The International and Comparative Education (ICEd) Program is proud to welcome a new cohort of doctoral students to our vibrant doctoral program! We are looking forward to working with and learning from them in the coming years. In addition to the various reasons for joining the program, each of our new students is undertaking research across a wide range of topics and regions.
Tiffany Tryon
Tiffany’s research interests focus on accelerated learning programs as interim solutions for out of school children in conflict contexts. She plans to examine student trajectory and experience in these programs as well as their applicability in other areas such as the Middle East. Prior to Columbia, she has worked as an Instructor at the American University of Iraq Baghdad. Her previous roles include
Senior Education Consultant in Abu Dhabi for the KHDA, English Language Fellow at the Military Academy in Budapest, and a Senior Development Trainer for Afghan National Police in Afghanistan. She is also a former Peace Corps Volunteer in Jordan and Moldova. She holds an Ed.M. in International Education from Harvard University and an M.A. in Human Rights from University of Essex.
Something special about TC
The adventure! TC offers a deep dive into some of the most pressing educational concerns around the world. I look forward to jumping in to tackle these questions with world-renowned faculty and brilliant colleagues to combat inequities and enact change.
Sumit Karn
Sumit's scholarly pursuits revolve around investigating educational inequities and discerning the extent of public opinion's sway on education-related policy making in low- and middle-income countries, primarily in South Asia. With over eight years of professional experience, Sumit has dedicated his efforts to addressing the educational needs of marginalized children and youth in rural and suburban areas worldwide. His impactful work has been supported by esteemed organizations such as the Gates Foundation, Population Services International, Leadership Snohomish County, and United Way. His academic endeavors also encompass areas such as gender education, research-practice partnerships, the erosion of trust in public educational institutions, and the privatization of education. Sumit's scholarly work has been published in various academic journals, including The Assembly and Current Issues in Comparative Education. He has also contributed as an editor for the Current Issues in Comparative Education journal and produced commentaries and articles with the National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education. Sumit holds an M.A. in International Educational Development from Teachers College, Columbia University, a B.A. in Strategic Communication from Washington State University, and an A.A. in Journalism from Everett Community College.
Something special about TC
I find no other academic pursuit more compelling than being a doctoral student in the Comparative and International Education program at the esteemed Teachers College, Columbia University. An institution that not only fosters a tightly-knit community of individuals devoted to advancing social justice but also boasts exceptional faculty members like Dr. Oren Pizmony-Levy, whose areas of expertise and scholarly passions harmoniously resonate with my own research interests. Within this vibrant community, one finds oneself continuously provoked and profoundly influenced to cultivate an unwavering commitment to advancing social justice and creating a ‘smarter, healthier, and more equitable world.’
Jonathan Beltrán Alvarado
Jonathan's research interests revolve around teachers' labor markets, education, and mindsets. He sees himself as a teacher-researcher and believes in teachers' power to lead positive social changes. Jonathan started his career amid the Colombian Peace Process, creating programs of Peace Education offered to children in vulnerable communities and working as a High School teacher in his beloved Bogotá. After several years of learning the intricacies of the classroom and experiencing the growths and glows of being an educational leader, he left the school environment to continue his work on education as a researcher. He holds a B.A. in Philosophy and Literature and an M.A. in History from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, a graduate degree in Economics from Universidad de los Andes, and an M.A. in Economics and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Something special about TC
TC community is committed to social change and provides a uniquely inspiring environment where educational problems can be tackled from different disciplinary perspectives.
Camille Fabo Njia
Camille grew up between Cameroon and France and worked in Asia, Africa, America and Europe. She developed her career around business entrepreneurship and strategy consulting, African development, and education. Her passion for education led her to pursue a MA in International Education at Stanford, during which she investigated the relationship between International Governmental Organizations and sub-Saharan education programs, through a three-country case study analysis of Cameroon, Nigeria, and Rwanda. As a scholar in International Educational Development, she intends to better understand and participate in improving access to learning in Africa while focusing her future research work on understanding how youth education has consequences on political and economic participation in Cameroon.
Something special about TC
Before coming to TC, I was already very interested in the work conducted by the scholars and professors there. Not only their impact on research in the field is crucial, but also their values and personalities are highly inspirational for me.
Leonardo Arevalo Rojas
Leonardo Arevalo Rojas is a Fulbright scholar interested in the processes of migration, forced displacement, and peace education. During his Ph.D., he would like to examine the construction of the category of "migrant student" in Colombia and Latin America through school coexistence policies and student agency. Leonardo has eight years of experience as an Educational Consultant for the Colombian government, universities, and NGOs on issues such as Citizenship Education, Conflict Resolution in School, and Dialogic Learning. While studying for his master’s degree in Anthropology from the National University of Colombia, Leonardo explored the processes of ethnicity construction in Amazonian indigenous schools located in urban contexts. Recently, he has been working on a research project at the University of Michigan that analyzes classroom discussions on integrating armed conflict, justice, and peace in public schools in Bogota.
Something special about TC
I dream of broadening the academic debate on migration education policy and peace education in my country, and I am convinced that TC will provide me with the necessary tools and knowledge to be better prepared for this endeavor. The national and international leadership of its faculty and student body in education policy, their extensive experience in countries in conflict, and their expertise in education in Latin America and the Global South, serve as a great source of inspiration for me.
Grace Na
Grace’s research interests center on the typologies of educational change during political transitions, specifically in former authoritarian, post-communist, and national reunification contexts. Her focus lies in exploring the intent and effect of education reform policies during these transitional periods on the subsequent political trajectory of a country. She is also interested in the role of transitional justice mechanisms as part of national education policies in promoting democratization. After graduating with her MA in International Educational Development from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2018, she played a pivotal role in establishing a global nonprofit organization that collaborates with actors in the private and public sectors on the future of education. She has worked on education projects with intergovernmental organizations such as the OECD and UNESCO, as well as engaging in educational advocacy for refugee and defector communities. In addition, Grace spent two years in Washington, D.C., working on national security and human rights issues centered on North Korea policy by engaging with the U.S. executive and legislative branches and liaising with South Korean policymakers and experts.
Something special about TC
As the oldest and largest graduate school of education in America, TC offers an exceptional environment for studying comparative education. Its remarkable legacy of pioneering theory, practice, and policy collaboration presents an opportunity to learn from esteemed faculty and connect with incredible peers who are leading the way in education worldwide.
Good luck Tiffany, Sumit, Jonathan, Camille, Leonardo, and Grace!
The ICEd Program prepares doctoral students to enter academia and/or assume leadership positions in various organizations in the field. Our teaching framework emphasizes theory, disciplinary and content knowledge specific to sub-fields, research methods, and applied skills. If you are interested in applying to our doctoral program, visit the Office of Admission.