IEDP alums are out in the world making things happen – shaping policy, leading programs, and driving change. Check out our Alumni in Focus series to see where their journeys have taken them!
Micaela Wensjoe (2015)
When I finished the program, almost 10 years ago, I went back home to Peru to work in education policy. Right after the program, I joined a team working on the country’s biggest higher education reform, which was a very exciting experience. Later, I worked at the Ministry of Education, in charge of a team focused on designing policies that address the specific needs of students in rural areas. Along the way, I’ve also stayed engaged in academic research—here’s one publication. My work is mostly qualitative, but I really enjoy collaborating with colleagues working in different types of research!
Now, I’m doing a PhD in Education Policy Studies at UW-Madison, where I also teach. My research examines the process of policy appropriation in teacher development policies for rural areas in Latin America.
IEDP shaped my life and career in so many ways! I met amazing people who I’m still in touch with—just this past summer, I worked with FHI 360 and got to see Abby from my cohort, and I was even on the same team as Caitlin, who was in the cohort after mine (the IEDP world is small!). The program also shaped how I think about international and comparative education, especially how global discourses influence policies at all levels. Plus, it gave me tools to do research and to design and implement policies and programs—things I’ve been using ever since.
Kelly Shiohira (2012)
After over a decade of fulfilling work at education nonprofits in South Africa, I have returned to the United States to take up the Directorship of the Global Science of Learning Education Network (GSLEN). The network currently includes about 850 researchers, scientists, education practitioners, and policy-makers across 66 countries, all invested in the better use of evidence and scientific knowledge to improve learning experiences and equity. As a researcher and an education leader, I’ve had opportunities to be involved in a number of influential publications, most recently the UNESCO AI Competency Framework for Students.
The IEDP program was a foundation that allowed me to transition from classroom practice to educational development. It allowed me to develop a diverse set of skills aligned to my own interests, groundwork I was able to build on to develop expertise in strategic planning, mixed-methods research, and educational technology.
Aaron Merchen (2016)
Current Position: Executive Director, Policy & Programs, Early Childhood Education @ the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation I lead the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s work on child care. Much of my job is ensuring business leaders and chambers of commerce have the data, resources, and technical expertise necessary to engage with their workforces, community members, childcare providers and advocates, and decision-makers to address childcare challenges at local levels.
At IEDP, specifically working with Dr. GK and Dr. Michelle Neuman, I channeled my passions and interests into a career that impacts childcare policy with an approach defined by collaboration, awareness, and empathy.
Bosen Lily Liu (2015)
Currently working as the Head of Partnership and Agenda Setting Unit at UNESCO IESALC, I have been leading consensus-making among multi-stakeholders to promote emerging UN education agendas and priorities such as transforming education and greening education, establishing hands-on partnerships to support increasing access and quality of higher education, leading South-South Cooperation on strategic higher education planning and financing.
Prior to this role, I was a donor, managing 1.26 million donations to eight countries in the Global South during the pandemic; a policymaker on Education, Innovation, Environmental Efficiency, and Standardization with a global scope covering all UN regions and hands-on experience in more than 40 countries; an innovator at grassroots level leading the creation of a robotic device that democratizes access to literacy education; and a scholar specialized in triangular cooperation, taking evidence-based approach to optimize the efficiency and impacts of partnership models and providing capacity building in Africa and Asia. Not only has IEDP provided me with an entry point to make this journey possible, but also it has equipped me with relevant and essential capacities to contribute meaningfully and technically across different development contexts. The diversity of offerings and the highly practical design of the IEDP programme have provided me with the not only the skills but also the confidence always to take on new challenges and keep marching forward with my passion on “Education for All.”
John Jin (2023)
Currently, I am an international staff member serving as a Digital Education Specialist at UNICEF Mongolia CO, focusing on advancing digital learning initiatives and integrating inclusive education technologies. My work involves policy development, program implementation, and capacity-building efforts to enhance digital access for marginalized learners. The IEDP program played a key role in shaping my approach, equipping me with a strong foundation in education policy analysis, monitoring and evaluation, and innovative digital solutions. Additionally, my research fellowship at UNESCO HQ in Paris reinforced my commitment to bridging digital divides and ensuring equitable learning opportunities in diverse educational contexts.
Dani Bicknell (2015)
I’m currently the founder of Dab Collab, where I support individuals, projects, and organizations in driving social impact initiatives that build inclusive economies. My upcoming book, The Restorative Rebel: Memoirs & Musings on Internalized Capitalism, critiques how capitalism hinders progress and offers solutions for creating equitable systems that benefit individuals, businesses, and society. My time in the IEDP program deeply shaped this work, particularly Dr. Ghaffar-Kucher’s teachings on beneficiary voice and the value of insider/outsider perspectives. Some of her insights, highlighted in my book, inspire my belief that the U.S. can learn from other cultures to address systemic challenges collaboratively.
To sign up for more information about the book, click here. To subscribe to my newsletter on Substack (which includes info on the book release, sneak peeks, etc.), click here.
Farzanah Darwish (2024)
I serve as the Program Manager at Sahar Education, focusing on empowering women and girls in Afghanistan through educational initiatives. All our programs operate underground and are implemented through grassroots organizations, ensuring safety and community engagement. My role involves working closely with stakeholders and implementing partners to ensure that programs are effectively delivered and truly meet the needs of the communities we serve. Before joining IEDP, I had a clear vision of what I wanted to achieve, and the program helped me gain the skills needed to pursue meaningful work in education during crises. The experience was transformative—IEDP’s global perspectives and practical insights have been key in helping me design sustainable, impactful, and equitable programs that make a real difference.
Aishwarya Shetty (2023)
As an Education Specialist for the Innovations Development Program at Education Above All Foundation, I support partners in tackling persistent challenges that threaten education equity and quality in different contexts. A lot of my work involves distilling complex problem statements, carefully evaluating options, developing theories of change and concept notes for hypothesized solutions, deciding who gets grants through proposal reviews, piloting the solution, and assessing its impact through rigorous monitoring and evaluation – which is everything that IEDP trained us for!
I currently lead innovations that develop digital intelligence in children with UNDP in Latin America, generate cost-sustainable secondary schooling models for governments in sub-Saharan Africa, leverage sport as a tool for holistic education in ten Asian countries with the International Olympic Committee, and create unique solutions for crisis-affected learners in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Palestine, and Lebanon. The IEDP not just equipped me with the skills required to do my job, but also the various lenses through which education and development are viewed, and the confidence to navigate them mindfully. As I often say, this program helps you learn, but more importantly unlearn!
The International Educational Development Program 