Professional News

Niamh Larson named executive director of Education Abroad and Exchanges

Photo of Niamh Minion Larson.
Niamh Minion Larson.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 2, 2023) — Niamh Minion Larson, former acting director of the University of Kentucky’s Education Abroad and Exchanges (EA) office, has been named executive director of Education Abroad and Exchanges.

Larson, a first-generation American whose parents immigrated to the United States from Ireland, completed her bachelor’s degree in geography from Louisiana State University and a master’s degree in higher education administration from The University of Texas at Austin. During her bachelor’s degree program at LSU, Larson studied abroad at Universidad de Granada in Spain.

Prior to joining the UK’s Education Abroad team, Larson served as a study abroad coordinator and lecturer at The University of Texas at El Paso. In 2015, Larson joined UK as an ongoing orientation coordinator in the Education Abroad and Exchanges office. In 2017, Larson was promoted to assistant director of Education Abroad and Exchanges and has been serving as acting director of the office since December 2022.

“I’m incredibly excited to take on this new role leading our Education Abroad and Exchanges office,” said Larson. “I’ve been so privileged to work with an incredible team to bring impactful education abroad experiences to our students, and I’m proud to lead them moving forward and to collaborate with our campus community to provide students with new and exciting opportunities.”

In her time as acting director of Education Abroad and Exchanges, Larson has led efforts to revamp the process for proposing faculty-directed programs, working collaboratively with faculty and staff to produce successful education abroad programs across the world.

She has also spearheaded Explore First: Careers, Cultures and Connections, an education abroad program designed specifically for UK’s first-gen population focused on career readiness. The first cohort of students to participate in the program will travel to London and Dublin this summer.

“In her time in Education Abroad and Exchanges, and recently as acting director, Niamh has proven to be a leader and champion for education abroad,” said Associate Provost for Internationalization Sue Roberts. “She is forward-thinking and collaborative, and I’m incredibly excited for her to lead our Education Abroad and Exchanges team.”

UK’s Education Abroad and Exchanges office is part of the university’s International Center. EA works with faculty, staff, and students to provide education abroad experiences across the globe and global learning experiences for students. To learn more, visit https://international.uky.edu/ea.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

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