2026 Global Respectful Disruption Summit
JEDI LABS (Pre-Summit) | April 22, 2026
APRIL 22, 2026 | 10:00AM - 11:30AM ET
Global Respectful Disruption Labs
Cultivating Joy as Resistance: What Queer Wisdom Can Do for Global Education
This lab seeks to turn down the noise of uncertainty and anxiety that is the new normal in global education by inviting attendees into an engaged workshop on cultivating joy as a tool of resistance through the lens of Queer theory and history. In this lab, the presenters will introduce both the theoretical and practical means for which deep, affirming happiness that comes from living authentically as an LGBTQIA+ person can be adopted in the personal and professional identities of global educators to combat the oppressive threats that currently exist in our field. To queer the possibility of cultivating joy requires the ability to expand not collapse the possibilities about how knowledge is produced and to push against the rigidity that is the “status quo”. To achieve this possibility, the presenters will provide attendees the space and opportunity to queer the ways in which they develop and build their own forms of individual and collective joy in their daily lives that reject the need to achieve heteronormative views of conformity and productivity. Ultimately, this lab will help attendees ideate joyful strategies and activities that affirm their identities authentically, and most importantly that aids attendees to be resilient against the personal and professional hardships that shape our current reality.
Dr. Neal J. McKinney is a multifaceted educator, scholar, and practitioner with over 10 years of higher education expertise across education abroad, career development, and college-level equity, diversity, and inclusion. Dr. McKinney has become a thought leader in the study abroad field using critical theories (e.g., critical race theory, intersectionality, critical whiteness studies) to disrupt systems of inequity in international education that disproportionately impact the success of U.S. domestic and international students of historically marginalized backgrounds.
Ash (they, them) is an Assistant Director of Study Abroad at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA, where they advise students on off-campus study opportunities for the semester, year, and summer. They hold a BA in English and Gender & Sexuality Studies from Stonehill College and an MEd in higher education from Merrimack College. Ash brings over a decade of higher education experience in the areas of diversity and inclusion, education abroad, and international student services. Their past research and presentation topics include LGBTQ+ student activism at religious colleges, campus sexual violence activism, queer and trans students’ experiences abroad and students’ identity fluidity.
BJ Titus is the Director of Institutional Relations, Diversity & Inclusion in the Learning Abroad Center at the University of Minnesota. He oversees the Institutional Relations for the office and diversity efforts both abroad as well as on the UofM campus.
BJ has worked in education abroad since 2002, at the University of Minnesota and Macalester College. He holds a BA in Spanish Studies & Linguistics and an MA in Comparative & International Development Education from the University of Minnesota. He has presented conference sessions & workshops on 3 different continents on numerous topics such as heritage seeking, GLBTQIA, HR policies & intergenerational workplaces.
APRIL 22, 2026 | 12:00PM - 1:30PM ET
Global Respectful Disruption Labs
An Invitation to Reclaim Purpose and Disrupt: Conversations on “Global Responsibility” and the Practitioner's Role
As international education practitioners and educators, we are called to expand global learning—not just for student success, but to forge bridges across cultures, cultivate cultural humility, and fuel healing throughout our global community. Yet, as the systemic forces attempting to silence us and blur our ‘global responsibility’, we might often feel left dimmed, disoriented, or disconnected from our core purpose. This 90-minute workshop is an invitation to (1) engage in the necessary, difficult conversations about power, privilege, and the systemic issues that shape our global community (including the work of Ibrahim and Heleta on global accountability); (2) reclaim your purpose and articulate your international education practitioner philosophy; (3) leave this space with a commitment to translate your practitioner philosophy into “respectful disruption” actions within your sphere of influence.
Dra. Ximena Ospina’s roots are in the soil of Colombia. Ximena is a consultant specializing in community building and leadership development. With extensive experience in culturally relevant and community-centered approaches from both social change organizations and higher education, she works to strengthen communities through the power of storytelling and collective dreaming. Ximena’s approach is centered on co-creating with students and communities to elevate their voices as crucial guides for a human-centered approach that drives restorative justice, promotes healing, and fosters generational dreaming (Ospina, 2024).
