Conference Speakers

GCEDU Conference

Past Speaker

Dr. Jenny Grant Rankin

Fulbright Specialist for the U.S. Department of State, USA

Topic : Teaching Others How to Communicate Through Obstacles in a Misinformation & Disinformation World
Dr. Jenny Grant Rankin is a Mensa member with two doctorates, including a PhD in Education. She has served as a Fulbright Specialist for the U.S. Department of State and has taught at prestigious institutions such as the University of Cambridge and Columbia University. Dr. Rankin frequently presents to educators, scientists, and federal agents and has authored 14 books for educators. She also writes an education-focused column for Psychology Today. Recognized multiple times by the U.S. White House for her dedication to students, she was once honored with the American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol Building in her name. Dr. Rankin is deeply committed to advancing knowledge dissemination that overcomes obstacles.

Prof. Dr. Valerie Triggs

Valerie Triggs, PhD, is a Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Regina. Her area of teaching is in Arts Education and her research focuses on the interdisciplinary significance of art and aesthetic practice in extending classically scientific modes of research in pedagogy and curriculum.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jessica Bogunovich

Dr. Jessica Bogunovich is an Associate Professor, Department Chair of Teaching and Leadership, and Program Chair of Multiple and Single Subject Teaching Credential Programs and Master’s of Art in Teaching (MAT) at the University of Massachusetts Global. Dr. Bogunovich has 25 years of extensive experience in education as a teacher, administrator, and educational leader, in addition to supporting pre-service candidates and mentoring faculty and others in the field. Her research interests include cultural responsiveness and social justice, STEAM, English language learner advocacy, pre-service teacher support, and leadership accountability. Dr. Bogunovich also has a strong interest in institutional accreditation and serves for both the local Board of Institutional Reviewers (BIR) and as a national lead for the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) accrediting bodies. Dr. Bogunovich was recognized by her colleagues and peers as Outstanding Faculty of the Year in 2023 at the University of Massachusetts Global.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Michele Sorensen

Michele Sorensen, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Regina. Situated in the field of posthuman and new materialist philosophies, her current research involves incorporating aesthetic and arts-based practice in postsecondary curriculum and pedagogy for augmenting professional social work practice with Indigenous populations.

Ass. Prof. Dr. Jonique R. Childs

Jonique R. Childs is an assistant professor in the College of Education Student Development program. Dr. Childs completed her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Iowa. She has completed an graduate minor in Multicultural Education & Cultural Competency and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). Jonique has dual Masters degrees MS.Eds in school and clinical mental health counseling with an emphasis in career development. Dr. Childs has previous experiences as an at-risk school counselor, college career counselor and recruiter, and clinical mental health counselor on the national suicide prevention hotline. She has served various individuals from different ethnic backgrounds to include adolescent, high school students, undergraduates, graduate students, and older adults. Dr. Child's research investigates the psychosocial needs of students of color that also identify as First-Generation in P-20 areas of personal, social, emotional, academic, and career attainment of post-secondary education.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özden Şengül

Ozden Sengul is an associate professor in physics/science education at Bogazici University in Istanbul, Turkey. She completed her PhD in science education at Georgia State University. Her research focuses on teaching physics and science through argumentation, teacher identity, student reasoning, and epistemological beliefs.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Galib Sharifov

Dr. Galib Sharifov is an Associate Professor and Head of the Quality Assurance Department at Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University. With over 20 years of experience in physics education, he specializes in teaching methodology, assessment, and curriculum development. He earned his PhD in Physics in 2010 and is currently completing his Doctor of Sciences dissertation focused on modern approaches to teaching physics in lyceums. Dr. Sharifov has published 91 academic works, including 18 in Scopus/Web of Science journals, and co-authored the national 11th-grade physics textbook. He has participated in more than 25 international conferences and contributed to Erasmus+ projects such as EQAC, EQAR, and IQAinAR. He is a member of several editorial boards and has delivered guest lectures in Denmark and training sessions across Europe. In 2021, he received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan for his contributions to educational quality.

Dr. Kimberly Greene

Dr. Kimberly Greene chairs the Master of Arts in Education program at the University of Massachusetts Global. She led the university’s transition to blended learning and served as founding director of the Center for Instructional Innovation. Holding an Ed.D. in Educational Technology from Pepperdine University, Dr. Greene remains a leader in the meaningful integration of technology in education. She continues to research, design, teach, and present on this topic worldwide. Her work has earned her numerous honors, including Faculty of the Year (2018), Mentor of the Year (2023), and Teacher of the Year (2023) at UMass Global

Dr. Chad Wood

Chad Wood, PhD, is the Primary Principal at Vienna International School in Austria. He began his career as a special education life skills and resource teacher in Indiana and has since led the development of inclusive education programs and spaces in international schools in China and Austria. Chad holds a PhD in Educational Leadership from the University of San Diego, a Master’s and a BSc in Early-Middle Education and K–12 Special Education. His research focuses on teacher agency, inclusion, educational leadership, and special education. He serves as Chair of the ECIS Inclusive Education Special Interest Group, where he supports the organization of conferences, resources, and webinars on inclusive practices.

