Students in the International and Comparative Education Program (ICEP) at Teachers College, Columbia University have been recognized with a wide range of awards and fellowships during the 2025–2026 academic year. Spanning dissertation research, international fieldwork, language study, and global engagement, these honors reflect the depth and diversity of ICEP students’ scholarly work across regions and disciplines.
From highly competitive national fellowships to institutional research grants, ICEP students continue to demonstrate strong academic achievement and a sustained commitment to addressing complex global challenges in education, migration, and development.
Major National and International Awards
ICEP students earned several of the most competitive national and international fellowships supporting doctoral research and global engagement. Issa Rooney was awarded a Fulbright Research Award to conduct research in Mozambique, supporting international exchange and field-based inquiry. Arnela Colic received the NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship, one of the most prestigious awards supporting doctoral research in education, recognizing the significance and rigor of her dissertation work. Additional national recognition includes the International Peace Research Association Fellowship, awarded to Camille Fabo for work contributing to peace and conflict research in Cameroon, and the Indigenous Language Scholarship from the American Association for Applied Linguistics, awarded to Tsewang Chuskit.
Teachers College and Columbia University Awards
ICEP students were also recognized across Teachers College and Columbia University for their research excellence and academic contributions. Recipients of the Dean’s Research Grant include Leonardo Arevalo, Javi Zamora, Issa Rooney, and Tsewang Chuskit. In honor of her contributions to Teachers College and change-making spirit, Patrícia Santana da Silva received the Shirley Chisholm Trailblazer Award.
Students also received competitive dissertation and research funding, including the TC Doctoral Dissertation Grant, awarded to Sara Pan Algarra and Whitney Hough. Support for international research and travel was also awarded through the Teachers College Office of Global Engagement International Travel Grant, with Leonardo Arevalo among the recipients.
ICEP Program Awards and Fellowships
At the program level, ICEP students received a range of fellowships and scholarships supporting research and fieldwork across global contexts.
Recipients of the International and Transcultural Studies Summer Research Grant include Issa Rooney, Javiera Zamora Iturra, Jonathan Beltran, Leonardo Arevalo, Camille Fabo, Victoria Jones, Jose La Rosa, Nina Yacher, Tsewang Chuskit, Gabriela Chacon, Kemi Richardson, Neil Pontis, Youngkwang Jeon, Moisa Saidu, Farah Helal, Katarina Hotzapple, Raegan Loheide, and Joao Carvalho.
Additional ICEP awards include the Carmela and Marie F. Volpe Fellowship, awarded to Habiba Moussa, Raegan Loheide, Emily Malas, and Moisa Saidu, and the George W. Perkins Memorial Scholarship, awarded to Ashleigh Sable, Kemi Richardson, Julia Aronchi, and Moisa Saidu. Farah Helal and Katarina Holtzapple received the Morocco Study Abroad Grant from the Center for African Education.
Tsewang Chuskit and Thien An Nguyen were recognized through the Martindale Scholarship for their language-focused comparative education research. For their research related to families and communities, Moisa Saidu and Leonardo Arevalo-Rojas were awarded the Nickols Scholarship. Lastly, the Center for Sustainable Futures recognized Darren Rabinowitz with the 2026 Emerging Scholar Award for his contributions to sustainability education research, environmental education, and civic engagement.
Looking Ahead
Collectively, these recognitions highlight the strength and diversity of ICEP students’ research and their continued engagement with pressing global issues. As ICEP students continue their academic and professional work across regions and disciplines, these awards provide critical support for advancing scholarship and contributing to the field of international and comparative education.
***
Attention Alumni! Do you want to be featured on our website?
If any alumni would like a profile to be added on our website, please complete this survey.
We look forward to learning more about your current work!
- International and Comparative Education Program