Vera (they/she) is a Student Services and Enrollment Coordinator at the UC Davis Global Learning Hub, where they focus on promoting “Global Education for All” through a DEI lens. With a background in English literature and creative writing, Vera is especially interested in how lived experiences shape the ways we remember, share, and connect. They are a former 2024–2025 NAFSA RISE Fellow and currently serve as the NAFSA Region XII Northern District Communications and Marketing Representative. Vera is an dedicated advocate for the support, engagement, and retention of under-resourced students—including first-generation and low-income students—in international education. They have presented both posters and sessions on their work and experiences at the DA Global Impact Conference, NAFSA Region XII Conference, and the NAFSA Annual Conference.
Kevyn recently completed her Master’s in International Education Management and Public Administration in Social Change at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Her passion for global education began during her two years teaching English in Spain, where she witnessed the transformative power of intercultural exchange. She currently works at UC Berkeley as the Program Coordinator for the GLOBE Center, collaborating with international partners and supporting programs that host visiting students. Kevyn is committed to advancing accessible global learning opportunities and fostering inclusive, empowering environments for both local and international students.
Alice is the Executive Director of Global Mobility at UC Santa Cruz, overseeing both inbound and outbound mobility for the campus. She has been at UC Santa Cruz for about 18 years and in the field for over 23 years, serving in a variety of roles including advisor, teacher, and administrator. In her current role, she manages and oversees operations for Global Learning study abroad/away programs, International Student Services and Programs, and International Faculty and Scholar Services.
APRIL 22, 2026 | 2:00PM - 3:30PM ET
NEW! DISRUPTIVE MASTER LAB
What the H** Are We Waiting For? A Global Respectful Disruption Leadership Lab for the Bold, the Tired, and the Ready-to-Act
This lab is grounded in the original scholarly research of Dr. Christina Thompson, whose doctoral dissertation established Respectful Disruption Leadership (RDL) as a leadership practice rooted in qualitative narrative inquiry. Her research explored how leaders enact disruption with respect, empathy, and integrity to advance equity and innovation across global education systems.
Dr. Christina “Chris” Thompson (she/her/hers) is an award-winning international educator, leadership strategist, and justice-centered advocate. She is the Founder and Managing Director of COMPEAR Global Education Network, and the Principal Consultant of Christina Thompson Global Strategies (CTGS), where she partners with institutions and organizations worldwide to redesign global learning systems through intercultural strategy, leadership development, and human-first organizational change. With two decades of global educational experience in higher education and international education, Dr. Chris has led global programs, access initiatives, and intercultural learning efforts across public and private institutions. Her work centers on aligning institutional vision with community impact through strategic planning, curriculum design, and transformational leadership practices.
She studied abroad in Germany at the University of Mannheim, an experience that continues to shape her commitment to equitable access, intercultural learning, and globally grounded leadership. She has taught and facilitated intercultural preparation and reflective learning courses across the United States and internationally, including programs connected to the United Kingdom, Spain, China, Cyprus, The Gambia, and New Orleans.
Previously, she served as Director of Partnership Development and Inclusive Programming at Barcelona SAE, where she pioneered the nationally recognized access centered TODOS strategy. A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Dr. Chris has presented at more than 50 national and international conferences and has served on working groups for NAFSA, The Forum on Education Abroad, and CANIE. She has held leadership roles within NAFSA’s Education Abroad Knowledge Community, including Chair-Elect and past Vice Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Subcommittee, and is a longtime mentor and contributor to the field.
Her publications include contributions to The Changing Landscape of Education Abroad (CEA CAPA), Convergence of Litigation, Policy, and Standards (Forum on Education Abroad), practitioner guides published by the Institute of International Education and the AIFS Foundation, and multiple thought-leadership pieces on global learning, access, and ethical leadership.