Dr. Ruth Black

Ruth Claire Black is an experienced university administrator and faculty member with a career focus in online education. Prior to joining Oregon Tech in 2023, as the Dean of Online Education and Global Engagement, Ruth’s prior appointment was as Chair of the Dissertation Year curriculum at the Institute of Global Health Innovation (IGHI) at Imperial College London.

Dr. Laura Evangelista

National Coordinator of the EQAVET National Reference Point for Italy. Senior researcher at INAPP (National Institute for the Analysis of Public Policies), Head of the Research Group “Accreditation and Quality for VET”. She coordinates research projects related to the monitoring and the evaluation of the accreditation systems of VET providers in Italy, the implementation of quality arrangements in line with the principles and indicators defined at EU level, the experimentation of the Peer Review at provider and system level and the dissemination of results through seminars, conferences and publications.

Dr. Jennifer Flores Samson

Dr. Jennifer Flores Samson is a tenured Associate Professor in Special Education and the Doctoral Program in Instructional Leadership at Hunter College, City University of New York. Formerly department chair and faculty associate at the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute, she also served as a bilingual school psychologist. Her teaching and research focus on preparing teachers to support culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse students. She has secured local and national grants to advance Bilingual Special Education and diversify the teaching workforce. Dr. Samson empowers leaders to meet varied student needs and has published on disproportionality in special education, reading interventions, and English learners. Her co-edited books include Intersectionality in Education and Adolescent Literacy. She holds advanced degrees from Harvard, San Francisco State, and UC San Diego.

Dr. Leiyan Yu

LEIYAN YU received Ph.D. in Engineering from Beijing Institute of Technology in 2007. She is Associate Professor at China University of Petroleum, engaged in both teaching and research activities.Areas of interest include vehicle dynamics and control,innovation education etc. She is awarded over 10 honors and distinctions, including Jingbo Bole Teaching Award, First Prize of University-Level Graduate Teaching Achievement Award,etc.

Dr. Mohammad Alawamleh

Dr. Mohammad Alawamleh is an Associate Professor of Business Administration and Dean of the Faculty of Business at the American University of Madaba. He previously served as Dean of Scientific Research and Graduate Studies. He holds a BSc in Computer Engineering, an MSc in Digital Communication Systems from Loughborough University, and a PhD in Operations Management from Coventry University. His research explores AI in business and education, innovation management, human capital investment, and digital transformation in higher education. He focuses on using smart technologies to enhance academic and administrative performance and develops solutions for enterprise collaboration. Dr. Alawamleh is Associate Editor of the Journal of Modelling in Management, serves on several editorial boards, has published widely, delivered global keynotes, and won two Emerald Literati Awards.

Dr. Louiza Cherik

Dr. Louiza Cherik is a teacher researcher with a PhD in language and communication from the English Language Department at Bejaia university, Algeria. Her academic work focuses on the fields of foreign language teaching, culture teaching, discourse analysis and intercultural communication. She has participated in various national and international conferences and contributed to several publications addressing EFL teaching and learning, language learning strategies as well as language use in social and educational contexts. She is currently working on the importance of digital literacy in EFL context. She believes that teaching is not about perfection; it is about connection, patience, and the constant belief that every student can grow when given the right guidance.

Ms. Sara Erlich Rozansky

Sara Erlich Rozansky is a former teacher trainer, directress, and secondary school theatre educator, and the author of two pedagogical textbooks published by Rekhes: Tragedy – Preparing for the Written Matriculation Exam in Theatre (2010) and An Idea Shapes Stage: Tragedy and Comedy (2012). She earned her MA in Theatre Arts from Tel Aviv University, where her thesis examined the performative language of Jewish-Israeli feminist theatre-makers, culminating in her dissertation, Identity, Symbol, and Sign: A Discussion of Three Feminist Avant-Garde Productions from 1981–1982. Currently pursuing doctoral studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Sara researches the performative practices of high school girls in theatre studies, exploring how these practices function as forms of agency and shape students' embodied engagement with dramatic roles.

Ms. Kylie Jane Carr

Kylie Jane Carr is a PhD Candidate at the Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia, Graduate Certificate of Research, Master of Education, Bachelor of Teaching, and Diploma of Children’s Services. “Why do early years’ teachers teach mindfulness?” A qualitative research project utilising an online survey, semi structured interviews, and a case study to see why and how mindfulness is (or is not) transferred into early years classrooms.

