Appendix A
Inaugural ENZ North America Advisory Board 2021-22 Biographies
Dr. Nida Ahmad
Dr Nida Ahmad completed her PhD at the Te Huataki Waiora (School
of Health) - Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato (University of Waikato) in
Kirikiriroa (Hamilton) in 2019. Her dissertation examined the digital
lives of Muslim sportswomen. Currently, she is a consultant and
independent researcher working across disciplines, engaging in cross-
cultural research, and collaborating with different stakeholders to
ensure that research reflects the complexities of everyday life and with
real-life impact.
Dr. Eduardo Contreras
Dr. Contreras serves as the inaugural Assistant Provost for
International Education, Diversity, and Inclusion at the University of
Portland (UP), combining the functions of the Chief Diversity Officer
and Senior International Officer for the University. With 20 years in
public and private U.S. postsecondary education, Dr. Contreras has
experience in fostering equity and supporting internationalisation at
many different levels. Dr. Contreras has presented his research
extensively at AERA, AHA, Diversity Abroad, NAFSA and other
national and international conferences. He is conference committee
chair for the Global Inclusion Conference (2022). His writing appears in
peer-reviewed journals, professional blogs and publications such as
the University World News and IIE Networker. He has chapters in the
books, Promoting Inclusion in Education Abroad: A Handbook of
Research and Practice (2018) and Social Justice and International
Education (2020). In addition to an Ed.M. and Ed.D. from the Harvard
Graduate School of Education, he has a B.A. in history and an M.A. in
Asian Cultures and Languages from the University of Texas at Austin.
Nigel Cossar Nigel Cossar is a thought leader in international education and
exchange, with professional experience focusing on strategic planning
in international education that is centered around mission-driven
outcomes. Nigel oversees the education abroad programming at the
University of Pennsylvania, providing leadership and support to the
education abroad programs at Penn. As a member of the senior
management group of Penn Global, he works to ensure that Penn’s
global mission of providing every Penn student with a meaningful
global experience is realized. Nigel came to Penn from the University
of Melbourne, where he directed the university’s study abroad and
international exchange initiatives from 2007-2014.
Dr. Lisa Coleman Dr. Coleman is New York University’s (NYU) inaugural Senior Vice
President for Global Inclusion and Strategic Innovation. In this role, she
works with senior leaders, internal stakeholders, external partners, and
constituents to advance, promote, and build capacity for strategies for
Global Inclusion, Diversity, Belonging, Equity, and Access (Global
IDBEA) and strategic innovation initiatives across NYU. This includes
the New York, Shanghai, and Abu Dhabi campuses, as well as NYU’s
thirteen global sites, and numerous global research centers. Dr.
Coleman is also a faculty member at the NYU Stern School of
Business and teaches at NYU Abu Dhabi. Prior to NYU, Dr. Coleman
served as the first Chief Diversity Officer and Special Assistant to the
President at Harvard University for almost a decade, where she and
her team developed some of the first initiatives focused on the
intersections of technology, disability, and access. Before Harvard
University, she served as an administrator and faculty member at Tufts
University and was later appointed to serve as the institution’s first
global inclusion and diversity senior executive.
Dr. Leeanne Dunsmore Dr. Dunsmore is the Director for Education Abroad at the University of
Maryland. She previously served as the Senior Educational Advisor at
the U.S. Department of State, and launched the U.S Study Abroad
Branch in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. While at
State, she developed the first bilateral agreement between the U.S and
a foreign government (New Zealand) in support of Gilman
Scholars. Prior to this, Dr. Dunsmore was the Associate Dean in the
School of International Service at American University. While at
American she chaired the diversity initiatives committee for the 100K
Strong Foundation, established the Pakistan Women’s Council and
developed the first online degree program in international affairs in the
United States. She received her B.A in international relations and
business from the College of Wooster, her M.A. in international political
economy from American University and a Doctorate in Global
Education from the University of Southern California.
Angel Geller Angel Geller (Umóⁿhoⁿ Nation) is the Santee Sioux Nation Society of
Care Navigator (SOC) for the Lincoln and Lancaster area of Nebraska.
She assists Indigenous/Native American peoples in accessing
trustworthy, affordable and culturally sensitive behavioural healthcare,
education, prevention services, and support. She is an alumna of the
Gilman International Scholarship Program, and studied at the
University of Waikato in New Zealand (2018) during her undergraduate
studies at Nebraska Wesleyan University. Geller speaks honestly and
openly about her experience studying abroad in hopes of making
Study Abroad more accessible to the next generation of
Indigenous/Native American leaders/healers.
Ellen Kuppersmith Ellen Kuppersmith is a Los Angeles native with over 18 years of
experience in education and college advising. She started by assisting
in the College Center at Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies, and
began college advising after completing her College Counseling
Certificate from UCLA Extension in June 2015, and in June 2019,
started her own practice, College Kupp. Ellen is a member of the
National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), the
Western Association for College Admissions Counseling (WACAC),
the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), and an
associate member of the Independent Education Consultants
Association (IECA). Ellen is also the HECA College Fair Co-Chair
(2019 – 2023).
Joanne McEachen Joanne McEachen (Waitaha, Ngāti Māmoe, and Ngāi Tahu) is CEO
and Founder of The Learner First. A celebrated author, speaker,
change leader, and executive coach, Joanne’s 30 years of experience
span time as a teacher, principal, Ministry of Education leader in New
Zealand, and now a globally recognized pioneer in the fields of
educational assessment and well-being. Joanne is the Founder and
Chair of Kia Kotahi Ako Charitable Trust (Learning As One), on the
Executive Committee for Karanga: The Global Alliance for Social
Emotional Learning and Life Skills, on the Education New Zealand:
North America Advisory Board, an Edmund Hillary Fellow, a Fellow of
Salzburg Global Seminar, and co-founder of New Pedagogies for Deep
Learning (NPDL). She creates opportunities for students, educators,
and communities to learn who they are, how they fit into the world, and
how they can contribute their gifts to humanity.
Devin Taylor Devin Taylor had his study abroad experience in Wellington late 2019.
Though the majority of his life has been spent in Texas, his time in
New Zealand has inspired him to speak about his experiences abroad
and encourage others to not allow fear to prevent them from seeking
new opportunities. He hopes that God allows his story to transform the
mindsets of diverse youth to recreate a culture that journeys out of
their comfort zones and promotes education abroad for all.
Stayce Fraser Thomspon Stacye Fraser Thompson is the Coordinator of International Student
Services at Jefferson State Community College. She currently serves
as the Executive Director of Study Alabama and the Chair of the
NAFSA Community College Institutional Interest Group. A 25-year
veteran of international education with experience in immigration, study
abroad development, and curriculum internationalization efforts. She
is pursuing her Ph.D. in Educational Studies for Diverse Populations
focusing on community college internationalization, educational
services for immigrant and refugee populations, and the Impact of
COVID-19 on International Education Professionals (Dissertation).