Dr. Chris holds a Master’s degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Global Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and completed her EdD in Organizational Leadership and Innovation at Marymount University. Her doctoral research, To Disrupt or Not Disrupt? Redefining Equitable International Education through Respectful Disruptive Leadership, examines how respectful, human-centered disruption can transform exclusionary global systems.
At her core, Dr. Chris is a builder of bold ideas and inclusive action-oriented communities, leading with empathy, disrupting with purpose, and centering shared humanity as the foundation of global learning.
Shawn Wall is the Founder and Executive Director of World at Hand, a Denver-based nonprofit expanding access to international education for historically underserved students. Since founding the organization in 2020, Shawn has led the development of the Global Scholars Pathway, a multi-stage model that introduces students to global education, provides passport and scholarship support, and guides students before and after their study abroad experiences. World at Hand has supported hundreds of students and has received national recognition for its equity-centered approach to global learning.
Shawn studied Business Management and Entrepreneurship and has over a decade of international experience living, studying, and working abroad. His background includes ESL & K12 Education, nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and partnership development. He is a certified facilitator with extensive experience leading virtual and in-person programming. His work has been recognized with the 2024 IIE Empower Award, runner-up honors for the 2025 GoAbroad Innovation Award in Global Respectful Disruption Leadership, and DA Global’s Rising Star Award, and 2026 InnovateEA Presenter.
Dr. Neal J. McKinney is a multifaceted educator, scholar, and practitioner with over 10 years of higher education expertise across education abroad, career development, and college-level equity, diversity, and inclusion. Dr. McKinney has become a thought leader in the study abroad field using critical theories (e.g., critical race theory, intersectionality, critical whiteness studies) to disrupt systems of inequity in international education that disproportionately impact the success of U.S. domestic and international students of historically marginalized backgrounds.
Nick is the Assistant Director of Study Away & International Exchange at the University of Massachusetts Boston. He is a member of the 2024-2025 NAFSA RISE Fellowship cohort, a graduate of the NAFSA Academy, and was the recipient of the NAFSA Region XI 2024 Rising Professional Award. He holds a BA in History from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and is currently pursuing an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration and Leadership. Nick is a strong believer in advocacy, asking important questions, and challenging the status quo in international and higher education, and he has presented at multiple conferences including NAFSA, DA Global Impact, and The Global Respectful Disruption Summit.
APRIL 22, 2026 | 3:30PM - 4:15PM ET
Pre-Summit Reflection
Global Respectful Disruption Summit | April 24, 2026
April 24, 2026 | 9:00AM - 9:20AM ET
WELCOME + SUMMIT OPENING
Dr. Christina “Chris” Thompson (she/her/hers) is an award-winning international educator, leadership strategist, and justice-centered advocate. She is the Founder and Managing Director of COMPEAR Global Education Network, and the Principal Consultant of Christina Thompson Global Strategies (CTGS), where she partners with institutions and organizations worldwide to redesign global learning systems through intercultural strategy, leadership development, and human-first organizational change. With two decades of global educational experience in higher education and international education, Dr. Chris has led global programs, access initiatives, and intercultural learning efforts across public and private institutions. Her work centers on aligning institutional vision with community impact through strategic planning, curriculum design, and transformational leadership practices.
She studied abroad in Germany at the University of Mannheim, an experience that continues to shape her commitment to equitable access, intercultural learning, and globally grounded leadership. She has taught and facilitated intercultural preparation and reflective learning courses across the United States and internationally, including programs connected to the United Kingdom, Spain, China, Cyprus, The Gambia, and New Orleans.
Previously, she served as Director of Partnership Development and Inclusive Programming at Barcelona SAE, where she pioneered the nationally recognized access centered TODOS strategy. A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Dr. Chris has presented at more than 50 national and international conferences and has served on working groups for NAFSA, The Forum on Education Abroad, and CANIE. She has held leadership roles within NAFSA’s Education Abroad Knowledge Community, including Chair-Elect and past Vice Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Subcommittee, and is a longtime mentor and contributor to the field.
