ORGANIZING TEAM
ORGANIZING TEAM
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The Harvard AI and Education Conference Organizing Team is led by students across various programs at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Zainab Azim
Conference Co-Director
Zainab Azim
Conference Co-Director
Zainab is a Master's Candidate in Eduication Policy and Analysis, with a background in government, non-profits and research spanning neuroscience, education and policy. Her most recent work focuses on leveraging AI to promote deeper learning for secondary school STEM students by enabling educators to have more time for what matters most.
Email: zainab_azim@gse.harvard.edu
Maria-Renée Palomo
Conference Co-Director
Maria-Renée Palomo
Conference Co-Director
Born and raised in El Salvador, Maria-Renée holds degrees from Sciences Po Paris and has extensive experience in public sector consulting in France. She is committed to leveraging AI to transform education in low-income countries, with a special focus on teacher professional development.
Merlyn Tejada
Director of Finance
Merlyn Tejada
Director of Finance
Merlyn is the Director of Finance for the AI and Education Conference, bringing strategic insights from her previous roles as a Senior Analyst at Watershed Advisors and a Budget Analyst at the Louisiana Department of Education. Originally from the South Bronx, she is passionate about transforming the Birth through 12 education system with innovative fiscal strategies.
Callysta Thony
Director of Communications
Callysta Thony
Director of Communications
Callysta is a Master’s candidate at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education with a keen focus on the impact of AI in transforming teaching and learning in the Global South. Originally from Indonesia and a Yale-NUS College graduate, she is committed to amplifying diverse voices in global education.
Jenna Winocur
Director of Partnerships
Jenna Winocur
Director of Partnerships
Jenna is a dynamic leader dedicated to expanding equitable access to quality education through technology and innovation. As co-founder of Indaba and a pioneer in AI ethics initiatives, she brings deep expertise from venture capital, policy work, and academic roles at MIT and Harvard.
Felicity Powell
Director of Operations
Felicity Powell
Director of Operations
Felicity brings years of expertise in designing STEM education programs for equity prior to her work at HGSE. Her journey - from teaching computer science to marginalized high school students to leading education initiatives in the aerospace industry - fuels her passion for harnessing technology to bridge the digital divide.
Nancy Garcia Castillo
Curriculum and Assessment Plenary Lead
Nancy Garcia Castillo
Curriculum and Assessment Plenary Lead
Nancy Garcia Castillo is an experienced educator originally from Mexico who now thrives in Portland, Oregon, with over 14 years of teaching across diverse subjects and international contexts. Dedicated to equity and inclusion, she leverages her rich background to mentor new teachers and shape transformative K-12 educational programs.
Emilia Bustos Plass
Professional Development Plenary Lead
Emilia Bustos Plass
Professional Development Plenary Lead
Born and raised in Chile, Emilia is a master's candidate in Education Policy and Analysis. Combining her background as an engineer and mathematics teacher, she is passionate about using education and technology to tackle educational inequality, especially in low- and middle-income countries. She focuses on effectively utilizing data through technology to drive meaningful change.
Xian Hui Ang
Social Media Co-Lead
Xian Hui Ang
Social Media Co-Lead
Xian Hui Ang is a Master’s Candidate in Human Development and Education, with a keen interest in early childhood. Born and raised in Malaysia, she is dedicated to leveraging technology to enrich learning experiences and foster developmental growth of the next generation, particularly in the Global South.
Maria Monroy
Social Media Co-Lead
Maria Monroy
Social Media Co-Lead
María Paula Monroy is a dedicated researcher and advocate for education and youth leadership, currently pursuing a master’s in Education Policy and Analysis. A graduate of Universidad de los Andes in Government and Public Affairs, she has contributed to initiatives at the Colombo-German Institute for Peace and Partners of the Americas, and she is committed to leveraging research and policy to drive meaningful social impact in Colombia.
Martha Okafor
Teacher Professional Development Panel Lead
Martha Okafor
Teacher Professional Development Panel Lead
Martha is a dedicated education advocate with two decades of experience in leadership, curriculum development, and teacher training, whose research explores the science of teaching, teacher development, and curriculum reform. Passionate about leveraging AI to bridge learning gaps and create locally relevant solutions in the Global South, she brings both expertise and vision to the conference. Beyond education, Martha is committed to environmental conservation, mentoring emerging professionals, and fostering leadership across Africa.
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