learning Initiatives, headed by Hilary Landorf.

Hilary Landorf

Hilary Landorf

Landorf, an associate professor of international and intercultural education in the School of Education and Human Development in the College of Arts, Sciences & Education, will serve as executive director of CIES. The organization aims to foster cross-cultural understanding, scholarship and societal development through comparative study of educational ideas and practices around the world.

“The presence of CIES on campus will serve to enhance our global learning initiatives as well as our international and area studies programs that serve as the backbone for the ‘I’ in Florida International University,” Landorf said. “CIES will offer further opportunities for innovative curriculum and professional development, distinguished guest speakers and visiting scholars, and dynamic events that enrich the lives of the local and global community.”

CIES is the largest and oldest of 47 comparative and international educational societies in the world with more than 3,000 academics, practitioners, university students, research institutes, multilateral agencies, government departments and non-governmental organizations from all over the globe.

The organization has committed more than $400,000 to FIU over the next three years. This includes support for three graduate student interns, two graduate assistants and a post-doctoral fellow, Mariusz Galczynski, who comes to FIU from McGill University to serve as managing director of CIES.

Mariusz Galczynski

Mariusz Galczynski

Longstanding members of CIES, Landorf and Galczynski have built their careers as global educators, administrators and researchers.

Landorf’s expertise centers on developing and implementing policies and practices of global learning efforts in higher education. Under her leadership, FIU’s Global Learning for Global Citizenship initiative earned the 2016 Heiskell Award for Internationalizing the Campus.

Galczynski served as administrator for Québec’s government-mandated teacher certification exam, has published works on redefining multicultural education and has appeared on “Jeopardy!”.

Having CIES headquartered at the university further aligns with FIU’s BeyondPossible2020 strategic plan, putting global research, education and networking opportunities within reach.

“The reputation of CIES will undoubtedly raise the profile of FIU as a world-renowned university committed to contributing to the global knowledge and learning ecosystem,” said Elizabeth Bejar, FIU’s vice president for academic affairs. “The mission of CIES is to promote intercultural understanding and global perspectives – at FIU this is what we do, this is who we are.”