Her publications include contributions to The Changing Landscape of Education Abroad (CEA CAPA), Convergence of Litigation, Policy, and Standards (Forum on Education Abroad), practitioner guides published by the Institute of International Education and the AIFS Foundation, and multiple thought-leadership pieces on global learning, access, and ethical leadership.
Dr. Chris holds a Master’s degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Global Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and completed her EdD in Organizational Leadership and Innovation at Marymount University. Her doctoral research, To Disrupt or Not Disrupt? Redefining Equitable International Education through Respectful Disruptive Leadership, examines how respectful, human-centered disruption can transform exclusionary global systems.
At her core, Dr. Chris is a builder of bold ideas and inclusive action-oriented communities, leading with empathy, disrupting with purpose, and centering shared humanity as the foundation of global learning.
Kory M. Saunders (she,her,hers)I am an award winning people centered, results-driven Kultural Strategist who helps organizations turn strategy into impact and sustainable change. She designs and delivers inclusive, high-impact learning opportunities for U.S. and global audiences that strengthen culture, elevate engagement, and improve how people work together.
Kory is a proud graduate of Hampton University, an HBCU (Historically Black College or University), where she earned a B.S. in Marketing and a B.A. in Spanish and also earned an M.B.A from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, and an M.A in International Business with an International Marketing concentration from la Universitat de Valencia, Spain.
Known for leading through complexity and change, she builds and strengthens partnerships with stakeholders at every level to guide internal and external engagement, align people and processes, and deliver data-informed solutions tied to business and mission-driven goals.
Kory has worked in both corporate and university settings. Kory is a sought after skilled presenter and workshop facilitator. She has presented at both in person and virtual conferences. Kory is the inaugural recipient of the Go Abroad Global Respectful Disruption Leadership Award sponsored Compear Global Education Network. Kory is the creator of Kultural Kurators, a platform to amplify and uplift BIPOC folxs who have had global experiences. She is currently working at AIFS Abroad.
APRIL 24, 2026 | 9:30AM - 10:20AM ET
SESSION
Mapping Humanity Among the Stars: Exploring What Star Trek Teaches Us About Intercultural Understanding
This inspiring session uses the Star Trek universe as a creative lens for exploring intercultural learning, cultural humility, and global collaboration. Through storytelling, media analysis, and reflective dialogue, the audience will explore how encounters among different species in Star Trek are comparable to our own world’s challenges around multiculturalism, diplomacy, and ethical engagement across cultures.
Ebony Ellis is an intercultural educator who focuses on equity, courage, and innovative learning. She uses storytelling to empower students to explore the world, grow, and connect through curiosity and a sense of purpose.
She spent many years living and working abroad with the U.S. Department of Defense, serving U.S. military families, children, and youth around the world. Those experiences continue to shape how she approaches global learning, with care and respect. She later brought that perspective to the University of Michigan, where she served as a senior advisor and lecturer in intercultural studies.
Ebony is the founder of Aventurine Global, where she brings together intercultural learning, storytelling, self-discovery, and exploration to create meaningful connections in the K-16 global education space. Her work includes co-creating the Global Education Equity Empowerment Framework, a practical tool designed to help global faculty and teams lead with intention, empathy, and equity.
In addition to her roles in study abroad, she serves as a University Relations Manager with SIT School for International Training, where she supports students, faculty, and staff in innovative, hands-on research aimed at protecting the wonders of our world.
At the foundation of her work is a genuine love of cultural exploration and a strong commitment to showing up for students in ways that are thoughtful, supportive, and empowering.
Ebony received a BA in history and education from Albany State University and an MA in leisure, youth, and human services from the University of Northern Iowa.
