Julie Friend has worked in the field of international education for over 20 years. As the Director of the Office of Global Safety and Security at Northwestern University, she is charged with developing a comprehensive, university-wide approach to international risk management. In 2014, she was named Technical Analyst of the Year by the U.S. Department of State for her leadership in advancing the international safety and security interests of the academic community.

Ms. Friend contributes regularly to NAFSA’s publications about crisis management and risk management. She has traveled in over thirty countries and has lived in both France and Zambia. In addition to earning a Juris Doctor in Law and a Master of Arts in English from Michigan State University, Ms. Friend has a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communications from Syracuse University. She is also a licensed attorney in the state of Michigan, and currently lives in Evanston, Illinois. For additional information and publications, refer to her full biography.