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Testimonials

Jialu Zhao
Jialu Zhao, ICE MA, 2024

After completing my undergraduate degree, I began a two-year research stint at universities in Irvine and Beijing, concentrating on parent-child shared reading in EFL settings and comparative studies between Arab and Chinese education systems. My belief in the power of education to change the... Read more

Maria Thereza Rios Hortencio
Maria Thereza Rios Hortencio, IEPA MA, 2024

I chose to pursue my master’s at the Stanford Graduate School of Education when I realized that shaping education policy and development was the path I wanted to dedicate my career to. With over six years of experience in social investment and public policy—supporting governments in developing... Read more

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Aryanna Marie Chartrand, IEPA MA, 2024

During the final year of my BA in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) from Capilano University in British Columbia, Canada, I knew that my educational journey was far from over. While completing my undergraduate studies I worked as an Educational Assistant in a local elementary school, a... Read more

Tracy Luan
Tracy Luan, IEPA MA, 2023

Reflecting on my time at Stanford’s Graduate School of Education brings a flood of emotions and a deep sense of gratitude. It was more than just educational curiosity that led me to the International Education Policy Analysis (IEPA) program; it was a profound commitment to understanding and... Read more

Jacob Ramirez
Jacob Ramirez, IEPA MA, 2023

Prior to coming to Stanford GSE, I completed my BA in International Relations & Development at UC Berkeley and worked for a nonprofit in New York City, where I developed and implemented education programs and curricula for justice-impacted learners in NYC jails, prisons, and reentry... Read more

Zerui Tian, IEPA MA, 2023

I decided to come to the GSE because I wanted to have rigorous social science methods training and an opportunity to conduct an independent research project. Knowing that I would apply for PhD programs after getting my Master’s degree, I was particularly attracted to how much the ICE/IEPA... Read more

Hongjiao Li, IEPA MA, 2023

I embarked on my academic journey at Stanford's School of Education fresh from my undergraduate studies. As an international student from China, my curiosity about education was primarily rooted in my home country's distinctive system. At Stanford, I found a place to nurture that curiosity,... Read more

Stefani Jovcheska, IEPA MA, 2023

I am pleased to reflect upon my distinctive journey as the first scholar from North Macedonia to pursue studies at the Stanford GSE. This achievement remains and will remain a source of great pride and honor.

From the very beginning of my academic journey, I’ve encountered various... Read more

Camille Fabo
Camille Fabo, IEPA MA, 2022

I came to Stanford and chose this program because I wanted to better understand education policies, economics, and mechanisms underlying education programs and reforms, by comparing different systems across the globe. My ambition was to become an enlightened advocate for equity and access to... Read more

Nina Yacher Perroni, IEPA MA, 2022

Right before applying to the GSE, I was working as a research and project coordinator at APTUS Chile. The focus of my job was studying practices related to initial and continuing teacher preparation, as well as the role of teacher educators in pre-service teacher education. Prior to that, I... Read more

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Seungah Lee

Although I have always had an interest in education, I started focusing on education issues while studying economic development and international political economy as an undergraduate at Georgetown University. Subsequently, I pursued an Ed.M. in international education policy from Harvard... Read more

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Daniel Scott Smith

Being a PhD at the Stanford GSE is a tremendous experience. The ICE program gives you the freedom to explore your individual interests, yet also specialized content knowledge, skills, and mentorship in the area of international and comparative education and development. In my time in the program... Read more

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Lisa Overbey

Prior to coming to Stanford, I worked on international affairs for the World Bank in Berlin, Germany. Earlier in my career, I taught English in France and worked on education projects in sub-Saharan Africa at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. My interest in understanding the role education... Read more

Nadine Ann Skinner, PhD

I’ve always been passionate about education and driven to support my community. I’m a native Californian and I completed my undergraduate degree in Politics and History at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Since then, I’ve had amazing opportunities to teach and work in social justice... Read more

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Hannah D’Apice

Before coming to Stanford, I taught professionally for four years in Texas and Singapore, with additional volunteer teaching work in rural parts of Indonesia. My students ranged in age from pre-k to adult, and came from a variety of backgrounds: at-risk youth, vocational students, domestic... Read more

Michelle Reddy
Michelle Reddy, PhD

I first developed an interest in education and social transformation as an undergraduate at Boston College, where I worked on the University of the Middle East Project, and subsequently pursued an M.A. in higher education administration at Columbia University. After receiving the Zankel... Read more

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Jamie Johnston, PhD

I first developed an interest in education research as an undergraduate at Northwestern University and through a public policy degree at the University of Chicago. Subsequent opportunities to work in multiple countries strengthened my desire to understand how education policies can work to... Read more

Jennifer Chan
Jennifer Chan, PhD

I was transitioning from the private sector and had backpacked around Asia for a year prior to landing on the farm. I knew that I wanted to do research on human rights but was not sure about the disciplinary angle or program. The ICE program in the Stanford University School of Education turned... Read more

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Tom Luschei, PhD

I benefited tremendously from Stanford’s ICE Ph.D. program. I took rigorous and engaging classes with world-renowned professors, received top-notch training in educational research methods, participated in research projects in the U.S. and abroad, and interacted daily with brilliant peers. After... Read more

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Nii Addy, PhD

I'm originally from Accra, the capital of Ghana, West Africa. After years spent bonding with a bunch of other guys at St. Peter's Secondary School, I spent two wonderful years teaching at Bishop Bowers School - the elementary school I had attended. I think it was there that my professional... Read more

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