APRIL 24, 2026 | 10:30AM - 11:20AM ET
SESSION
Crafting Your Equity Vows: Soul-Led Leadership in Global Education
In a moment when “global citizenship” feels contested, politicized, and at times hollow, global educators are being asked to lead with both conviction and care. Crafting Your Equity Vows is a reflective, values-anchored follow-up to Stars, Stories, and Social Change, moving participants from joyful self-reconnection into intentional, accountable action.
Rather than offering another abstract definition of global citizenship, this session invites participants to ask a deeper question: What am I personally committed to upholding in this work, especially when it becomes difficult? Through guided reflection, storytelling, and facilitated dialogue, participants will explore the emotions, tensions, and responsibilities tied to equity-centered leadership today.
Participants will then craft personal Equity Vows, clear, values-based commitments that serve as anchors for decision-making, advocacy, and care across their professional and personal lives. In a moment when the consequences of inaction are increasingly visible, this session positions global citizenship not as a label or checklist, but as an equitable practice grounded in integrity, collectivism, love, presence, responsibility, and belonging, sustained by purpose rather than moral disengagement.
Adriana K. Smith, a Global Educator and Astrologer, has devoted her career to disrupting inequitable systems and championing diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is the author of “Studying Abroad for Black Women,” a pivotal guide empowering Black women to access and succeed in international education, while advocating for genuine equity within global learning spaces.
Currently, she serves as the Institutional Relations and Inclusion Manager at the School for Field Studies. She has served as Regional Director at AIFS Abroad and Assistant Director of International Programs at Presbyterian College, where she collaborated with departments and universities to develop inclusive policies, amplify marginalized voices, and implement meaningful DEI initiatives. For more than 10 years, she has co-led workshops and sessions on conscious language, combating Global Anti-Blackness, and rethinking diversity frameworks to center underserved populations.
Adriana’s continued impact extends beyond institutional settings. Adriana integrates astrology and healing to connect personal well-being with broader social change to empower individuals and communities to reimagine education, advocate boldly, and build equitable futures.
APRIL 24, 2026 | 12:00PM - 1:00PM ET
SESSION
Disruptive Master Class - Navigating Cross-Cultural Understanding in an Era of Political Polarization: Learning from the past, co-creating the present
In a moment when global learning, cultural exchange, and international education are under unprecedented scrutiny, this Disruptive Master Class explores what it truly means to navigate cross-cultural understanding in a world increasingly resistant to globalization and intellectual inquiry. As political polarization deepens, and accusations of bias, threats to academic freedom, and anti-international rhetoric rise, educators are being called to navigate complex terrain with integrity, courage, and clarity.
Drawing from historical precedents, we ask: What did our ancestors and predecessors do when their work was under threat? What can we learn from the past as history repeats itself—now in 4K? This session examines how previous generations safeguarded global engagement, upheld ethical standards, and preserved the mission of international education during eras marked by censorship, nationalism, and fear.
Eduardo Contreras is the Vice Provost for Global Engagement at Baylor University, where he is the senior international officer. He also served as SIO and Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Portland. He has over two-decades of experience advocating and advancing internationalization and inclusion in higher education. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Forum on Education abroad and faculty co-chair for the Harvard Management Development Program.
Kory M. Saunders (she,her,hers)I am an award winning people centered, results-driven Kultural Strategist who helps organizations turn strategy into impact and sustainable change. She designs and delivers inclusive, high-impact learning opportunities for U.S. and global audiences that strengthen culture, elevate engagement, and improve how people work together.
Kory is a proud graduate of Hampton University, an HBCU (Historically Black College or University), where she earned a B.S. in Marketing and a B.A. in Spanish and also earned an M.B.A from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, and an M.A in International Business with an International Marketing concentration from la Universitat de Valencia, Spain.Known for leading through complexity and change, she builds and strengthens partnerships with stakeholders at every level to guide internal and external engagement, align people and processes, and deliver data-informed solutions tied to business and mission-driven goals.
