Meet the 2024-25 Humphrey Fellows at Penn State

Isaac Carranza is a Historical Memory Specialist for the Panama Canal. He graduated with a degree in international relations from the National Chengchi University, Republic of China (Taiwan) and obtained a master’s degree in management science from the Free University of Brussels, in Belgium. Isaac has worked for 14 years at the Panama Canal, and his department oversees managing a library specializing in the Panama Canal, an archive center, and two museums. He is also a writer and researcher. During his Fellowship, he plans to develop his communication skills, learn about US history, and visit the Library of Congress and the National Archives.  Right now, he is a visiting scholar at the Penn State University Library and hopes to gain knowledge about its operation in order to modernize his work unit in Panamá He is excited to experience and analyze this year's electoral process in the United States. 

Dr. Nauzika Kovacs is a vice-dean for education and associate professor at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary. In her current role, she focuses on academic program development, quality assurance, and fostering innovation in engineering education. With a PhD in Civil Engineering, she has been recognized for her achievements in academic research, participating in international conferences and contributing to significant research projects. She is eager to learn new teaching methodologies, particularly those incorporating technological innovations and improving practices for supporting international students. During her Humphrey Fellowship, she aims to broaden her understanding of global educational practices and bring these insights back to her institution to strengthen academic programs. She is excited about the opportunity to engage with a diverse network of professionals and gain fresh perspectives that will shape the future of higher education.   

Sabastian Salazar is a political scientist hailing from Quito, Ecuador. He earned his master’s degree in innovation and leadership. In the last years he was Deputy Vice minister of Education, Education Management and Government, Subsecretary and Advisor in the several Ministries and Institutions of Ecuador. With an impressive background in high-ranking government roles, Sebastian has contributed to various sectors, including local government, education, and higher education. His ten years of experience in public service have shaped his diverse professional interests, which encompass soft skills development, citizenship education, democracy, participation, and leadership. He will focus on networking, increasing his knowledge of the US higher education landscape, and expanding partnerships in higher education. Sebastian aims to work with international partners to create impactful projects in the field of education. 

Karla Miranda is a professor of the Business Administration program at the National University of Costa Rica. She earned her master's degree in Marketing and Sales at the National University of Costa Rica. Karla has been teaching undergraduate courses on Marketing, New Ventures and Growth, and Internships. She has served in the Public University for more than 20 years in projects and training for community programs in Costa Rica. She is the former coordinator of Alajuela Regional Campus at National University. Her work teaching earned her recognition as an academic of excellence at National University. Miranda’s research currently explores Teaching Methodologies, Design Thinking, and Entrepreneurship. She wants to learn best practices in higher education that improve innovation and entrepreneurship, and ways to encourage small business growth during her Humphrey Fellowship year.  Karla wants to promote the professional growth of young people in Costa Rica and to inspire her students to find in education an opportunity to change their lives. 

Kallaya Tantiyaswasdikul is an associate professor at the Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Thammasat University, Thailand. She is a strategic foresight practitioner specializing in scenario planning and design thinking, trained through the Oxford Scenarios Programme at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and holds a Ph.D. in Policy Science. With international experience working alongside Adam Kahane, a leading facilitator of cross-sector collaboration to address complex global challenges, her research focuses on using strategic foresight to inform policy recommendations, particularly in the areas of innovation and sustainability. During her Humphrey Fellowship, she aims to develop a collaborative network with U.S. lifelong learning institutions to create a global platform of expertise, supporting lifelong learning initiatives in Thailand. 

Lydia Mutua is the Acting Registrar of Academics, Co-operative Development, Research, and Innovation at the Co-operative University of Kenya. She collaborates with staff and faculty to ensure efficient academic processes at all levels. Additionally, Lydia partners with faculty and Co-operative Development stakeholders to promote research and innovation initiatives in Kenya's cooperative sector. As an expert in community development using co-operative models, she has successfully completed numerous projects that support this sector. Lydia holds a PhD in Disaster Risk Management and Sustainable Development and a Master's degree in Project Planning and Management. She has extensive training in Gender Inclusion and Diversity Management, along with Leadership and Management courses. As a 2024-25 Hubert Humphrey Fellow, she is eager to learn about best practices in Higher Education that foster innovation and development, and to build a professional network in the U.S to explore effective strategies for supporting the growth of the cooperative sector.  

Muhammadu Mujtaba Kusherki is the Deputy Director of Education, overseeing policies and acting as a liaison between the Joint Consultative Committee/National Council for Education at the Nigeria-FCT Secondary Education Board in Abuja. He plays a pivotal role in shaping and implementing educational policies, earning three prestigious awards for his dedication and expertise. He oversees NGO activities across 88 senior secondary schools, driving impactful initiatives. As President of Junior Chambers Aso (2012) and National Vice President of Junior Chambers International (2014), he demonstrated exceptional leadership, guiding organizations to significant milestones. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University. As a Humphrey Fellow he will focus on Education Policy, Politics, and Leadership, exploring volunteerism and NGOs activities, and understanding U.S. Politics. 

Daphne Oevi is an academic quality assurance manager at Pacific Adventist University in Papua New Guinea. Daphne holds two Masters qualifications and has 20 years of experience working in the higher education sector. She would want to expand her knowledge of higher education and quality assurance internally (institutional) and externally (U.S. higher education regulatory and professional accreditations). She also would like to learn how universities are adapting the use of Generative AI to use it ethically so as not to compromise on academic integrity. She looks forward to connecting with like-minded professionals, expanding her network, gaining valuable insights from experts and just being part of the prestigious Humphrey Fellowship program.  

Alexandra Faille is a senior specialist in international affairs for the School of Design at Instituto Profesional Duoc UC and Academic Director of Chile Diseño. Leading international quality assurance, study abroad programs, and international funding, Alexandra has built strategic partnerships with renowned academic and professional organizations. Her commitment to fostering collaborative initiatives and community engagement has strengthened the school's and Chilean design reputation both locally and internationally. Alexandra holds a bachelor’s degree in Design from Universidad Católica de Chile and a master's degree in International Affairs from Universidad Católica de Valparaíso. As a Hubert Humphrey Fellow, she is committed to advancing the internationalization of higher education, emphasizing the development of intercultural competencies, global belonging, and involvement. She believes that these essential skills will empower students to explore diverse career paths and make a meaningful impact on the world. 

Arevik Petrosyan is a Senior Project Manager with over a decade of experience leading complex projects in both the public and private sectors. Currently, she is overseeing the digital transformation of social services at the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in Armenia. Her work focuses on reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks, enhancing digital inclusion, and improving service delivery for both the general population and vulnerable groups through innovative, technology-driven solutions. As a 24-25 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow, Arevik is dedicated to learning more about data-driven policymaking and exploring how best to digitalize services by drawing on U.S. and global best practices. Her interests include emerging GovTech regulations, strengthening cybersecurity, and leveraging big data to improve decision-making in areas such as poverty and inequality. She is passionate about using technology to create more efficient and inclusive systems that positively impact communities and the state.