The International and Comparative Education program is excited to celebrate the accomplishments of five of our Fulbright Scholars, Indra Amarjargal, Maja Dahms, Talha Idiz, Diana Morea-Ghergu, and Phuong Pham. The Fulbright Program, one of the most prestigious international exchange initiatives, was established to increase mutual understanding between the students of the U.S. and other nations through educational and cultural exchange. Each year, the program selects accomplished scholars who have demonstrated leadership and commitment to their respective fields. These scholars embody our program’s commitment to cross-cultural understanding and provide unique perspectives and expertise to our field!

 

Indra Amarjargal

Indra

Inspired by Fulbright’s commitment to fostering educational change, Indra Amarjargal pursued a Fulbright fellowship to advance her career as an educator and advocate. Her experiences as both a teacher and student informed her understanding of educational reform, eventually seeking Fulbright as the perfect opportunity to deepen her skills.

Before joining the International and Comparative Education program, Indra earned an undergraduate degree in journalism, a field that equipped her with the critical thinking and analytical skills needed to apply to her teaching practice. Specifically, she notes that journalism and education share a strong foundation in effective communication, objectivity, and the ability to inspire curiosity. Drawing from this multidisciplinary background, Indra has taught subjects like Global Perspectives, Research Methods, and English Literature. These diverse experiences strengthened her commitment to education and have expanded her pedagogical approach. 

Currently, her research focuses on Mongolia’s teacher shortage – a critical challenge affecting educational quality in her home country. While she’s passionate about areas like sustainability and global citizenship, Indra understands that these goals are dependent on a robust teaching workforce. Through her research, she hopes to guide policymakers in creating legislation that supports teacher recruitment and retention, laying the foundation for sustainable development in education. Her Fulbright experience has also broadened her career goals where her internship at ‘One to World’ opened new professional pathways and strengthened her goals of contributing to global education reform. Indra encourages future Fulbright applicants to approach the program with a genuine purpose and a clear vision, emphasizing that Fulbright offers a powerful opportunity to turn one’s passion into meaningful action.

 

Maja Dahms

Maja

Maja Dahms was inspired to pursue the Fulbright fellowship due to its emphasis on the cross-cultural exchange of ideas and the global community it fosters. Within the first few weeks, Maja experienced a deep sense of connection with the program, meeting inspiring peers and benefiting from supportive Fulbright groups that made a potentially challenging transition to New York City feel much less daunting. As a result, Fulbright’s financial backing has enabled her to pursue a Master’s degree in International and Comparative Education at Teachers College – a program that closely resonates with her career aspirations.

Before joining the program, Maja completed her undergraduate studies in Education Science and Philosophy at Humboldt University of Berlin, where she worked as a Research Assistant on interdisciplinary projects funded by the German Research Foundation and the SCRIPTS Cluster of Excellence. Her projects addressed social justice in education, with a recent focus on how international organizations like the OECD and UNESCO shape education. Her exposure to high-impact research fueled her commitment to studying the influence of international organizations in addressing climate change through educational governance. Maja’s research now centers on sustainable education policies and the role of education in responding to the climate crisis. She examines how international bodies communicate about climate change and sustainability, aiming to shift educational policies beyond “greenwashing” and toward impactful climate action.

Maja sees her Fulbright experience as critical to her professional growth, providing her access to diverse seminars in the ICEd program and connections within the Center for Sustainable Futures. She envisions Fulbright’s network continuing to guide her as she builds a career focused on sustainable education and policy reform. For future applicants, Maja recommends embracing the rigorous application process as a chance for self-reflection and connecting with others who share similar goals.

 

Talha Idiz

Talha

Talha Idiz’s journey to the Fulbright fellowship was inspired by a lifelong passion for intercultural learning and global citizenship. Since his high school years, he has pursued many opportunities to participate in scholarships and programs that have shaped his global perspective. After completing his undergraduate studies in Foreign Language Education at Middle East Technical University in Turkey, he saw Fulbright as the logical next step — a chance to deepen his academic aspirations, develop as a researcher, and build a network of colleagues from diverse backgrounds.

