International President
DR. MARCIA HARDY
Louisiana Christian University (LCU)
1140 College Drive, Box 610
Pineville Louisiana 71359
Phone: 318-487-7130
Email: Marcia.Hardy@lcuniversity.edu
Personal information:
Po Box 12996
Alexandria , Louisiana 71315
Cell: 318-229-6807
Email: marcia.mclurehardy@gmail.com
Click here for bio.
Dr. Marcia McLure Hardy is the Dean of the Louisiana Christian University (LCU) Young School of
Business and LCU’s Dean of the Martin MBA and Master of Strategic Leadership Programs. She is a
member of the LCU Academic Leadership Team and focuses on research and teaching strategic
management and policies, organizational management, change management, AI, and leadership.
She is a full professor at LCU. Recently, Dr. Hardy completed an Executive Program on Artificial
Intelligence Implications for Business Strategies.
Marcia has participated in the Phi Beta Delta International Organization as a member of PBD
conference committees and the publications and membership committees. She is a Past President
of the Eta Mu Chapter of Phi Beta Delta (PBD) at NSU. She has served as a board member and
previously chaired the Eta Mu language and cultural series program, the scholarship committee,
and the nominating committee.
Dr. Hardy was chosen as the Erasmus+ Program Faculty Recipient, teaching students in Spain and
speaking at International Week at the University of Alicante. Dr. Hardy served as a member of the
Steering Committee for the NSU Center for Positivity, Well-Being, and Hope and has also served on
the CREATE Steering Committee. She also performed duties as a two-term President of the NSU
Faculty Senate. While teaching as a Full Professor at Northwestern State University, Dr. Hardy
received the Excellence in Teaching Award from the College of Business and Technology.
Marcia has served as co-founder, president, and CEO of McLure-Moynihan Inc. (MMI). MMI
conducted business as an e-commerce company based in Southern California providing leadership,
consulting expertise, training, and developed software solutions for major employers in the
healthcare, insurance, and banking sectors. Dr. Hardy holds a Ph.D. from the University of
California, Los Angeles (UCLA), with a focus on research, evaluation, policymaking, and management.
Dr. Hardy has participated as the Chairman of the Board for United Way of Central Louisiana, a
non-profit organization with a mission to link people and resources for a stronger community
meeting the needs of the community. She currently serves as a member of the United Way Executive
Counsel and has served on Advisory Boards for the Natchitoches Coalition for Homelessness and the
Sabine High School Revitalization Project.
Marcia enjoys exploring, traveling, and seeking new adventures outdoors. She is a nature lover
who enjoys spending time with family and friends and is passionate about promoting cultural and
educational opportunities.
President Elect
Kolawole Michael Afolabi, Ph.D.
Oklahoma State University
305 Willard Hall, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater
Email: michael.afolabi@okstate.edu
Phone: 405 762-1389
Click here for bio.
Dr. Kolawole Michael Afolabi is an educational leader, researcher, and human resources
professional whose work bridges scholarship, instructional design, organizational leadership,
and pastoral ministry. He serves as an Admissions Specialist in the Graduate College at
Oklahoma State University and as an Adjunct Professor in the College of Education and
Human Sciences, where he teaches Instructional Strategies for Adults (WAED 5353) in the
School of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Aviation. He was recently appointed
President-Elect of Phi Beta Delta, the Honor Society for International Scholars.
Dr. Afolabi holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and an Education
Specialist degree from Oklahoma State University, along with a Master of Science in Global
Studies and Partnerships (Cole-Hamm Scholar) and a Master of Science in Industrial Relations
and Human Resource Management. He is also CIPM certified. Before his doctoral studies, he
spent more than eight years in senior human resources and administrative leadership, and he
later served as a Research Scientist in the Educational Leadership Program at Oklahoma State
University. This background gives his scholarship a grounding in real organizational practice
that few academics carry.
His doctoral research examines the implementation and lived experience of artificial
intelligence integration in K-12 education, with particular attention to equity, teacher adoption,
and student outcomes in underserved and rural communities. His dissertation, a qualitative
case study of AI tutoring adoption in a rural school district, is complemented by a systematic
review of AI tutoring research spanning 82 studies across 28 countries, among the most
comprehensive syntheses of the field to date. His scholarship is grounded in the Technology
Acceptance Model and Self-Determination Theory, and it consistently asks a single question
beneath its technical surface: what determines whether new tools serve students well, or
simply widen the gaps between them.
A prolific and active scholar, Dr. Afolabi has delivered more than 25 peer-reviewed
presentations at national and international conferences, including the American Educational
Research Association (AERA), the University Council for Educational Administration
(UCEA), the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT), and the
International Society of the Learning Sciences (ISLS). His work earned a Presidential
Presentation Designation at the AECT 2024 International Convention. He currently has three
publications in print and five additional manuscripts under peer review, extending his research
agenda on AI integration, educator professional development, and equity in K-12 and higher
education. He serves as a peer reviewer for AERA, having reviewed submissions for the 2023
and 2024 Graduate Student Summit cycles, and is currently evaluating forty papers for the
AERA 2027 Annual Meeting in Toronto.
