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Vicki Hamblin will retire as executive director for Western’s Institute for Global Engagement at the end of this summer.

coordinates the university’s internationalization initiatives, including the management and development of its institutional partnerships, education abroad opportunities, international student and scholar support services, and the International Studies curriculum.

“It has been pleasure and a privilege to spend the past 30 years at Western as a faculty member, as a department chair, as a UFWW (United Faculty of Western Washington University) officer, and as executive director of the Institute for Global Engagement. In all of those roles, I sought to bridge communication and culture gaps so that we might achieve our individual and collective goals. I am proud of what IGE has accomplished to date and I look forward to hearing about its future accomplishments from my patio in sunny Arizona,” Hamblin said.

will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12 in the first floor Miller Hall Collaborative Space.

Hamblin began her current position as executive director in 2011. During her tenure, she worked with faculty and staff across campus on internationalization initiatives, seeing IGE evolve into a more dynamic and visible entity on campus and beyond, providing Fulbright support for faculty, and developing partnerships and friendships with colleagues in Mongolia.

“I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with Vicki on a number of projects, including Western’s partnerships with Mongolia.  She has been a joy to work with – unfailingly professional, supportive, and fun.  I will miss her outstanding leadership at Western,” said �������� Dean of Libraries Mark Greenberg.

Cécile Hanania, professor of Modern and Classical Languages at Western, said “Vicki was an excellent mentor to me when I arrived at Western 17 years ago.  Her advice and counsel served me well as I took on my research and classroom duties. She carried out her management responsibilities later with good humor and a relaxed attitude. For this I will be forever grateful.”

Hamblin received her doctorate in French from the University of Arizona. She started as  a faculty member at Western in 1989. For 15 years she served as the French study-abroad advisor at Western. She also chaired the university’s International Programs Advisory Committee and has served as a visiting professor in France. Prior to Western she was director of the Council on International Educational Exchange’s undergraduate program at the Université de Haute Bretagne, in Rennes, France; assistant professor of French at the University of Toledo; co-director, Total Immersion Program in Tinchebray, France, with the University of Arizona, and cross-cultural coordinator, Academic Semesters Abroad, The Experiment in International Living, Toulouse, France.

Hamblin has authored, co-authored and edited a wide variety of publications, including authoring two books. Her second book, “Saints at Play: The Performance Features of French Hagiographic Mystery Plays” (Medieval Institute Publications) appeared in 2012. She also served as president of the national Medieval and Renaissance Drama Society.

Western is launching a national search for the position of executive director for the institute. The search committee is chaired by Francisco Rios, professor of Secondary Education at Western. For more information see the