Before joining the International and Comparative Education program, Talha was deeply involved in intercultural learning and dialogue where he volunteered with organizations like the AFS Volunteers Association. His professional journey led him to teach English in IGCSE and IB programs at a private high school in Ankara. Talha’s experiences as both an educator and researcher drove his interest in the policies shaping international education. His research now focuses on the intersection of internationalization and academic freedom in Turkish universities – an emerging field with global educational implications. Talha hopes his findings will provide insights for policymakers and higher education leaders in Turkey and other countries facing similar challenges.

Talha sees Fulbright as having a positive influence on his career – valuing the program’s potential to expand his network through meaningful collaborations and allowing him to contribute to academia in substantive ways. His advice for future Fulbrighters is to approach the experience with openness and commitment, viewing it as more than just a credential. By embracing the cultural and academic opportunities the program offers, Talha believes other students can find the same fulfillment and professional growth that Fulbright has provided him.

 

Diana Morea-Ghergu

Diana

Diana Morea-Ghergu’s decision to pursue a Fulbright fellowship stemmed from the program’s focus on  moving the needle on global cooperation and mutual understanding.. While the fellowship’s financial support made it possible for her to pursue a Master’s in International and Comparative Education, what drew her to Fulbright was its commitment to building a global network of scholars. 

Before joining Teachers College, Diana experienced two distinct journeys. From 2010-2017, she co-created a series of educational initiatives aimed at empowering South-Eastern European youth to overcome socio-economic disadvantages and address pressing community issues. As a leader in the Romanian National Student Council, she fought for students’ rights and co-created the Alternative University and managed the Romanian Chapter of the European Social Innovation Award. This fast-paced, high-impact phase in her life enhanced her ability to provide potential solutions to social injustice while placing education at the core of her mission. The second phase of her journey was more reflective, as she pursued academic studies in education and sociology at UCL and the University of Cambridge, while also gaining professional experience at the Education Endowment Foundation. These roles allowed her to dive deeper into educational and sociological research methodologies and gain a comprehensive understanding of global educational issues.

Diana’s current research focuses on the intersection of education and the recognition of the Roma Holocaust. Specifically, she is examining how education policies, curricula, and pedagogies influence the recognition of Roma victimhood and the potential for educational interventions to foster solidarity. Diana aims to explore how European educational systems can better fulfill their anti-racist commitments by addressing historical injustices. Through her research, she hopes to contribute to the transformation of education into a space where atrocities against marginalized communities are acknowledged, solidarity is nurtured, and shared dignity is promoted. 

 

Phuong Pham

Phuong

Phuong Pham’s journey to pursuing a Fulbright fellowship stems from her experiences at Fulbright University Vietnam, where she was among the first employees to be hired. The support from friends, mentors, and colleagues helped her overcome challenges and stems from the idea, “it takes a village to raise a child.” Throughout her career, the resilient students she encountered deepened her commitment to equitable education. With a drive to further this mission, Phuong is now pursuing an MA in International Educational Development.

Before joining Teachers College, Phuong was instrumental in establishing equitable admissions and financial aid processes at Fulbright University Vietnam. She also worked with vulnerable children in nonprofit education settings, including the VietSeeds Foundation, which provides underserved students with access to higher education. Phuong’s research now focuses on student agency, examining how educational programs impact perceived agency and graduate outcomes. Her work aims to inform improvements to the VietSeeds Foundation’s initiative and support similar programs globally. Additionally, her work at Columbia’s Center for Public Research and Leadership (CPRL) involves advising on policies to enhance multilingual education in New York City Public Schools – advancing her goal of promoting equity for multilingual learners.

Through her Fulbright experience, Phuong has reconnected with other Vietnamese scholars in the U.S., strengthening her commitment to supporting educational equity in Vietnam and beyond. She encourages Fulbright applicants to approach the process with intention but also to remain open to the unexpected professional and research connections that often emerge, creating meaningful impacts along the way.