About
Goen has over 20 years of instructional and administrative experience at public universities in the US. He currently serves as Founder and Principle of Global Puzzles, LLC - a consulting firm focused on organizational strategy and professional development and training. His primary focus is helping individuals build their communication skills to effectively engage in cross-cultural and intercultural encounters and organizations create and sustain global engagement strategies while developing their employees' capacities to thrive in global environments. He routinely serves as a speaker, trainer, and panelist/presenter for issues related to international/global education, communication, strategy, and change management.
His background includes oversight of global engagement as Director of Global Education and Senior International Officer at Virginia Military Institute. Prior to that he held full-time faculty appointments in communication at Christopher Newport University, Purdue University Fort Wayne, and Clemson University. As part of this work, he directed seven faculty-led study abroad programs and oversaw internships. He is active in the Association of International Education Administrators, NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the Forum on Education Abroad, the World Council on Intercultural and Global Competence, and the Southern States Communication Association where he serves as parliamentarian. Goen earned a BA (Honors College Graduate) from Harding University, an MA from the University of Arkansas, and completed all coursework toward a PhD at the University of Georgia. He is the 2020 recipient of SSCA’s John I. Sisco Excellence in Teaching Award and the 2022 recipient of NAFSA’s Lily von Klemperer Award.