Iveta Silova is an Associate Professor and Director of Comparative and International Education program at the College of Education, Lehigh University. Her research covers a range of issues critical to understanding post-socialist education transformation processes in the context of globalization, including the nature, scope, and implications of privatization in public education
Fayaz Amiri is an Afghan Fulbright student pursuing his Master’s degree in Globalization and Educational Change at Lehigh University. Prior coming to Lehigh, he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Languages and Literature Faculty of Kabul University. In 2012, he worked in a project evaluating funds by World Bank (EQUIP), UNICEF (BEGE) and the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan for relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability. He is trying to get the theoretical and academic background to focus in International Education Development with a concentration on policies and political science. His research interest is role of international agencies in educational policy development.
Fatih Aktas is a second year PhD student in the Comparative and International Education program at Lehigh University. He also got his M.A. degree in the same department as a Fulbright fellow from Turkey. During his undergraduate education, he was a community volunteer on behalf of The Human Resources Foundation of Turkey (TIKAV) and was a youth volunteer on behalf of International Award for Young People. His main research interests include creativity and capability approach in education. He is currently graduate assistant at Lehigh University.
Angel Oi Yee Cheng, originally from Hong Kong, is a second-year student in M.Ed. Globalization and Educational Change with a concentration in International Education Development. Her academic interests are higher education and global citizenship. Prior to Lehigh, she worked at the University of Southern California – International Offices – Hong Kong and Yew Chung Education Foundation to assist the management of the international educational developments of all international schools in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Qingdao, and Silicon Valley. She interned at Baha’i International Community at the U.N. working on gender equality and the advancement of women, through research and meetings at the U.N., including Post-2015 Development Agenda Open Working Group sessions. Angel also got a chance to work with Caring for Cambodia (CFC), an NGO partnering with Lehigh, to carry out on-the-ground research in Cambodia, evaluating their English programs and extracurricular activities.
Lori Dougherty is a first-year student in the M. Ed. Globalization and Education Change program with a concentration in International Development. She currently works for the NYC Department of Education as a high school social studies teacher, where she is in her third year of teaching. Lori spent the 2013-2014 school year as a Fulbright Scholar in the Czech Republic, where she taught English as a Foreign Language at Gymnázium Strakonice and served to bridge a cultural understanding between Czech and American citizens. Her current research interests include stratified education systems through the use of varied forms of tracking as well as the development of education systems in post-Soviet nations. 
Jennica Durbin is a returning student in the M.Ed Globalization and Educational Change program with a focus on international development. After completing her first year in the program, she accepted a position teaching 4th grade on the Navajo Nation in New Mexico through Teach for America. Jennica is currently teaching 5th grade at a bilingual school in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Her current educational research interests include bilingual education and contextualized curriculum.
Kelly Grace is a first year M.Ed. student in Globalization and Educational Change at Lehigh University. Her research interests include local interpretations of global policies and gender equity in teacher training programs. She has taught in the U.S. and internationally for 12 years.
Sam Hopp is a PhD candidate in Lehigh University’s Comparative and International Education program and earlier earned his Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership from the same institution. His interest is in educational equity through the lens of social justice and he plans to undertake the exploration of achievement across economically stratified classes.
Lauren Jacobson is a last semester student in the M.Ed program for Globalization and Educational Change, focusing on international development of education. She is originally from Weston, Connecticut but came to Lehigh University as an undergraduate where she graduated in May 2014, majoring in Global Studies and Psychology. Learning about the different people, places, and cultures of this world is Lauren’s favorite thing to study. Her additional passion for education has helped her develop strong career aspirations to combine these enthusiasms by working in the international education field. Lauren has been able to study and visit schools in Cape Town, South Africa and Siem Reap, Cambodia, and cannot wait to see where she will end up next.
Marina Kudasova is a Ph.D. Student in Comparative and International Education. She was born in Turkmenistan and moved to Russia at the age of 13. Marina is a recipient of American Association of University Women International Fellowship and Fulbright Student Fellowship. Currently, she is a president of Lehigh University UNICEF Club and an Editorial Assistant of the European Education journal. Marina’s research interests revolve around children and youth.
Minh Pham is a Fulbright fellow from Vietnam and a first year student in the M.Ed. program in Globalization and Educational Change. Before coming to Lehigh, she was a teacher at a high school for gifted students in Vietnam. Her academic interests include education for the gifted and talented, the impacts of streaming and tracking on education equality and equity, curriculum development to enhance students’ imagination, creativity ,and critical thinking, teacher education and development, and the impacts of globalization on students and teachers’ educational practices.
Kate Pitts is the Graduate Assistant for Lehigh’s Study Abroad office. She is currently in her second semester pursuing a M.Ed in Globalization and Educational Change. Prior to entering Lehigh, she spent two years living in Yorkshire, England and one year working for AmeriCorps/the United Way connecting high-need public schools to higher education institutions in the Lehigh Valley. Her academic interests are alternative study abroad programs, international service-learning and linguistics.
Leah Paulson is a President’s Scholar in pursuit of an MEd in Globalization & Educational Change (GEC) as well as a TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language) certificate. Before entering Lehigh’s College of Education, she was an undergraduate student at Lehigh with a double major in Global Studies and Spanish. Leah is extremely passionate about Latin America, earned a minor in Latin American studies, and has studied in both Peru and Spain. She wrote an undergraduate Global Studies thesis on the impact of NGOs who cater to minority populations in the United States and hopes to teach English or work for/with the US Latino community. Her campus involvement extends from the Women’s Rowing team to the Office of Residence Life, and her personal interests include exercising, baking and crafting.
Dana Raber is in her first year in the masters of Education program in globalization and educational change with a concentration in international development and international exchange. As an undergrad at Lehigh, she moved from a global studies major to an environmental studies major and look to use both in the the future. She has been able to travel to Costa Rica, China, and Armenia and participate in international exchanges that have increased my interest in global citizenship. She played volleyball as an ungradudate at Lehigh University and currently works as the graduate assistant for the team.
Sean Sakdiponephong is a first-year graduate student in the M.Ed. program Globalization and Educational Change at Lehigh University with a concentration in teaching English to speakers of other languages. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Political Science at Temple University and hopes to someday teach abroad in Thailand. His research interests include understanding the educational development of Child Soldiers, as well as the cultural pedagogical influences experienced by second language learners. He enjoys traveling, playing music, and observing/ experiencing different cultures.
Dana Stiles is a first-year student in the M.Ed. program in Globalization and Educational Change, concentrating in International Education Development. She currently works as an early childhood special education and ESL teacher in Washington, DC. Her academic and research interests include global education equity and inclusion, early learning, and children’s social welfare. Prior to coming to Lehigh, she studied History and Political Science at the University of Pittsburgh. Concentrating in Global Studies and Russian and East European Studies, she conducted multi-disciplinary research on educational policies and practices for Roma in Eastern Europe.
Renee Washington is the Graduate Assistant for the Lehigh Women’s Soccer team and is also pursuing a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership.She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations with a double minor in spanish and psychology at La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While at La Salle, she was a student athlete playing varsity soccer for four years and two years for track and field. Renee had numerous internships working in Public Relations and Education. Her time working with different aspects of education have influenced her interest in learning more about the educational system.
Education Policy Talk 