Julie Anne Friend has worked in the field of international education for over 20 years. She is currently the Director of Global Safety and Security at Northwestern University (NU), where she is charged with developing a comprehensive, institutional-wide approach to risk management for the entire institutions' overseas operations and activities. Prior to working for NU, Ms. Friend was the International Travel Security Analyst for Michigan State University, where she developed an industry-leading risk management approach to study abroad administration with a focus on risk education, emergency planning and crisis response. Her scholarship and advocacy related to institutional travel policies and U.S. State Department Travel Warnings contributed to the development of standards in the field. Friend remains one of two higher education representatives appointed to the U.S. Department of State's Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) Executive Board and writes regularly for NAFSA's International Educator on topics related to risk and insurance. Her most recent publication, ""When A Student Dies Abroad: Preparing for the Ultimate Tragedy,"" includes helpful planning and response checklists. As a result of her subject-matter expertise and leadership, Ms. Friend speaks frequently at a variety of organizational, institutional and U.S. Department of State/OSAC-sponsored events. Ms. Friend has traveled in over twenty-five countries and has lived in both France and Zambia She has a Juris Doctor in Law and a Master of Arts in English from Michigan State University as well as a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communication from Syracuse University. She is also a licensed attorney in the state of Michigan.