Kory has worked in both corporate and university settings. Kory is a sought after skilled presenter and workshop facilitator. She has presented at both in person and virtual conferences. Kory is the inaugural recipient of the Go Abroad Global Respectful Disruption Leadership Award sponsored Compear Global Education Network. Kory is the creator of Kultural Kurators, a platform to amplify and uplift BIPOC folxs who have had global experiences. She is currently working at AIFS Abroad.
Phil S. Agbeko is the Founder & CEO of Hilltop Global Group, an Africa-focused experiential learning firm advancing career-connected global education through internships, faculty development, and custom programs across multiple African destinations. A Georgetown University McDonough School of Business alumnus, Phil co-founded Hilltop with classmate Osa Imohe to expand high-quality programming in Africa and challenge persistent stereotypes by centering lived expertise, local partnerships, and measurable outcomes. Phil is a Fulbright Specialist (U.S. Department of State) and was recognized by The PIE News as one of the Top 50 Voices in Global Education in the Americas (2025). His work bridges universities and employers to create structured, deliverable-based experiences that build global competence, strengthen talent pipelines, and deepen mutual understanding between Africa and the world.
Dr. Brittani Smit has extensive experience in developing and delivering high impact international education experiences, having served as the Resident Director for South Africa programs for Arcadia University’s College of Global Studies, as well as Student Life Manager & Academic Coordinator for the CIEE Global Institute in Cape Town. In these roles, Dr. Smit was responsible for all aspects of the student experience including in-person and virtual programming, health and safety, co-curricular activities and student support. Dr. Smit completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut and Master’s and PhD degrees at the University of Cape Town.
APRIL 24, 2026 | 1:10PM - 2:00PM ET
SESSION
Rewriting the Compact: The Identities We Carry and the Diplomacy of Learning
Global higher education is being called to rewrite its compact with the world. Once built to foster mutual understanding, many international education systems now mirror the inequalities they claim to dismantle, privileging certain passports, languages, and bodies while excluding others. This session invites participants to imagine a new agreement grounded in identity, reciprocity, policy, and diplomacy, four interwoven pillars of what we call education-smart diplomacy.
Gabrielle Haggins is a PhD student in the Higher Education program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Her research explores global education and the experiences of Black women in academia. She examines cultural and communicative barriers to educational equity in the U.S. and abroad, emphasizing international education’s role in fostering cultural awareness and diversifying perspectives, particularly the impact of Black faculty teaching abroad. Additionally, she investigates how identity and socialization shape Black women’s experiences in graduate education and early career stages. Her work aims to advance equity, inclusion, and opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds, particularly people of color.
Logan Tayler Pender (he/him/his) is a graduate student in the Education Policy, Organization & Leadership (EPOL) program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, with a concentration in Global Studies in Education. His research interests lie in decolonizing U.S. higher education and education abroad systems, advancing education as smart diplomacy, and promoting equitable global engagement. He served as a 2024-2025 Gilman Alumni Ambassador for the U.S. Department of State, a 2025 LeadNext Global Ambassador Fellow with The Asia Foundation, and was selected as a delegate for the 2025 Sustainable Development League World Economic & Leadership Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Logan aspires to become a university president and diplomat, shaping educational policy and global cooperation through inclusive, future-focused leadership.
APRIL 24, 2026 | 2:30PM - 3:20PM ET
ElevatED Minds: Spiritualizing The Intellect To Recalibrate Global Learning
Across the global educational and leadership landscape, a profound shift is underway, one that can no longer be ignored. Systems shaped by cultural erasure, intellectual compartmentalization, and spiritual disconnection are collapsing under the weight of new human needs. Leaders, educators, and learners across the world are seeking more grounded, culturally relevant, and spiritually aligned frameworks that support total well-being, identity coherence, and leading with spiritual gifts and purpose. We are entering a new era that is not defined by compliance or hierarchy, rather by identity alignment, ancestral remembrance, mental clarity, and cultural-spiritual integration.
