Higher education is a powerful force for personal transformation and social change. As a scholar of college impact, my work explores how institutions shape student experiences, outcomes, and equity. Through rigorous research and critical inquiry, I aim to illuminate the ways in which higher education advances — and sometimes constrains — opportunities, with the goal of building a more just and effective system for all learners.
Originally from Homs, Syria, I completed all of my P–12 education in Syrian public schools before attending Vanderbilt University, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Music. My campus involvement at Vanderbilt deepened my belief in the transformative potential of college environments and led me to pursue a Master of Education from the University of Vermont and a Ph.D. in Educational Studies from The Ohio State University.