Speakers

Tovah Bender, Ph.D.

Bender is an Associate Teaching Professor, Chair of the Undergraduate Committee in the Department of History, and a global learning faculty. In addition to teaching courses on Medieval and Early Modern European history, she works to build supports for students in the curriculum and beyond it while also meeting the highest standards. Bender is also the current faculty chair of the Global Learning Curriculum Oversight Committee of the Faculty Senate.

Vernon Dickson, Ph.D.

Dickson is an Associate Professor of English, faculty within the top ranked Master's in Global Affairs program, and global learning faculty at FIU. His current teaching and research examine adaptations of Shakespeare, particularly in popular and global cultures. He regularly teaches Global Shakespeares, an examination of uses of Shakespeare's works throughout the world. Dr. Dickson earned his Ph.D. from Arizona State University and specializes in Early Modern Literature and rhetorical studies.

Eric Feldman, M.S.

Feldman is Associate Director, Office of Governmental Relations at FIU in Washington, D.C. He leads The Talent Lab, which trains the FIU community on the workings of the federal government and policymaking through Fly-In Policy Seminars, internships, online modules, and guest speakers. For eight years prior to this, Eric developed and managed the co-curricular programs associated with FIU’s Global Learning for Global Citizenship initiative. Eric has published on topics including virtual internships, publicly engaged scholarship and democratic deliberation.

Hilary Landorf, Ph.D.

As Executive Director of the Office of Global Learning Initiatives, Landorf oversees FIU’s university-wide initiative, Global Learning for Global Citizenship, recognized with the 2016 IIE Heiskell Award. She is also an Associate M.S. degree program in International and Intercultural Education. Landorf’s expertise centers on visioning, developing, designing, and implementing the policies and practices of global learning efforts in higher education. She has written, consulted, and presented internationally on integrating global learning into higher education. In November 2020, Landorf was appointed as a founding member to the National Academy of International Education.

Yenisleidy Simon-Mengana, M.S.

Simon-Mengana is Program Manager of FIU’s Office of Global Learning Initiatives. In this role, she leads the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs designed to increase students’ global awareness, global perspectives, and global engagement. Her experience includes working nationally and internationally in the areas of education, international development, humanitarianism, gender advocacy, and global engagement. Yeni is a Humanity in Action Fellow, and most recently, she joined the Global Citizenship Alliance as a teaching faculty member.