dr. Leasa Weimer
In June 2013 Dr. Leasa Weimer was elected as the new president of Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association. Leasa is also a graduate of the Hedda Master Programme in Higher Education, so we thought it might be nice to ask her a few questions about her new position, what she took with her from the master programme and her plans for the future.
First of all Leasa, huge congratulations on being elected as the president of Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association, could you perhaps share a few words about your journey there?
My first exposure to EMA was in 2008 at the General Assembly in Perugia, Italy. At this meeting, I signed up to participate in the Promotions team (now called Community Development) and became involved in the creation of what is now the North American chapter. I quickly found that putting my energy into a few key projects made me feel part of an amazing community of like-minded international friends and colleagues. The more I became involved, the more I enjoyed the work of EMA and the incredible international reach and network of the organization. Plus, the work aligned well with my academic research interest in international education and student mobility policy and programs.
I have experienced many aspects of the organization (chapters, networks, and working groups) and now I will apply this wisdom and organizational knowledge to the future development of EMA. Prior to being elected President, I was President of the North American chapter and I co-led the Future of EMA working group analyzing the future strategy of the association. These two positions shaped my desire to run for President and they have shown me that there is a great need to think strategically in terms of EMA’s future.
Erasmus Mundus mobility programme covers a variety of different disciplines, so what exactly does the alumni association do? What have been some of the main activities this far?
EMA is the association for both students and alumni. We aim to connect students and alumni from around the globe who have the common experience of living and studying in numerous European cities through the Erasmus Mundus scheme. EMA offers numerous opportunities to get involved through regional chapters, service teams, and professional and personal networks. Through these activities, student and alumni connect with one another, share professional contacts and wisdom, and continue to develop their intercultural competencies. In addition to networking opportunities, EMA members are international ambassadors for the Erasmus Mundus programme, as we promote the programme at higher education fairs and universities around the world.
What will be your goals as the new president of EMA? Your to-do list perhaps?
This is a critical time for EMA: as we continue to grow and expand and as our future has the potential for change with the pending EU Erasmus+ proposal. I will devise action-oriented proposals, follow through, and use open communication to build a sustainable EMA that we all know and love!
Vision:
- Engage students and alumni not yet involved with EMA,
- Keep EMA an independent organization,
- Seek out external funding opportunities,
- Encourage more global networking, and
- Build the loyalty of our members.
What were the most important things you learned during the Hedda Master programme that have helped you in your career?
Overall, the Hedda Masters program gave me the skills and confidence to further pursue an academic career. The knowledge base and literature I was exposed to now serves as the foundation of how I have come to think critically about international higher education. Professors (and lecturers) such as Peter Maassen, Berit Karseth, Eric Beerkens, Leo Goedegebuure, and Bjørn Stensaker inspired me as they asked the hard questions and challenged us to dig deeper into our own curiosities surrounding issues of higher education. From a more practical perspective, the program offered numerous opportunities for intercultural communication and to learn from an internationally diverse classroom setting, as my cohort of 17 came from 12 different countries.
My thesis topic analyzed the policy development of the Erasmus Mundus program in comparison to the Fulbright program. This research served me well, especially in my involvement with EMA, because I am well aware of how the EU policy began, how it was implemented, and how it evolved over the years. This policy perspective is important when working with members of the European Commission and following the latest developments in the Erasmus+ proposal. In addition, my thesis research inspired me to apply for a Fulbright grant during my PhD program, resulting in a successful application to conduct dissertation research in Finland 2011-12.
In addition you recently reached another milestone as you also finished your PhD project at University of Georgia. Could you share a few tips and tricks for some new Hedda students who consider a PhD?
The one word that comes to mind is persistence! A PhD comes to those who are persistent and motivated. I viewed my PhD as a life adventure and that is how I approached it…one adventure after another. Whether it was studying for a course exam, writing my prospectus, or collecting data I was intentional in making each step along the way a unique experience. Throughout the PhD journey you have both good and bad days, but every day you think, read, collect data, or write…you are one step closer to the finish line. You must persevere through the bad days (feeling confused, frustrated, and questioning what you are doing) in order to experience the good days (finishing a chapter, having a break through, etc.). Additionally, I think that with any PhD experience you need to have outlet(s) that take you away and/or give you a break from your PhD. For me, a social life, yoga, photography, and my work with EMA made me feel connected to a world outside of the PhD bubble and each of these outlets rejuvenated me when I was having a bad day.
Having finished your PhD and now being a president of EMA – what are your future plans?
In April 2013, I was also offered a Postdoctoral Research position at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. The position develops and evaluates the Student Life initiatives on campus for both domestic and international students. In addition to continuing my research in higher education and my involvement in EMA, I will balance it out by spending time with my husband and month-old daughter.
To conclude, from all of us at Hedda – good luck with all of those roles!