Professor LaToya Robinson is a globally respected strategist, educator, and visionary shifting leadership dynamics at the intersection of culture, power, and multidimensional well-being. She is known for her rare ability to alchemize burnout, systemic breakdown, and organizational misalignment into sustainable performance, cultural integrity, and purpose-driven results. LaToya partners with executives, educators, and institutions ready to dismantle outdated leadership models and build structures that actually work for people and profit.
She is the Founder and Principal Advisor of B.E.E. Global ECF and LR Strategy & Advising International, where she architects high-impact initiatives centered on cultural sustainability, divine leadership, employee satisfaction, and organizational alignment. Her work directly addresses the hidden financial and human costs of burnout, disengagement, and toxic systems, replacing them with clarity, accountability, and cultures designed for longevity, excellence, and expansion.
With over a decade of experience spanning higher education, government, corporate, and nonprofit sectors, LaToya is a Mental Health Wellness advocate, leadership coach, and trusted advisor to decision-makers navigating high-stakes change. Her methodologies fuse strategic intelligence, emotional and trauma-informed leadership, and ancestral and spiritual intelligence, producing outcomes that are measurable, embodied, and transformational.
APRIL 24, 2026 | 3:30PM - 4:20PM ET
SESSION
Reimagining Research for Healing
This panel brings into conversation three scholars whose research advances a global, healing-centered vision for education and mental health through culturally responsive, community-rooted, and antiracist methodologies. Across diverse sociopolitical contexts—including U.S. Latine immigrant communities, Muslim educators in American public schools, and displaced Myanmar youth in Thailand—these studies foreground the wisdom, resilience, and agency of communities historically marginalized by dominant systems. Panelists explore how trauma-informed, mindfulness-based, and participatory approaches to research and intervention can foster individual and collective healing while resisting structural inequities.
Christie YoungSmith, Ed.D., is a global educator, researcher, and nonprofit leader currently serving as Director of Programs & Impact Evaluation at Asia Society Northern California. With international experience across the U.S., Hong Kong, China, and Thailand, she brings expertise in program development, curriculum design, research, and nonprofit management. She has led initiatives at the Stanford Center for the Support of Excellence in Teaching and American University’s Antiracist Research & Policy Center, and previously taught in International Baccalaureate and dual-language schools in Asia. Of mixed Chinese descent, Christie holds an Ed.D. in Education Policy and Leadership from American University, an M.A. from Stanford Graduate School of Education, and a B.A. from Johns Hopkins University. She also has a background in museum education and curation, with work experience at the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, and Stanford’s Cantor Arts Center.
Dr. Ambereen Khan-Baker, NBCT: Ambereen has thirteen years of classroom experience as an English and Special Education teacher. For the past eight years, Ambereen has served as a Senior Policy/Program Specialist at the National Education Association, supporting state affiliates with creating and implementing professional learning systems and supports. Ambereen Khan-Baker is a renewed National Board Certified Teacher and recently graduated as a doctoral student from American University. The title of her dissertation is ““We’re An Ummah:” Disrupting Anti-Muslim Racism And Nurturing Muslim Educators Through Circles Of Collective Empowerment, Storytelling, And Healing.” Follow Ambereen on BSKY @ambereenkb.bsky.social and LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/in/ambereen-khan-baker
Andrea Donis (she/her/hers) is a clinical psychology doctoral student at Loyola University Chicago. She received her B.A. in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley and her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Chicago. Andrea’s research interests span across basic and implementation science. On one end, she is interested in understanding the impact of adversity (e.g., trauma exposure, immigrant-related stress) among Latine immigrant-origin youth, with a particular interest in understanding how family-level (e.g., parenting, culture) factors affect this relationship. She is also interested in investigating the implementation and effectiveness of school- and community-based, trauma-informed interventions for U.S. Latine immigrant-origin youth and families, with a particular interest in evaluating their cultural responsiveness, acceptability, and sustainability. Through this line of research, she aims to adequately contextualize the lived experiences of U.S. Latine immigrant-origin youth and capture the intersectionality of these experiences based on individual-level differences (e.g., gender, ethnicity, immigration status), to advocate for culturally relevant, trauma-informed mental health care for this population. As a bilingual clinician, Andrea also aims to increase the cultural responsiveness and accessibility of mental health services for underserved Spanish-speaking families. In the future, she hopes to focus her line of research on unaccompanied immigrant minors from Central America, as this continues to be an underserved immigrant group with unique and complex needs. To this end, she is also interested in translating her research to inform policy-level changes in the sociopolitical landscape.