Ms. Xizi Lei

She is a full-time lecturer at the International Office of Shanghai University and a Chinese language instructor at the Universidade Federal da Bahia, Brazil. Previously, she taught at the Confucius Institute at University College Cork, Ireland. A member of the International Society for Chinese Language Teaching and the Shaanxi Psychological Counselors Association, she is also a certified PSS scuba diver. She has received the Confucius Institute Volunteer Honor Certificate, Outstanding Confucius Institute Teacher Award, and Shaanxi's Excellent COVID-19 Volunteer Award for offering free online counseling during the pandemic. Her research focuses on Chinese as a second language acquisition, intercultural competence, teacher development under the Belt and Road Initiative, and educational psychology. She has published a CPCI-indexed psychology paper.

Mrs. Gisele Marçon Bastos Périgo

MA Gisele Marçon Bastos Périgo is a Brazilian ELT professional with over 30 years of experience in language education and international study programs. She holds a Master’s in Applied Linguistics, a Postgraduate Degree in Neuroscience Applied to Education, and is a certified Neurolanguage Coach. As ELT Coordinator at Colégios Vicentinos in São Paulo, she leads a team of educators, applying neuroscience-based strategies to enhance inclusive and effective English learning. Committed to experiential pedagogy, she has organized numerous study trips to the UK, offering students authentic linguistic and cultural immersion. Gisele bridges neuroscience and education, promoting evidence-informed practices that empower both learners and teachers. Her work emphasizes innovation, inclusivity, and cognitive development, aligning language education with the latest research on how the brain learns.

Ms. Chen Chen

Chen Chen is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Education at Memorial University of Newfoundland and previously earned a Master’s degree in Social Policy from Cardiff University. She has extensive experience in youth social work and university administration, bringing both practical and policy-oriented perspectives to educational research. Her academic interests include education policy, equity in education, and Asian education, with a particular focus on how multicultural education systems respond to the needs of immigrant populations. She is committed to exploring inclusive policies that bridge the gap between theory and practice.

Mrs. Susmita Mukherjee

Susmita Mukherjee is an educator, digital strategist, and former journalist with a cross-continental teaching career spanning India and the UK. Since 2019, she has taught communication, marketing, and media in higher education, with a particular focus on inclusive, multilingual learning environments. Drawing on her professional background in journalism and digital marketing, Susmita integrates real-world insights into curriculum design to empower diverse student cohorts. Her core teaching and research interests centre around the intersection of gender, technology, and lifelong learning. She is especially passionate about supporting mature women learners to thrive in today’s AI-driven educational landscape. Susmita is currently pursuing Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and contributes to dialogues around digital fluency, identity, and inclusion in higher education.

Ms. Chenyang Yin

Chenyang Yin holds a Msc degree in Comparative Public Policy from University of Edinburgh. Her research interests mainly focus on nature education, education policy and with a particular interest in political issues in education reform.

Ms. Soba Balasundaram

Soba is a Lecturer in Education at Eastern University in Sri Lanka. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Eastern University, and Deakin University in Australia awarded her a Master’s degree in Education. She currently works as a PhD candidate at the University of Southern Queensland, Australia. She has accumulated twelve years of teaching and contributed significantly to research and publications. Her research interests included early childhood education, preschool settings, current issues in education policy, etc. Her publications have been published in several national and international journals and conference proceedings. Education and human resource development, educational planning and development, child growth and study, student adjustment and counselling, teaching methods and techniques, research methods in education and contemporary issues and policies in education are some subjects she is interested in teaching.

Professor Eman Gaad

Professor of Special and Inclusive Education
Dean of the Faculty of Education, British University in Dubai (BUiD), United Arab Emirates

Keynote & Session Chair
Professor Eman Gaad is the Dean of the Faculty of Education and a Professor of Special and Inclusive Education at the British University in Dubai (BUiD). She is also an Affiliate Lecturer at the University of Glasgow, UK. Professor Gaad led BUiD’s special and inclusive Masters programme for many years and currently leads the Doctoral Programme. In 2022 she became a Goodwill Ambassador for Bangladesh. She has established herself as a world-class researcher, advocate, international social development consultant and expert in the field.
Additionally, Professor Gaad is a regular invited keynote speaker, certified assessor, and a professional social trainer. Over the last 25 years she has become a frequent national and international media figure on hundreds of live on-air radio and TV programmes, as well as writing and appearing in hundreds of articles published in local and regional newspapers. Professor Gaad is a sound academic, an External PhD Examiner for reputed universities around the world (UK, Australia, Canada and India) and is a recognized international scholar in the field of special and Inclusive Education as well as social development. She has also secured millions of AEDs in research funding from the government of the UAE to examine the field. She co-founded one of the largest NGOs in the UAE, the Emirates Down Syndrome Association (EDSA), where she also acts as a Senior Educational Consultant. Professor Gaad is one of the governors of the regionally outstanding Dubai College, and on the Board of Directors of several nonprofit organizations in the UAE. She has advised policy and decision makers as a senior consultant for both governments of Dubai and Abu Dhabi on disability related issues. She is also a winner of HH Princess Haya Award for Special Education in the category of best-distinguished individual research in 2012, and in the same year was awarded the Global Leadership in Education Award from the Asian Leadership Award Board. For her services as an international leader in education, in 2017 she was awarded the ‘Prof. Idira Parikh 50 Women in Education Leaders’ which is an international award from the World Education Congress in India. In 2020 she was awarded yet another international award (Asian Pacific Down Syndrome Federation Excellence Award).

