Round 2 Judges
Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration
Refugee Expert, Co-Founder & Executive Director
Miriam Feldblum is co-founder and executive director of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, an alliance of over 550 college and university leaders of public and private colleges and universities, working to support immigrant, refugee, and international students, and advance forward-looking immigration policies and practices at the federal, state and campus levels. A national expert on the intersection of immigration and higher education and author of Reconstructing Citizenship: The Politics of Nationality Reform and Immigration in Contemporary France, Miriam has written extensively on undocumented, refugee, and international students, immigration policy and higher education, and highly skilled labor in the United States. She previously served as vice president for student affairs, dean of students, and professor of politics at Pomona College, as special assistant to the president, faculty research associate, and senior director at the California Institute of Technology, and as assistant professor at the University of San Francisco. She received a BA in political science from Barnard College, and MA, MPhil, and PhD degrees in political science from Yale University. She is a non-resident fellow at the Migration Policy Institute.
Kepler
Refugee Expert, Senior Manager of Humanitarian Initiatives
Ella Ininahazwe is a youth, Education & preparatory programs specialist in emergencies. She works as a Senior manager of Humanitarian Initiatives at Kepler. Originally from Burundi, Ella came to Rwanda in 2015.
In her work, Ella is responsible for managing Kepler’s scholar preparation programs throughout Rwanda and Ethiopia, developing the curriculum for teachers, and supporting refugee students before, during and after their studies. Furthermore, Ella innovates supporting programs that help marginalized youth, such as refugees and host communities with financial constraints to access tertiary education/ job opportunities in East Africa. She collaborates and grows relationships with potential and existing tertiary education institutions and scholarship providers to make sure that marginalized students (especially women) are well equipped to access quality education that creates durable solutions.
Ella is determined to increase the number of refugee youth who can access higher education, especially girls and young women through her work with Kepler and as a founding member and global leader of the Tertiary Refugee Students Network (TRSN). TRSN is a crucially important mission by refugee students, to bring refugee voices to the center of discussions and decisions about their lives. Through this platform, refugee students and alumni create synergies to support each other in developing their communities and encouraging other refugees to play their roles in life-changing areas, such as higher education. Through the creation of the TRSN, students have been able to connect and learn about the different opportunities for advocacy and activities happening around the world.
Southern New Hampshire University
Refugee, Student & Task Force Member
Thanks to a full-ride scholarship, I've been diving deep into both worlds at SNHU & LASeR. My associate degree in business gave me a solid foundation, and now my communication studies are taking things to the next level. The magic happens when I can combine these strengths. I'm passionate about social media and enjoy crafting bilingual content (English/Arabic) that connects with audiences. My portfolio showcases projects that I'm proud of, where I've strived to make a real difference. Making a positive impact is a driving force for me. I'm a member of the Student Engagement Task Force (SETF) and have the privilege of leading the media side of the project "Leading with Lived Experiences: Refugee Voices Shaping Higher Education's Future." I'm a constant learner, always keeping my finger on the pulse of the latest digital marketing trends. Design, communication, social media – I'm always adding new tools to my belt. I'm excited to find a place where I can leverage everything that I've learned to drive success for those who are making a positive impact.
Jesuits Worldwide Learning - Kakuma
Refugee, Student & Certificate Facilitator
Muvunyi Consolee Niyogisubizo is a Rwandan Refugee living in Kakuma Refugee Camp, currently, a student at Xavier Institute of Management (XIM) University pursuing a Degree in Sustainable Development. She is also a Facilitator of a Certificate in Liberal Studies at Jesuit Worldwide Learning (JWL) and a graduate with a Diploma in Social work. She believes that Education is the only Weapon to Fight Poverty, which is why she is determined to advocate for refugee education.
Talent Beyond Boundaries
Refugee Expert, Global Program Manager
Driven by a passion for humanitarian causes, I am honored to serve as the Global Program Manager at Talent Beyond Boundaries. With an unwavering commitment to uplifting displaced individuals, I collaborate with a dynamic team to pioneer innovative pathways to international employment. With professional background in visa processing and armed with a BA in Applied Foreign Languages, along with diplomas in Social Work, I endeavor to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity, empowering refugees to rebuild their careers and futures, and rewriting the narratives of displacement with hope and resilience.
UNHCR
Refugee Expert & Co-Lead, Connected Learning in Crisis Consortium
Frankie is based at UNHCR’s education HQ in Copenhagen. He represents UNHCR as the co-lead of the Connected Learning in Crisis Consortium and works with partners to bring higher education to communities where refugees are hosted. Prior to joining UNHCR he worked as a teacher and program manager in Sudan, Libya, Ethiopia and Jordan.
Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration
Refugee Expert & Director of Refugee Student Initiatives
Laura Wagner is the Director of Refugee Student Initiatives at the Presidents Alliance. Prior to joining the Presidents' Alliance, Laura was the Senior Program Officer for Integration at Global Refuge (formerly LIRS) where she worked with a national network of refugee resettlement agencies to develop innovative and client-centered programs for refugee integration. Laura’s expertise includes refugee resettlement, education, and integration, program development, and project and grants management. Laura graduated from Bucknell University and earned her master’s in international education development from Teachers’ College, Columbia University.
CIEE
Vice President, Global Ventures, Institutional Research & Outcomes Assessment
Alexandra is responsible for new business development - including First Year Abroad and Teach/TEFL programs - in addition to strategy, marketing, and thought leadership. Prior roles include VP for Academic Affairs at CIEE, Visiting Assistant Professor of International Education at New York University, and Administrative Director of NYU’s Multinational Institute of American Studies.