Eric Canny, an experienced international educational administrator who has traveled to 45 countries and lived in four different countries, has been named director of international learning at Stetson University.

Canny will lead Stetson’s efforts to deepen international and intercultural learning and to integrate those opportunities across academic disciplines and amongst students, faculty and staff. The university currently offers semester- and year-long study abroad programs in Granada and Madrid, Spain; Buenos Aires, Argentina; The Hague, Netherlands, and Lausanne, Switzerland; Freiburg, Germany; Avignon, France; Edinburgh, Scotland; London and Oxford, England; Russia; Tianjin and Hong Kong, China; and Innsbruck, Austria; plus shorter field studies to many other countries. In addition, Stetson students come from 44 countries.

“Eric brings to Stetson University a wealth of experience in the field of international education, including expertise in educational policy and programming, academic program and curriculum development, enrollment management strategy, technology, crisis management, student and staff development, public relations and grant writing,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Elizabeth “Beth” Paul. “We are all excited for his leadership at Stetson.”

With 16 years of experience in educational administration, Canny joins Stetson from the University of North Texas where he held the position of director of international initiatives since 2008. He was instrumental in improving and integrating international operations throughout UNT by facilitating collaboration in areas across the university including faculty support, admissions, budgeting and student services. He was also acting director of global learning and experience (study-abroad) at UNT from 2010 to 2011.

Canny was named Outstanding Employee at UNT within two years of joining that institution. He also led the team that won an Innovation in Marketing Award from www.GoAbroad.com for a marketing campaign for UNT’s study abroad and other international education opportunities.

Prior to his work at North Texas, Canny served at New York University as director of global student services from 2002-2008, overseeing operations for programs that served 4,000 students studying abroad annually. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from NYU, where he also pursued his doctorate in higher education administration.

Canny is a member of NAFSA: Association of International Educators and The Forum on Education Abroad. He has presented at conferences regionally, nationally and internationally on various topics in international learning and has traveled broadly as part of various international education delegations and work teams.

“I am excited to be joining a nationally ranked university seriously committed to pursuing a holistic model of international education,” Canny said. “Stetson is already doing much in the global arena, and I look forward to the collaborative work with faculty, students and the entire community to enhance Stetson’s programs in this area.

“The potential for strengthening and integrating Stetson’s international mission into the campus ethos, from classes to co-curricular programs, from study abroad to international students, to inclusion of international issues in the curriculum, as well as linked with diversity, is a phenomenal opportunity given Stetson’s values and approach to a significant educational experience,” he said.