VCU global education leader Jill Blondin to take key role at CU Boulder

By David Oglethorpe

Jill E. Blondin, vice provost for global initiatives, will leave Virginia Commonwealth University after a distinguished 13-year tenure to become vice chancellor for global affairs at the University of Colorado Boulder in July.

Blondin, Ph.D., has overseen all aspects of VCU's global footprint in her current role, with numerous achievements during her full VCU tenure. Among them: She served as inaugural director of VCU Globe, a global education living-learning program devoted to building cultural agility. She also oversaw an increase in new international enrollment headcounts for master's programs by more than 50% and an overall increase of international students by nearly 20%.

Blondin also directed significant growth in faculty-led study abroad program enrollment through the Global Education Office, setting a record number of winter and spring break programs, reflecting a 43% increase.

"Jill has led a transformative shift in VCU's culture, helping us move to the global university we are today," said Art Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president and provost. "Under her leadership, more and more Rams have become global citizens, and we have continued to establish crucial partnerships around the world. I wish Jill all the best in her new leadership role and look forward to continued collaboration."

As vice chancellor for global affairs at CU Boulder, Blondin will serve as its senior international officer and lead the Office of Global Affairs. She will work with campus partners to develop and carry out a cohesive global strategy, foster a culture of global engagement and strengthen CU Boulder's standing as a globally connected research university.

"When I arrived nearly 13 years ago, I was struck by the strength and spirit of this institution," Blondin said of VCU. "Since then, I have had the privilege of witnessing - and contributing to - VCU's transformation into a vibrant, globally engaged university on the rise. That progress is a testament to the work and unwavering commitment of the GEO team."

Under Blondin's leadership, VCU Globe received the 2015 NAFSA Senator Paul Simon Spotlight Award and the 2018 Andrew Heiskell Award from the Institute of International Education. The IIE honored Blondin as its 2023 Senior International Officer of the Year.

In 2022, through strategic engagement with an anonymous donor, the GEO secured a $2.5 million endowed gift, the L&L Friendship Fund, to expand access to global learning for VCU students with financial need. Developed in collaboration with the VCU Foundation, the fund ensures permanent support for a diverse cross section of students, removing financial barriers to participation in transformative global experiences.

Additionally, Blondin led the creation of a universitywide International Travel for Employees and Students policy, embedding internationalization across the VCU enterprise.

Blondin has served as a Fulbright specialist to Brazil and the Philippines, and as a speaker with institutions including the U.S. Department of State Study Abroad Engagement Grant Program, Fulbright Portugal, the U.S. Embassy in Guyana, Fulbright Philippines and the U.S. Embassy in Turkey.

Blondin, an Association of International Education Administrators presidential fellow, is currently serving as president-elect of AIEA and on the executive committee of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities' Commission on International Initiatives. She also has served as a member of NAFSA's International Education Leadership Knowledge Community and on numerous advisory boards.

In 2023, Blondin was named one of the PIE 50 Top Voices in North America.

An interim leader for global initiatives at VCU will be named in the coming weeks.