April 24, 2026 | 4:30PM - 4:50PM ET
THANK YOU + SUMMIT CLOSING
Dr. Christina “Chris” Thompson (she/her/hers) is an award-winning international educator, leadership strategist, and justice-centered advocate. She is the Founder and Managing Director of COMPEAR Global Education Network, where she partners with institutions and organizations worldwide to redesign global learning systems through intercultural strategy, leadership development, and human-first organizational change. With two decades of global educational experience in higher education and international education, Dr. Chris has led global programs, access initiatives, and intercultural learning efforts across public and private institutions. Her work centers on aligning institutional vision with community impact through strategic planning, curriculum design, and transformational leadership practices.
She studied abroad in Germany at the University of Mannheim, an experience that continues to shape her commitment to equitable access, intercultural learning, and globally grounded leadership. She has taught and facilitated intercultural preparation and reflective learning courses across the United States and internationally, including programs connected to the United Kingdom, Spain, China, Cyprus, The Gambia, and New Orleans.
Previously, she served as Director of Partnership Development and Inclusive Programming at Barcelona SAE, where she pioneered the nationally recognized access centered TODOS strategy. A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Dr. Chris has presented at more than 50 national and international conferences and has served on working groups for NAFSA, The Forum on Education Abroad, and CANIE. She has held leadership roles within NAFSA’s Education Abroad Knowledge Community, including Chair-Elect and past Vice Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Subcommittee, and is a longtime mentor and contributor to the field.
Her publications include contributions to The Changing Landscape of Education Abroad (CEA CAPA), Convergence of Litigation, Policy, and Standards (Forum on Education Abroad), practitioner guides published by the Institute of International Education and the AIFS Foundation, and multiple thought-leadership pieces on global learning, access, and ethical leadership.
Dr. Chris holds a Master’s degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Global Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and completed her EdD in Organizational Leadership and Innovation at Marymount University. Her doctoral research, To Disrupt or Not Disrupt? Redefining Equitable International Education through Respectful Disruptive Leadership, examines how respectful, human-centered disruption can transform exclusionary global systems.
At her core, Dr. Chris is a builder of bold ideas and inclusive action-oriented communities, leading with empathy, disrupting with purpose, and centering shared humanity as the foundation of global learning.
Kory M. Saunders (she,her,hers)I am an award winning people centered, results-driven Kultural Strategist who helps organizations turn strategy into impact and sustainable change. She designs and delivers inclusive, high-impact learning opportunities for U.S. and global audiences that strengthen culture, elevate engagement, and improve how people work together.
Kory is a proud graduate of Hampton University, an HBCU (Historically Black College or University), where she earned a B.S. in Marketing and a B.A. in Spanish and also earned an M.B.A from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, and an M.A in International Business with an International Marketing concentration from la Universitat de Valencia, Spain.
Known for leading through complexity and change, she builds and strengthens partnerships with stakeholders at every level to guide internal and external engagement, align people and processes, and deliver data-informed solutions tied to business and mission-driven goals.
Kory has worked in both corporate and university settings. Kory is a sought after skilled presenter and workshop facilitator. She has presented at both in person and virtual conferences. Kory is the inaugural recipient of the Go Abroad Global Respectful Disruption Leadership Award sponsored Compear Global Education Network. Kory is the creator of Kultural Kurators, a platform to amplify and uplift BIPOC folxs who have had global experiences. She is currently working at AIFS Abroad.