> 50
In the last 3 years, our students have come from over 50 nations worldwide.
> 50
In the last 3 years, our students have come from over 50 nations worldwide.
> 50
In the last 3 years, our students have come from over 50 nations worldwide.
> 50
In the last 3 years, our students have come from over 50 nations worldwide.
Dissertations that Drive Impact
Suhayb Kattan, a researcher at Saudi Arabia’s Education and Training Evaluation Commission, explores teacher evaluation systems in his dissertation, providing evidence-based recommendations to improve standards, professional learning, and educational reforms.
Najat Elgeberi’s dissertation examines survey research in the Arab world, assessing instrument quality, testing invitation strategies, and adapting Western guidelines to improve response rates, credibility, and overall research quality.
Alumna Spotlight, Tererai Trent: Expanding Access to Education Around the World
Dr. Tererai Trent, PhD ’09, is one of today’s most widely recognized advocates for quality education and women’s empowerment. Raised in rural Zimbabwe in circumstances that denied girls access to schooling, she taught herself to read and write from her brother’s schoolbooks, and went on to earn her doctorate from Western Michigan University. Oprah Winfrey named her her “all‑time favorite guest” and contributed US $1.5 million toward rebuilding Dr. Trent’s childhood school.
Through her nonprofit, Tererai Trent International, she has helped establish 11 schools in Zimbabwe and supported more than 6,000 students. Her ambitious mission and tireless work demonstrate how education can transform entire communities. Dr. Trent’s journey—from rural village to global advocacy platform—exemplifies the transformative power of education and reflects the Evaluation program’s commitment to leadership, rigorous research, and meaningful community impact.
Where are you from?
Bo Klauth, Ph.D. ’22, originally from Cambodia, is currently the Director of Enrollment Research and Analytics at the University of Olivet. His research focuses on psychometrics, assessment, evaluation, and statistical programming, with a dissertation examining estimator performance in SEM and IRT. He is passionate about applying rigorous research methods to improve institutional decision-making and student outcomes.
Dea Mulolli, Ph.D. ’24, originally from Kosovo and a Fulbright scholar, is currently a Research Scientist at the Human Resources Research Organization in Virginia. Her research focuses on analyzing large datasets to understand factors influencing student achievement and improving evaluations of STEM programs. She is passionate about applying evidence-based research to enhance educational outcomes and inform policy decisions.
Wessam Abdelaziz, M.A. '18, Ph.D. ’21, originally from Egypt and a Fulbright scholar, is currently the Coordinator of Multilingual Services and World Languages for Kalamazoo Public Schools. His research focuses on evaluation and language assessment, with a dissertation investigating the psychometric characteristics of nationally recognized language proficiency assessments. With over a decade of higher education teaching experience, he is skilled in research, ESL and Arabic instruction, language assessment, and psychometrics.
Fanny J. Hernández de Álvarez, Ph.D. ’24, is from the Dominican Republic. She has extensive experience assessing the Dominican K–12 education system and evaluating educational programs and nonprofits in the United States. Her research focuses on improving evaluation practices, with her dissertation examining how the quality of Terms of Reference (TORs) influences the overall quality of final evaluation reports. Currently a Researcher, Evaluation Specialist, and Data Analyst, her work contributes to strengthening evaluation standards and practices in international development.