Effie was a member of the inaugural International Teaching and Global Learning (ITGL) cohort. From the start of her program, she took a leadership role in her classes and outside of class as well. She organized a volunteer experience for her cohort members at a local private school. She contacted the school, arranged for experiences, and oversaw the volunteers. Her leadership skills led the school to offer her a position for her Optional Practical Training (OPT) experience. Effie is always courteous to her classmates and instructors and has a very creative spirit when it comes to the field of education. As the first student to receive the School of Education Excellence Award for the ITGL Cohort, there is no more deserving student then Effie as she embodies what it truly means to be a global education leader. 

Bryan continually demonstrated initiative and leadership through the time he was with Johns Hopkins. With team-based projects and presentations, Bryan assumed leadership roles in organizing his colleagues and providing suggestions for content. During one class session, he provided a demonstration of a software tool that enabled one to create concept maps for supporting learning. Bryan was personable and caring towards his colleagues. He was quick to offer help or assistance if needed. He was focused on learning as much as he could through all of his classes as well as through the opportunities he had for extended learning. When a peer requested to be able to attend the class in which Bryan had originally been assigned, Bryan did not hesitate and then requested the infant age level at the early childhood program so he could develop direct knowledge of working with infants.

Sihan Fang exemplifies the best practices in entrepreneurial education and in global leadership – and embodies the mission for the International Teaching and Global Leadership (ITGL) program to prepare international educators to innovate in and transform global education. A leader in the ITGL classroom and on team projects, Fang excelled academically in extended learning and in her mentorship with a CEO of an educational services company. She was selected from among her cohort to work for ACEE Global as part of her Optional Practical Training. Since completing the ITGL program in July 2021, Fang has worked as a teaching assistant in multiple Johns Hopkins School of Education courses to provide invaluable support and knowledge to instructors and students in the 2021-2022 ITGL cohort.

Jaiyu was a top student in the ITGL program.  Her focus area was Digital Age Teaching and Learning.  Jade was a class leader during groupwork and in class discussions.  Her writing and research were excellent and her positive attitude and willingness to learn as much as she could while in the program really made Jade stand out.  Jade exemplifies the caliber of student we want as alumni of our program. Jade was assigned as TA to support five classes being taught that semester due to instructor’s medical leave and proved to be invaluable to students during that time.  Although the instructor had incorporated strategies to keep content continuing during her leave, Jiayu served as the "teacher" presence, providing a consistent delivery of face-to-face contact throughout the semester and across all classes.  Jiayu is always agreeable and willing to support the work.  In addition, she is comfortable in asking questions when she needs additional information.  She is reliable at all times and provides critical support for the classes and the program.  She was a real star in all of her classes.  

Hongjie is a member of the Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) family. She is passionate about advocating for equity and social justice in language education. Hongjie was inspired by various resources provided by the ITGL program to discover her interest in academic research. She is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in educational policy studies at Georgia State University, focusing on educational leadership. She is interested in analyzing language education policies and examining culturally responsive practices using qualitative methods.

The ITGL program is pleased to support Yaodong Xu's nomination for this prestigious award. As a student in the Master of Science in Education Program at Johns Hopkins University, Yaodong consistently demonstrated academic excellence, delivering high-quality work with a disciplined approach and strong analytical skills. His commitment to his studies was evident in his independent research and regular, insightful class contributions. Additionally, Yaodong excelled in collaborating with peers, taking on leadership roles and fostering a supportive, constructive classroom environment. His maturity, motivation, and dedication, combined with his proven ability to succeed academically and demonstrate leadership, make him an ideal candidate for this award. Yaodong’s passion for education and his exceptional leadership skills will undoubtedly continue to drive his success in the future. 

As a Research Assistant in our Extended Learning program, Yaodong demonstrated his academic rigor by assisting School of Education faculty in the Teaching Well program by critically reviewing professional materials and conducting insightful evaluations. He participated in the search for a new STEM faculty member, participated in TeachingWell evaluation meetings with CRRE, reviewed evaluation documents for interviews and surveys; conducted literature reviews on STEM teacher preparation programs, attended all department meetings, attended job talks, assisted with recruitment efforts. 

Yaodong represents the very best of student accomplishment and academic excellence in ITGL.

Phung Pham is an International Teaching and Global Leadership master’s student at Johns Hopkins. With a background in law, she researches global education policy, access, and equity, while also serving as a graduate student ambassador and supporting initiatives that foster inclusion and belonging.

TBD...