Global Executive Doctor of Education (EdD)

Student Profiles
Catherine Atwell is the Head of Special Projects and a History and Social Sciences Instructor at Marlborough School in Los
Angeles. She previously served as the schools History and Social Science Department Head and 11th Grade Dean. Prior to
joining Marlborough School, Catherine was Executive Director at Commercial Real Estate Women in Los Angeles and West
Coast Attorney Recruitment Manager at Holland & Knight LLP. Catherine earned a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College
and a Master of Arts in History from Stanford University.

Brittany Barker is the Director of Student Leadership at Tennessees Department of Education. She is also the owner of
Higher Education Resource and Leadership Development (HERALD), a consulting firm which provides institutions with
services that range from staffing support and efficiency review to compliance audits and leadership development. Brittany is
a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a
concentration in Rhetoric, and was awarded her Master of Science in Leadership from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania.

Tadios Belay is the Executive Director of African Civil Rights Center, Inc., a non-profit community- based agency that
promotes access to education, affordable housing, and mental health and legal services to African immigrants in the San
Francisco Bay Area. Previously, he served as Executive Director of the Ethiopian Community and Cultural Center in Oakland,
California and as a Research Assistant at Oregon State University and the National Science Foundation. Tadios earned his
Bachelor of Arts in Law from the Hwassa University School of Law in Ethiopia and his Master of Laws from the University of San
Francisco. In addition, Tadios holds a Certificate in Executive Education from Harvard Universitys John F. Kennedy School of
Government.

Nancy Bjorklund-Gass is the Associate Director for Comprehensive Internationalization and Director for Fiscal and Personnel
Services for the University of Montanas Global Engagement Office. She specializes in strategic partnership development,
advancing the universitys internationalization efforts, and strategic planning and leadership development. Nancy teaches at
UM in both the Department of Political Science and the School of Education, teaching courses in Strategic Planning, Human
Resource Management, and International Leadership. Additionally, Nancy serves as the Montana State Chair of the American
Council on Education (ACE) Womens Network. Nancy earned her Bachelor of Arts from Hamline University and a Master of
Public Administration from the University of Montana.
Crissy Gayagas is the owner of Gayagas Enterprises, LLC, in Hawaii, which provides global consulting services. She also
serves on boards for the Queens Health Systems, Oahu Economic Development, and Chaminade University. Previously, Crissy
was with the Hawaiian Native Corporation, President of Dawson Enterprises, and was co- founder and President of First
Canoe Strategies and Consulting, Inc. She sold her first company in 2014. Crissy deployed twice to Iraq and retired from the
U.S. Army. She earned her Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy, a Master of Science in Logistics
Management from the Florida Institute of Technology, and a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War
College.
Frank Gettridge is a Program Officer for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, where he develops strategies and promotes
opportunities to address local, national and international issues related to education. Prior to joining the Kellogg Foundation,
Frank served as Principle of Clara Barton Elementary School in Chicago, Illinois and as an Adjunct Professor at Kennedy King
College. Frank is a graduate of Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Early
Childhood Education. He also earned a Master of Science in Child Development, with a Specialization in Administration, from
the Erikson Institute in Chicago, Illinois.

Kai-Li Hwang is the Dean of Lower School at Mari n Horizon School in Mill Valley, California. Previously she was a fifth-grade
teacher at the Green School in Bali, Indonesia and the Subject Head of Student Development, English Coordinator for Upper
Elementary English, and Level Head for Grade 5 at Singapore International School in Hong Kong. Kai-Li earned her Bachelor of
Arts from the University of California, San Diego, and her teaching credential and Master of Arts in Education from the
University of California, Berkeley.

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Global Executive Doctor of Education (EdD)

