Why Advocacy Matters: Reflections from Alliance Board Chair Tara Hofmann
I am truly honored to serve as the new Board Chair of the Alliance for International Exchange
I want to thank Jennifer Clinton, President and CEO of Cultural Vistas, for her leadership as Chair for the past four years. As Vice Chair, I had a front row seat watching her navigate what has been the most challenging period of time in the Alliance’s history. Her steady hand and her ability to “see through the trees” have significantly contributed to all of our organizations still being here and being aligned in our advocacy efforts.
I want to begin by recognizing the extraordinary dedication of our members, our partners, our staff, and our Alliance team — people who, in every sense, represent the beating heart of the international education and exchange field. You have faced a year unlike any other, marked by headwinds that have tested our endurance, our creativity, and, at times, our faith in what’s possible.
Yet, I am filled not with worry, but with conviction. Conviction that what we do matters more today than perhaps at any point in recent memory.
Tara Hofmann, AFS-USA President & CEO and newly-appointed Alliance Board Chair at the 2025 Alliance Annual Conference.
In my recent article in Foreign Affairs, I wrote about what happens when people come face to face across cultures — when they live, study, and work side by side, not as headlines or stereotypes, but as human beings.
These exchanges are not soft diplomacy; they are soul diplomacy — the kind that changes how people see the world and each other.
Whether it’s
a high school student discovering a new way of thinking about freedom and responsibility.
a Fulbright professor conducting research abroad.
an undergraduate arriving in the United States for the first time and finding their way on a new campus.
a young professional sharing dinner with a local family through IVLP.
an au pair learning to navigate life within a new household.
a teacher bringing a fresh global perspective to a classroom full of curious middle schoolers.
a Work & Travel student stepping into their first real job at a bustling amusement park.
or a trainee returning home with new skills that will transform a local business —
Each of these experiences, and countless others like them, strengthen the fabric of peace and understanding, one person at a time.
“These exchanges are not soft diplomacy; they are soul diplomacy — the kind that changes how people see the world and each other.”
That is the work we do. That is what we defend. And that is what unites every member of the Alliance for International Exchange.
This past year has challenged all of us — not just organizationally, but philosophically. New regulations, policy uncertainty, and shifting political winds have tested our resilience and our ability to adapt.
But they’ve also reminded us why advocacy matters — not just in Washington, but in every community where exchange participants live, study, and work. The Alliance’s recent commentary said it well: “Home is where the impact is.”
Our stories don’t start or end in D.C. They begin in host families, on college campuses, in workplaces, and in communities where people from around the world discover a shared humanity. When those stories are told — locally, authentically, and passionately — we build understanding from the ground up. That is how we endure.
As I begin my tenure as Chair of the Alliance, I see our task not as reinventing the Alliance, but as reinvigorating the movement it represents.
We must:
Stand shoulder to shoulder — across every sector and program category — to present a united front in the face of uncertainty.
We must amplify visibility — because the more people know about our programs, the harder they are to dismantle or dismiss.
We must invest in local advocacy — ensuring that mayors, business owners, teachers, and families understand that exchanges aren’t just global; they’re profoundly local in their impact.
And most importantly, we must stay true to our purpose — that what we do is not transactional, but transformational.
I see this next chapter for the Alliance as one of renewed clarity. We are not just managing programs; we are sustaining a vision of the world that values curiosity over fear, empathy over division, and collaboration over isolation.
The challenges before us are significant — but so is our resolve. We are part of something that transcends politics and policy cycles. We are custodians of a legacy built on belief: belief in the transformative power of human connection.
Our responsibility now is to protect and expand that legacy, to nurture the next generation of bridge builders, and to ensure that our programs — every single one of them — continue to open hearts and minds across borders.
Let this be our rallying cry:
“No matter how turbulent the moment, we will continue to make the case for exchange — boldly, collaboratively, and relentlessly. Because when the world becomes more divided, our work becomes more essential.”
As we gather under the banner of the Alliance, let’s recommit ourselves to that purpose — to advocacy that is grounded in unity, integrity, and hope. Let’s lift each other up, share our stories widely, and remind this nation — and the world — that the United States is at its best when it opens its doors, not when it closes them.
Thank you for your leadership, courage, and belief in this mission. Together, we are the voice of global exchange — and the future we are shaping is one that the world desperately needs.
