Eric Archer
Eric Archer
Pronouns:
He/Him/His
Associate Professor of Educational Leadership in Higher Education
Faculty Fellowfor Global Education, Diether H. Haenicke Institute for Global Education and College of Education and Human Development
Office:
(269) 387-3888
Location:
3571 Sangren Hall, Mail Stop 5283
Mailing address:
Department of Educational Leadership, Research and Technology
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5283 USA
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5283 USA
Education:
- Ph.D., Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Oklahoma State University, 2010
- M.S., Human Development and Family Science, Oklahoma State University, 2006
- B.S., Human Development and Family Studies, University of Alabama, 2002
- Graduate Certificate, International Studies, Oklahoma State University
Teaching Interests:
- Educational Leadership in Global and Higher Education
Research Interests:
- Internationalization of postsecondary education in the U.S. and abroad
- Experiences of international students, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in higher education, student identity development; Student identity development
- Student leadership development and the use of graphic novels in leadership education
Bio:
Dr. D. Eric Archer is an associate professor of education leadership in global and higher education in the Department of Educational Leadership, Research, and Technology at Western Michigan University. He earned a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies, as well as a M.S. in marriage and family therapy and a graduate certificate in international studies, from Oklahoma State University. In addition, Dr. Archer earned a B.S. in human envrionmental sciences from the University of Alabama. He also serves as the Faculty Fellow for Global Education for both the College of Education and Human Development and WMU's Haenicke Institute for Global Education and as an advisory board member of WMU's Global and International Studies program.
Prior to joining WMU, Dr. Archer was a faculty member at Northern Illinois University and Valdosta State University. He has received a number of awards regarding his research and professional service including a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award (Albania, 2022), the New Professional Award from the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I) Apartments Committee, the Nevitt Sanford Writing Award from College Student Educators-International (ACPA), and WMU’s College of Education and Human Development Trailblazer Award (2025) and Multicultural Advocate for Global Engagement Award (2015 and 2021).
His work has been published in a variety of outlets, among others, including Global Comparative Education, the Journal of Critical Global Issues, the Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education, the Journal of International Students, the Journal of Postsecondary Student Success, and in the 10th Anniversary edition of Reframing Campus Conflict: Student Conduct Practice Through the Lens of Inclusive Excellence.
Dr. Archer is an active presenter and consultant who has engaged in research and practice on international education in countries and regions as diverse as Albania, Canada, China, the Dominican Republic, the European Union, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, and Spain. In addition, as one of the few U.S. scholars with expertise on Albanian higher education, he is often sought after as a content expertise reviewer on research grants from the region and advises on the development of postsecondary education in the country. Finally, Dr. Archer also leads several education abroad programs at WMU including to Albania, Canada, and Singapore.
Prior to joining WMU, Dr. Archer was a faculty member at Northern Illinois University and Valdosta State University. He has received a number of awards regarding his research and professional service including a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award (Albania, 2022), the New Professional Award from the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I) Apartments Committee, the Nevitt Sanford Writing Award from College Student Educators-International (ACPA), and WMU’s College of Education and Human Development Trailblazer Award (2025) and Multicultural Advocate for Global Engagement Award (2015 and 2021).
His work has been published in a variety of outlets, among others, including Global Comparative Education, the Journal of Critical Global Issues, the Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education, the Journal of International Students, the Journal of Postsecondary Student Success, and in the 10th Anniversary edition of Reframing Campus Conflict: Student Conduct Practice Through the Lens of Inclusive Excellence.
Dr. Archer is an active presenter and consultant who has engaged in research and practice on international education in countries and regions as diverse as Albania, Canada, China, the Dominican Republic, the European Union, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, and Spain. In addition, as one of the few U.S. scholars with expertise on Albanian higher education, he is often sought after as a content expertise reviewer on research grants from the region and advises on the development of postsecondary education in the country. Finally, Dr. Archer also leads several education abroad programs at WMU including to Albania, Canada, and Singapore.
Courses Taught
EDLD 2000: Exploring Leadership in a Changing World
EDLD 6030: Global Leadership
EDLD 6515: Foundations of Global Education
Recent Grants
U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy Tirana, Public Affairs Section (PAS), Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program, Submitted application for $15,000 (FY26) for one-year period for project entitled, Empowering Albania’s youth to promote ongoing social change through a U.S. exchange program and leadership conference.
Timothy Light Center for Chinese Studies (Fall 2022), Awarded $3000 research grant to examine internationalization strategies of Chinese higher education institutions (Principal investigator)
Recent Publications
De La Cruz, J., & Archer, D. E. (under review). Exploring that Fulbright magic: A transcendental phenomenological study of Fulbright-MESCYT alumni who return to the Dominican Republic. International Journal of Higher Education.
Lajara, I. M., & Archer, D. E. (under review). Felicidad aplataná: How Dominican migrants living in the Nordic countries make sense of their happiness. Journal of Happiness Studies.
Archer, D. E., & Lewis, R. M. (accepted, 2026). Just-in-time, just-in-place: A framework for leveraging technology and situated learning in faculty-led education abroad. Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad.
Wuysang, H. T., Ludwig, A. M., Archer, D. E., & Coryn, C. L. (accepted, 2026). The acculturation process of international students in counseling programs: A grounded theory investigation. Journal of International Students.
Zhang, Y., & Archer, D. E. (2025). Patterns of Chinese-foreign academic collaboration as evidenced through the National Teaching Achievement awardees since 1989. Global Comparative Education: The Journal of the World Council of Comparative Education Sciences.
Zhang, Y., & Archer, D. E. (2024). Global perspectives on reducing inequity: Expanding access to higher education for China’s ethnic minorities. Journal of Critical Global Issues, 1(1).
Lajara, I. M., & Archer, D. E. (under review). Felicidad aplataná: How Dominican migrants living in the Nordic countries make sense of their happiness. Journal of Happiness Studies.
Archer, D. E., & Lewis, R. M. (accepted, 2026). Just-in-time, just-in-place: A framework for leveraging technology and situated learning in faculty-led education abroad. Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad.
Wuysang, H. T., Ludwig, A. M., Archer, D. E., & Coryn, C. L. (accepted, 2026). The acculturation process of international students in counseling programs: A grounded theory investigation. Journal of International Students.
Zhang, Y., & Archer, D. E. (2025). Patterns of Chinese-foreign academic collaboration as evidenced through the National Teaching Achievement awardees since 1989. Global Comparative Education: The Journal of the World Council of Comparative Education Sciences.
Zhang, Y., & Archer, D. E. (2024). Global perspectives on reducing inequity: Expanding access to higher education for China’s ethnic minorities. Journal of Critical Global Issues, 1(1).