As a leader in community and civil society engagement and a scholar in comparative and international education and human rights, I blend research with practice to highlight the impact of humanitarian and development programs on refugees and persons affected by crisis and displacement. My diverse thematic experience spans geographies, from grassroots community engagement to international research and policy. Situated at the intersection of gender, education and international development, my Ph.D. research explores critical questions and complex policies affecting refugees’ access to education and employment. With more than decade of professional experience in development, program design, grant writing and management, monitoring and evaluation, I engage cross-disciplinary scholarship and practice to optimize organization success and stakeholder impact. I accomplish this through systems development, data-driven decision-making, and strategic partner collaboration.As a former refugee with personal experience in humanitarian crisis and displacement, I have worked extensively with vulnerable populations, including youth and refugees, through advocacy projects, professional and volunteer engagements.