College of Education and Human Development

Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development

Doctoral alumni

Our network of hundreds of OLPD doctoral alumni spans the globe. If you graduated from a doctoral program in OLPD and you're interested in listing your profile on this page, contact OLPD commmunications.

Rosa Acevedo, PhD Rosa Acevedo, PhD

  • Comparative and International Development Education

I completed a two year Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Texas at Austin in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy in the College of Education under the supervision of Dr. Denisa Gandara.

Image of Rosa Acevedo

Roqayah Ajaj, PhD Roqayah Ajaj, PhD

I am a doctoral candidate contributing to the expansion of research on social inclusion for people with disabilities.

Roqayah Ajaj

Zhuldyz Amankulova, PhD Zhuldyz Amankulova, PhD

Zhuldyz Amankulova, PhD, is a graduate of the doctoral program in Comparative and International Development Education at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Zhuldyz Amankulova

Rebecca Awuah, PhD Rebecca Awuah, PhD

I have more than two decades of experience teaching secondary and university level mathematics in the United States and in Ghana.

Rebecca Awuah

Leslie Boey, PhD Leslie Boey, PhD

Leslie W. Boey is a graduate of the Higher Education PhD program at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Melanie Buford, PhD Melanie Buford, PhD

Melanie Buford is a graduate of the doctoral program in Higher Education at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Melanie Buford

Kathryn K. Burden, PhD Kathryn K. Burden, PhD

I am a PhD candidate at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in the Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development program with an emphasis on Comparative and International Development Education.

Kathryn K. Burden

Samira Chatila, PhD Samira Chatila, PhD

Samira Chatila is an alumna of the Comparative and International Development Education PhD program at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Samira Chatila

Devleena Chatterji, PhD Devleena Chatterji, PhD

  • Comparative and International Development Education
  • she, her, hers

I am interested in understanding the dynamics of power differences from multiple angles.

Image of Devleena Chatterji

D.J. (David) Condon, PhD D.J. (David) Condon, PhD

  • Comparative and International Development Education
  • he, him, his

Of my 35 years working in preK-12 education, I have spent the last 25 years working in the preK-12 international schools sector, including 10 years as a head of school.

Image of D.J. (David) Condon

Megan C. Deutschman, PhD Megan C. Deutschman, PhD

Megan C. Deutschmann is a graduate of the Comparative and International Development Education PhD program at the Unversity of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Megan C. Deutschman

Nisma Elias, PhD Nisma Elias, PhD

Nisma Elias, PhD, is a graduate of the doctoral program in Comparative and International Development Education at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Nisma Elias

Heidi I. Fahning, PhD Heidi I. Fahning, PhD

  • Comparative and International Development Education
  • she, her, hers

My research interests dwell at the intersections of public policy, education, and anthropology.

Image of Heidi I. Fahning

Ying Feng, PhD Ying Feng, PhD

Ying Feng, PhD, is a graduate of the doctoral program in Human Resource Development at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Ying Feng

Leah N. Fulton, PhD Leah N. Fulton, PhD

I have nearly fifteen years of experience in higher education, primarily in various Student Affairs roles. My work has focused largely on organizational change through centering institutional congruence.

Leah N. Fulton

Michael Grewe, PhD Michael Grewe, PhD

  • Higher Education
  • he, him, his

I have worked in higher education since 2007 and am currently the Director of Campus Life at Augsburg University.

Image of Michael Grewe

Tasha S. Hart-Mrema, PhD Tasha S. Hart-Mrema, PhD

I am in the final stage of my doctoral candidacy and I am currently working on my dissertation. My current research is specifically concerned with the presence, or lack thereof, of corporate social responsibility in the platform economy (i.e.

Image of Tasha S. Hart-Mrema

Lisa S. Kaler, PhD Lisa S. Kaler, PhD

  • Higher Education, 2021
  • she, her, hers

I am interested in the mental health of undergraduate and graduate students. In particular, I am interested in critical approaches to studying mental health so that colleges and universities can better serve students from marginalized populations.

Image of Lisa S. Kaler

Ashley Karlsson, PhD Ashley Karlsson, PhD

  • Education Policy and Leadership (Executive Cohort), 2021
  • she, her, hers
  • karl0173@umn.edu

Ashley Karlsson, PhD, is a graduate of the executive cohort doctoral program in Education Policy and Leadership at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Annie Jenkin LaVanway, PhD Annie Jenkin LaVanway, PhD

Educational equity is at the forefront of my teaching and research. As a former public school teacher and long-time college access program employee, advocating for opportunity and access is at the heart of my work.

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Ethan (Hanwen) Li Ethan (Hanwen) Li

Ethan (Hanwen) Li is a Lecturer in the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Ethan (Hanwen) Li

Abby Menter, PhD Abby Menter, PhD

Abby Menter, PhD is a graduate of the Comparative and International Development Education PhD program (LIIE cohort) at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Abby Menter

Sarah M. Pattison, PhD Sarah M. Pattison, PhD

Sarah M. Pattison, PhD is a graduate of the Comparative and International Development Education PhD program (LIIE cohort) at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development

Sarah Pattison

Graham Rasmussen, PhD Graham Rasmussen, PhD

  • Comparative and International Development Education
  • he, him, his
Image of Graham Rasmussen

Ana Carolina Rodriguez Ana Carolina Rodriguez

  • Coordinator of the Master of Learning and Talent Development
  • she, her, hers
  • rodr0667@umn.edu

MLTD Program Coordinator Ana Carolina Rodriguez has over 20 years of experience in Organization Development and Human Resources as a manager and consultant. She is also a Professional Certified Coach (ICF-PCC) and a Certified Conflict Mediator.

Laura C. Seithers, PhD Laura C. Seithers, PhD

  • Comparative and International Development Education
  • she, her, hers

My research focuses primarily on lived experiences of the internationalization of higher education and of pedagogical change.

Image of Laura C. Seithers

Stephanie Sisco Stephanie Sisco

My research seeks to understand how social issues appear at work and influence the learning and development of professionals of color.

Tiffany Lachelle Smith, PhD Tiffany Lachelle Smith, PhD

Dr. Tiffany Lachelle Smith is the Director of Scholarships and Student Programs at the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Image of Tiffany Lachelle Smith

Thuan Micah Tran, PhD Thuan Micah Tran, PhD

  • Comparative and International Development Education
  • he, him, his
Image of Thuan Micah Tran

Hanna Girma Wedajo, PhD Hanna Girma Wedajo, PhD

Hanna Girma Wedajo, PhD, is a graduate of the doctoral program in Comparative and International Development Education at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Hanna Girma Wedajo

Evan Witt, PhD Evan Witt, PhD

Evan Witt is a graduate of the PhD program in Higher Education at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Evan Witt

Eskender A. Yousuf, PhD Eskender A. Yousuf, PhD

I am a doctoral candidate studying how social issues impact k-12 education and ways that educators and educational leaders can best respond.

Eskender A. Yousuf

Panpan Zhang, PhD Panpan Zhang, PhD

Panpan Zhang, PhD, is an alumna of the PhD program in Human Resource Development at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Panpan Zhang

Yue Zhang, PhD Yue Zhang, PhD

Yue Zhang, PhD, is a graduate of the doctoral program in Evaluation Studies at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Yue Zhang