2021-2022 Doctoral Research Fellows Cohort
Stephanie El Khoury
Arizona State University
Stephanie El Khoury, originally from Beirut, Lebanon, is a two-time graduate of the American University of Beirut where she earned a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Economics. She is currently a PhD student in Economics at Arizona State University. Her interests lie in the Economics of Education, focusing on gender and racial minorities in higher education. She is currently co-authoring two research papers that became her University Innovation Alliance (UIA) projects while she was serving as a Doctoral Research Fellow.
Brendon M. Soltis
Michigan State University
Brendon M. Soltis is a Ph.D. student in the Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education program at Michigan State University. He is a research assistant with the Undergraduate Education, supporting college access and student success programs. His research focuses on multiraciality discourses in higher education, multiracial identity and categorization, and multiracial college student experiences. Before joining Michigan State University, he served as the Assistant Director for Residential Education at Tufts University. Brendon earned a BS in Computer Science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and an MA in Student Development Administration from Seattle University.
Tessa Smith
The Ohio State University
Tessa Smith (she/her) strives to cultivate critical consciousness in education through interdisciplinary research, collaborative pedagogy, writing, and experiential learning. Tess has worked in various higher education and student affairs roles over the last decade, and currently is a qualitative researcher and fourth-year PhD student in the Philosophy and History of Education program at the Ohio State University. Her scholarship is focused on the ethics of censorship and the role of education in addressing and normalizing death, mortality, and grief.
Alex Lewis
University of Central Florida
Alex Lewis is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Sociology department at the University of Central Florida. His research interests include the reintegration of those impacted by the criminal legal system into society, and how stigma plays a role in reintegration efforts. Alex is particularly interested in the experiences of those with a criminal record who attend college. Alex is a two-time graduate of the University of Central Florida, with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
2020-2021 Doctoral Research Fellows Cohort
Abigail Colburn
Arizona State University
Abigail Colburn is a doctoral candidate in Nutritional Sciences at Arizona State University. Her research focuses on hydration and health; specifically, she is investigating disparities in water consumption and hydration status in Latinx adults. Abigail is passionate about undergraduate and graduate student success and has recently served on the university's Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Commission on the Status of Women. As a teaching associate, she supports undergraduate students enrolled in Human Nutrition courses. Abigail is a two-time graduate of the University of Connecticut, with a Bachelor's in Allied Health Sciences and a Master's in Exercise Science. Ultimately, Abigail is interested in improving health outcomes in racial and ethnic minority groups.
Khaleed Fuad
Georgia State University
Khaleed Fuad is a doctoral candidate in business administration with major in computer information systems at Center for Digital Innovation. His research interests include digital innovation, digital transformation, digital platforms, enterprise systems, and artificial intelligence. He co-authored this paper serving as the Doctoral Research Fellow for the University Innovation Alliance (UIA), representing GSU at UIA.
Matt Van Jura
The Ohio State University
Matt Van Jura is a two-time graduate of The Ohio State University, earning a B.A. in Political Science and History and a Ph.D. in Educational Studies. Matt also earned a M.Ed. from the University of Vermont in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration. He has over 10 years of higher education experience in a variety of professional roles, including work in the college union, student leadership development, community engagement, and student affairs assessment. Matt's research focuses on college student success and higher education's efforts to develop an engaged democratic citizenry.
Brandon R. G. Smith
Michigan State University
Brandon R. G. Smith is a Canadian doctoral student at Michigan State University in the higher, adult, and lifelong education education (HALE) program. Prior to beginning Ph.D. studies in fall 2019, Brandon worked in progressive leadership roles in Residence Life and Student Affairs & Services at Mount Royal University (2008-10), McMaster University (2010-13), and Ryerson University (2013-19). Brandon's research interests focus on student persistence, retention, and financial aid access; specifically, how student success interacts with student identities and characteristics. Brandon's current research explores how mid-career administrators working in postsecondary education (PSE) persist through their careers, and what organizational factors support—or hinder—this population's ability to succeed. Brandon completed his M.Ed. in higher education at The University of Toronto–OISE and his B.A. at Trent University.