Dr. Hamed Mohammad Hosseini

BayaneBartar Education Centre , IRAN

Keynote Speaker
Dr. Hamed Mohammad Hosseini, an esteemed educator with over two decades of experience, combines a PhD in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and a Bachelor's in Electronics and Computer Engineering to pioneer the integration of AI and neural networks into education. Holding CELTA and TESOL certifications, he has significantly contributed to English language education with innovative methodologies. As the co-founder and chairman of BayaneBartar Educational School, his leadership has steered the institution to national acclaim, earning recognition from the Global Forum for Education and Learning (GFEL) and the Education 2.0 Conference in Las Vegas, US. Motivated by a vision to revolutionize his country's education system, Hamed is dedicated to creating a more effective, equitable, and inclusive educational framework, empowering students to thrive in a dynamic global landscape.

Dr. Olga Gould, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor at Eastern New Mexico University in the USA

Topic: Improving International EFL/EAL Students' Reading Comprehension Via Teaching and Implementing Multimodalities
Dr. Olga Gould has earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum, Instruction & the Science of Learning from the State University of New York, University at Buffalo, USA. Prior to that, she earned her M.Ed. from Florida Atlantic University, USA. Dr. Gould initially had her Dual Bachelor’s and Dual Master’s degrees in Teaching ESOL and foreign Languages. This Florida State Certified Educator (2008 – 2028) has had her life-long K-12 & university/college teaching experiences in the United States and Internationally. Among Dr. Gould’s interests are such fields as Educational Research, Qualitative Methods, Teacher Education, Multimodality, Teaching Multicultural and international Students, Poverty Reduction through Education, etc.

Dr. Moyasar Al Mershed

Dr. Moyasar Al Mershed is a third-year Ph.D. student at Malaya University in Kuala Lumpur, in educational leadership. I hold a Master's in Educational Administration with distinction. Currently, I am working as a Course Instructor at HBMSU. I am conducting training courses on emotional intelligence, effective communication, and charisma. I participated in the RewirED2021 summit (Global Education Summit / Expo Dubai) and the National Ambassadors Program - Estedad2021.

Dr. Perizat Yelzhanova

Dr. Perizat Yelzhanova is a Kazakh materials writer and a PhD in English Language Education. She has been awarded the “Best Author” and “Best English Teacher” in Kazakhstan. Dr. Perizat Yelzhanova is the author of the book “A Key to Success” for Elementary Students and a publisher of several scientific articles and is certified with numerous teacher training courses.

Dr. Mahmoud Hajjar

Dr. Mahmoud Hajjar earned his PhD in Linguistics from the University of Essex, the UK. Currently, he is Associate Professor at Hamdan Bin Mohammad Smart University in Dubai, the UAE. Dr Hajjar is a prolific researcher with interests in first and second language acquisition, as well as motivation and identity in language learning. Dr. Hajjar is the author of the book titled ‘EFL Learners' Acquisition of the English Article System: A Comparative Study’, published by Cambridge Scholars, the UK.

Doni Wahyu Prabowo

Doni Wahyu Prabowo is a student in the department of master of science education at Universitas Sebelas Maret with a full scholarship from LPDP of the Republic of Indonesia. He has an interest in science reasoning and ethnoscience research in education.

Abdelaziz Ouchaib

Abdelaziz Ouchaib is a high-school teacher of English. He holds a master's degree in Applied Language Studies from the School of Arts and Humanities at Moulay Ismail University in Meknes, Morocco. Currently, he is a PhD candidate at the same university. His primary interests include Language Planning and Policy, TEFL, and Discourse Analysis. His current research focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of higher education reforms in Morocco.

Fathma Zahara Sholeha

Fathma Zahara Sholeha is a researcher and lecturer at the Islamic Institute of Riyadlotul Mujahidin in Indonesia, and a teacher at the Wali Songo Ngabar Islamic Boarding School. Her research interests include Arabic teaching, with a recent focus on psycholinguistics, particularly in early childhood language acquisition.