CCID 2026 Award Winners

Celebrating excellence in global education at CCID’s 50th Annual Conference

At CCID’s 50th Annual Conference in Tucson, we were honored to recognize two exceptional leaders whose contributions have significantly advanced international education at community colleges. We extend our sincere congratulations to both award recipients for their leadership, innovation, and commitment to our industry.

​2026 Werner Kubsch Award

We are proud to present the 2026 award to Dr. Katie Caruso, Associate Vice Chancellor for Honors and International Education at Lone Star College in Texas.

The Werner Kubsch Award is presented annually to an international education advocate from a CCID member institution who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in advancing global engagement at community colleges. Dr. Caruso exemplifies this distinction through her visionary leadership and long-standing dedication to the field.

Her accomplishments include founding Lone Star College’s Honors College, establishing the Global Scholars Program—serving hundreds of students and thousands enrolled in international studies courses—launching the International Faculty Fellows Program, and developing the Global EdVantage Program to expand scalable global opportunities.

​Among other achievements, Dr. Caruso led her team to national recognition for excellence in international education, earning both the 2025 Andrew Heiskell Award and the 2026 Senator Paul Simon Award, reflecting the transformative impact of global engagement programs at the institutional level. A Fulbright alumna and former CCID Interim Executive Director, she exemplifies the spirit of the Werner Kubsch Award.

2026 Faculty Innovation in Global Education Award

We are also pleased to recognize Dr. Girija S. Shinde, Professor of Biology at Volunteer State Community College in Tennessee.

This award honors faculty who demonstrate outstanding innovation in advancing global engagement through teaching and co-curricular activities. Dr. Shinde’s work exemplifies this through her integration of global perspectives into the classroom and beyond.

Her initiatives include incorporating community-based wellness projects into her courses, fostering international collaboration with global scholars, leading study abroad programs in Japan, India, Ecuador, and Peru, and expanding access to education through online course development for rural students. Her dedication to global learning has had a profound impact on student engagement and success.

Learn more about CCID's Awards