Student Profiles
Jamie Lee currently works as High School Assistant Principal at Orange Glen High School in Escondido, California. Prior to
joining Escondidos high school district, she served as an Assistant Principal and Program Specialist for the Hemet Unified
School District. Before moving to the golden coast and after teaching at World Language High School in Chicagos La Villita
neighborhood, she was the Specialized Services Administrator to fifteen specialty schools within Chicago Public Schools.
Academically, Jamie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin at Parkside, a Master of Education
from the University of Illinois at Chicago, a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies/Teaching English to Speakers of Other
Languages from Wheaton College, and a Master of Education in Education and Organizational Leadership from the University
of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign.
Li Liu is the Head of Xi-an Hi-Tech International Schools International Department and the Leader of the Preparatory Group of
Xi-an High-Tech International School. Previously, she served as Director of the School of General Affairs, Chairman of the
Trade Union, and Deputy Principal at Xi-an High-Tech. Li earned an Undergraduate Certificate in Musicology from Shaanxi
Normal University and a Master of Business Administration from Northwest University in Xian, China.
Nefertiti Makeda is the Founding Head and Owner of Andinet International School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Previously, she
served as General Manager of Andinet PLC in Addis Ababa and Manager of the Ida B. Wells Journalism Program in Nashville,
Tennessee. Nefertiti earned a Bachelor of Science from Tennessee State University and a Master of Education from Endicott
College. In addition, she completed the Columbia University Teachers College Klingenstein Center for Independent School
Leadership Heads of School Program.
Michael McAlister is the Principal of Northgate High School in Walnut Creek, California. Previously he served as an Associate
Principal at Las Lomas High School, also in Walnut Creek, and Miramonte High School, in Orinda. He also served as
Leadership Coordinator, Department Chair, Technology Mentor and Water Polo Coach at Acalanes High School in Lafayette,
California. His time spent as a Zen monk led to the publication of his book, Awake in This Life. Michael earned a Bachelor of
Arts in History from the University of California at Berkeley and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership for California
State University, East Bay.
William Pierros is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Concordia University Chicago in River Forest, Illinois, where he
eaches Interna- tional Relations, Comparative Politics and other internationally oriented government and politics courses. His
research interests include international education policy, human rights, and ethnic and religious conflict. In the past, William
has taught in public and private schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, served in school administration,
and trained, managed and led adults in nonprofit/ministry organizations. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Vanderbilt
University, a Master of Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary, and a Master of Arts in Political Science from Northern
Illinois University.

Charles Prince is Director of the Office of Student Success and Transition at Howard University in Washington, DC. He
previously served as a Site Manager for Jumpstart for Young Children, Inc., and as a Lecturer in the Howard University School
of Communications. Charles first book, entitled, Setting a New Agenda for Student Engagement and Retention at Historically
Black Colleges and Universities is expected to be published in 2016. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Composite Social
Studies from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, and a Master of Educational Leadership and Human
Development in International Education from George Washington University. In addition, Charles was an Andrew Mellon
Foundation Engaged Diversity Fellow at Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Emmanuel Reed is a Middle School Interventionist Teacher at Universal American School of Kuwait. Previously he taught as a
Special Education teacher and served as the Gifted & Talented External Enrichment Coordinator at West Island School in Hong
Kong. Reed has also served as the Assistant Coach and Team Manager for the Hong Kong National Debate Team. Reed earned
his Bachelor of Arts in Communications & Media Studies from Fordham University and a Master of Science in Special
Education from Touro College in New York. He also earned a Certification in Human Capital Management from the New York
University School of Professional Studies.
Raymundo Reyes is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Phinma Education Network in The Philippines,
where he is responsible for the academic quality, enrollment, financial health, and growth of the University of Pangasinan, the
University of Iloilo, Araullo University, and Cagayan de Oro College. He previously served as Executive Vice President at
Cagayan De Oro College-Phinma and as Vice President of Operations at AMA Education System. Raymundo earned a Bachelor
of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of the Philippines and a Master of Business Management from the
Asian Institute of Management.

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Global Executive Doctor of Education (EdD)

Student Profiles
Paulo Rodrigues is Director of the University of Southern California Brazil Office, in So Paulo, and is responsible for
representing USCs interests in Brazil. Before joining USC, Paulo worked for Rosetta Stone, the U.S. Department of Commerce
in So Paulo, Brazil, and the U.S. State Department. Paulo earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from
Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie in So Paulo and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh
Katz School of Business.
Timothy Smith is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Learning Matters Educational Group, which works with Arizona
and California charter schools, serving 1,200 students from Pre-K to 12th grade. He also founded and serves as Executive
Director of Taylion High Desert Academy, Calibre Academies, and E-Institute Charter High Schools. In addition, he founded
Carden Virtual Academy of California. Timothy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Korean Language and Asian Studies from Brigham
Young University and a Master of Business Administration from Thunderbird Global School of Management.
John Wilkerson is Director of the Office of International Admissions at Indiana University. He previously served as Director of
International Admissions at the University of Missouri and Director of Admissions at Columbia College in Missouri. John
earned a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia College, with majors in Psychology and Sociology, and a Master of Education in
Counseling Psychology from Stephens College.
Yongfei Zhao is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Beijing Goldway International Education Consulting Company.
Previously, he was the General Manager of the New Channel International Education Consultancy in Beijing. Yongfei earned
his Bachelor of Arts from Xian International Studies University, a Master of Public Administration and Economic Development
from Bowling Green State University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration and International Development from
the University of Pittsburgh.

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