Via Voices

Maintain Your “Why”: Dr. Fabiola Riobe Keeps True on Her Dedication to Higher Ed

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When you think about study abroad or international students, do you think about community colleges? After 2 years in her position at Kansas City Kansas Community College, Dr. Fabiola Riobe has seen more than 200 international students arrive on campus and has launched the college’s first study abroad program in Peru. Fabiola isn’t afraid to embrace non-traditional students in her quest to make education a global experience for all— in fact, she’s excited to leverage brand new pathways and take KCK around the world. 

Key Insights & Timestamps:  

  • [00:00] Podcast begins 
  • [01:01] Family Background to Career Inspiration: Fabiola’s first generation American experience
  • [03:54] KCK Ecosystem in International Ed: Non-traditional student pathways in learning
  • [07:55] Sharing Curriculum Through Tech: COIL & a global approach to education experiences 
  • [10:12] Maintaining the “Why”: Keep community during political & social challenges
  • [15:47] Rapid Fire Questions: Fabiola talks ROI, workforce development, & cultural immersion 

    • Guest Spotlight 
    Fabiola Riobe:  
    Dr. Fabiola Riobe is the Vice President for Educational Innovation and International Programs at Kansas City Kansas Community College. She is an accomplished international executive, industry expert, and education advocate passionate about promoting entrepreneurship and social impact.  

    Dr. Riobe is a pioneer alum of the African Women's Economic Consortium, facilitating workshops and thought circles to promote socio-economic development and leadership cultivation. Featured in the Center for Global Enterprise (CGE) for her outstanding contributions to business incubators, Fabiola is the founder and CEO of Kids Global University, committed to preparing youth to be civically engaged through global competency development. Her outstanding work has earned her international recognition, including the 2023 Women of Leadership and Vision Award. 

    Key Takeaways: 

    • Past Experiences, Present Impact: “I wanted to be in a space to leverage myself and my experience to make a positive impact.” As a child of immigrants with a background in business, Fabiola brings a perspective to the international education industry that focuses on students as individuals. Each path to a well-rounded education may look different for each student, and Fabiola feels empowered watching her Community College embrace internationalization. 
    • Community College Meets International Ed: “We really focus on attracting all populations and giving them a quality education that can take them wherever they want to go.” Community College students come from all age groups, financial statuses, and living situations. Fabiola wants students at KCK to feel like they can access innovative and international education regardless of how non-traditional their education journey may be. 
    • Current Issues, Future Solutions: “Why I do this work has been crystal clear and crystalized for so long that now it's all about being agile and pivoting.” When political and social climates demand that colleges change, Fabiola maintains her “why”. With a strong sense of what’s right and a clear motivation to better the lives of students in community college, Fabiola doesn’t let present day political strife become an obstacle to her and her students’ success.  

      • Resources Mentioned: 
      Kansas City Kansas Community College | kckcc.edu 

      Connect with Fabiola: 

      • LinkedIn 

        For More Information: 
        Learn more about the Association of International Education Administrators at AIEAworld.org. Visit ViaTRM.com to learn more about Via TRM and access to additional resources. 

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          Via VoicesBy Brooke Roberts