š Research Interests:
My research interests are focused on exploring the intersection of innovative technologies and social impact to promote inclusion and equity. Specifically, I am interested in two lines of inquiry. The first involves harnessing technology to support learning and teaching in resource-challenged contexts, with a focus on improving foundational education and access for underserved communities, including reading literacy, numeracy, and coding. The second line of research centers around exploring the potential of smart technologies to promote more sustainable entrepreneurship models to empower marginalized young adults, particularly women.
š Education:
Doctor of Philosophy in Education (June 2023) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Illinois, USA Dissertation: Personalized and adaptive learning technology for early grade reading: Evidence from MENA. Awards: Winner of the Leveraging Evidence for Action to Promote Change (LEAP) challenge (2022) Graduate College Dissertation Travel Grant (2023). Professional Program in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (July 2017) Stanford University, San Francisco, USA. Master of Arts in Contemporary Literature and Culture (Feb 2011) Brunel University, London, UK Pass with Merit. Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature (Feb 2009) University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan Excellent rank
š¼ Work History:
Postdoctoral Fellow Researcher (August 2023 ā Present) Boston College, Boston, MA, USA. Human-Centered Design in K-12 Scholar (May 2023 ā August 2023) Siebel Center for Design, Urbana, IL, USA. Research Scholar (Fellowship) (Dec 2021 ā May 2023) ADM Institute, Urbana, IL, USA. Graduate Research Assistant (May 2021 ā Dec 2021) College of Education, UIUC, Urbana, IL, USA. Graduate Mentor (Aug 2019 ā May 2021) Office of Minority Student Affairs, UIUC, Urbana, IL, USA. Head of General Education & Director of Language Center (Aug 2015 ā Jul 2019) Al Falah University, Dubai, UAE. Lecturer (Aug 2015 ā Aug 2019) Al Falah University, Dubai, UAE
š Awards & Distinctions
Outstanding Student Medal Nominee (to be announced) College of Education, UIUC, USA. William Chandler Bagley Doctoral Scholarship Recipient (2022-2023) College of Education at UIUC, USA. Block Grant Fellowship Recipient (2021) College of Education at UIUC, USA. Summer Supplemental Block Grant Fellowship Recipient (2020) College of Education at UIUC, USA.COVID-19 Emergency Grant Recipient (2020) College of Education at UIUC, USA. Abu Dhabi Education Leadership Award: Best General Education Professor (2019) World Federation of Academic & Educational Institutions, UAE. Prof. Indria Parikh 50 Women in Education Leaders Award (2019) World Education Congress, India. Prof. Indria Parikh 50 Women in Education Leaders Award (2018) World Education Congress, India. Women in Education Leadership Award (2018) Asia’s Education Excellence Award, Singapore. Royal Makruma for Underprivileged Undergraduate Students (2005-2009) Queen Rania’s Fund, Jordan