People

I am particularly passionate about advancing higher education through research, teaching, and meaningful partnerships between universities and the communities they serve. My scholarly interests include public engagement, university–community partnerships, higher education leadership, service learning, and international education. My current research focuses on public engagement in higher education, which aims to examine the institutional factors that support the institutionalization of engagement within public research universities. Having lived and worked in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, the United Arab Emirates, and now the United States, I bring a global perspective to my research and teaching, informed by diverse educational systems and cross-cultural experiences. 

Before beginning my doctoral studies, I spent more than a decade in higher education as an educator and academic leader, teaching English for professional purposes, intercultural communication, and academic skills while working with culturally and linguistically diverse student populations, and collaborated with colleagues from around the world. These experiences have continued to shape my commitment to educational access, student success, and community-engaged scholarship. My work has also included educational leadership, faculty development, and community engagement initiatives designed to expand access to quality education. I have been honored to receive several awards recognizing my academic achievement and leadership, including the Mary Corcoran Endowed Fellowship and the OLPD Education Iconics Fellowship, and I remain committed to producing research that helps universities create meaningful and lasting impact in their communities.