Delo Blough was honored by NAFSA with an eponymous award

Delo Blough, director of Pitt’s Office of International Studies (OIS), was honored with an eponymous award by a regional branch of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. The Delo Blough Award for Outstanding Contributions to International Education recognizes a seasoned professional whose leadership, mentorship and advocacy have elevated international education.

“We knew we wanted to honor someone from the area whose contributions have impacted not only international education professionals but the entire community,” said Jean Wenner, OIS immigration specialist and member of the NAFSA Region VIII nominating committee.

“What always strikes me about Delo is her ability to form close and long-lasting relationships with her colleagues and the international students and scholars she serves,” she added.

OIS educates people on how to maintain their legal immigration status, to provide a pathway for scholars to do great things, according to Associate Director Sara Jones.

“We may work in a field of regulations, but Delo models for us that real people are behind the rules, to remember their humanity,” Jones said.

Blough, who retires at the end of February after a 30-year career in international education, reflected on the value of her field.

“A prideful point of my job is that we’re a country people come to from all over, and they realize they can speak their mind,” she said. “We’re learning from each other all the time, and if we don’t exchange information from different places and hear different ideas, we’re worse off.”