In the classroom, Dr. Afolabi brings the same commitment to adult learners. In addition to his
current adjunct teaching, he has designed coursework and mentored master’s students in adult
education courses and Instructional Systems Design. His university service includes
contributions to Oklahoma State University’s CAEP accreditation efforts, Strategic Plan
Working Group 3, and the College of Education and Human Sciences Dean Search and
Screening Committee.
Beyond the academy, Dr. Afolabi is the co-founder and Curriculum Coordinator of ECHO
Education Nigeria, an international initiative connecting K-12 educators across Nigeria with
professional development and instructional resources, operated in partnership with Oklahoma
State University and the University of New Mexico. He co-organized EDUFEST Lagos 2025,
a professional development conference on AI integration and teacher practice coordinated
across four institutional partners on two continents.
His leadership within Phi Beta Delta reflects a sustained, multi-year commitment to the
international scholarly community. He has served as Southwest Regional Vice President since
2022, and in 2026 he received the David Merchant International Student Award for his
contributions to international education. His appointment as President-Elect marks the next
chapter of that service, as he helps guide the society’s mission of recognizing scholarly
achievement in international education and exchange.
An immigrant and first-generation scholar from Nigeria, Dr. Afolabi is the son of two K-12
head teachers, and he credits his parents’ lifelong commitment to education in under-resourced
classrooms as the foundation of his own vocation. He is fluent in English, Yoruba, and
Nigerian Pidgin. Having personally navigated the international student experience; visa status,
academic transition, and cultural adjustment, he brings firsthand understanding to his advocacy
for international scholars today. Alongside his academic and professional life, Dr. Afolabi has
served for more than fifteen years in pastoral ministry to youth and young adults, a calling he
holds as inseparable from his work in education: both are, to him, forms of investing in people
so they might become who they are capable of becoming.
Dr. Afolabi lives in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he continues his teaching and research at
Oklahoma State University, his work with ECHO Education Nigeria, and his service to the
international scholarly community as President-Elect of Phi Beta Delta.
Past International President
Erik Jon Byker, Ph.D.
Professor
Co-Executive Director of the Global-ready Research and Equitable Education in Teaching (GREET) Center
Cato College of Education
Honors College
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
9201 University City Blvd.
Charlotte, NC, 28223
Email: ebyker@charlotte.edu
Phone: 704-687-8898
Click here for bio.
Dr. Erik Jon Byker is a full professor in the Cato College of Education and in the Honors College faculty at UNC Charlotte. He is also the Co-Executive Director of the Global-ready Research and Equitable Education in Teaching (GREET) Center at UNC Charlotte. The purpose of the GREET Center is to help prepare undergraduate students with global competencies and with research skills.
Erik is also the founder and creator of the TEDxCraverRoad Countdown, which is an international, hybrid TEDx event that focuses on ways to take action on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Erik teaches courses about the SDGs and is also the faculty advisor for UNC Charlotte's Sustainable Development Goals Club, which is a student organization committed to the SDGs.
Erik is the past-President of the MU Chapter of Phi Beta Delta (PBD) at UNC Charlotte. He was the MU Chapter President from 2020 until 2022. He has served on the PBD Diversity Committee, the PBD 2022 Conference Organizing Committee, and on the PBD Recruitment Committee. He is especially proud that the Mu Chapter initiatives during the Covid-19 pandemic were recognized with the Eileen M. Evans Outstanding Chapter Award in 2022.
Erik is deeply committed to study abroad and international virtual experiences. During the 2019-20 academic year, he was UNC Charlotte’s resident director at Kingston University in London, United Kingdom. He has also led several study abroad programs to Cape Town, South Africa. He regularly includes international virtual exchange opportunities in his teaching including Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) and Globally Networked Learning (GNL) projects. For example, he led a course-based COIL experience with Kostanay State University in Kazakhstan. He also has implemented several Globally Networked Learning (GNL) opportunities in his courses with the PH Ludwigsburg University in Germany. Erik was awarded the 2020 International Education Faculty Award by UNC Charlotte’s Office of International Programs to recognize his commitment to international education.
Erik has a Ph.D. Degree in Curriculum, Teaching, and Educational Policy from Michigan State University and holds a M.Ed. Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Virginia. His fields of specialization include curriculum foundations, educational technology integration, global citizenship education, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Erik’s research agenda is comparative and international in scope and he has conducted ethnographic field studies in Cuba, England, Germany, India, South Africa, South Korea, and across the United States. He lived in Bangalore, India, to collect data for his dissertation.
He has developed a number of globally-focused conceptual frameworks from his empirical research studies. These frameworks include Critical Cosmopolitan Theory (CCT) and Global Telephony Theory. CCT, in particular, had been highly cited. This theory weds the Asia Society’s four global competencies to Paulo Freire’s writings on developing a critical consciousness about the world. Critical Cosmopolitan Theory is a framework for preparing global-ready learners toward the maturation of critical consciousness to take action to rewrite the world. This theory informs Dr. Byker’s research agenda in the area of global competencies development. Erik has written over 30 articles and 19 book chapters. Additionally, he has co-edited 6 books mostly focused on the education system in South Asia—especially in India. He loves to travel with his family. He also enjoys coaching baseball, gardening, mountain-biking, swimming, and working out.
Senior International Vice President
Norma George DML
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
1837 University Circle
Cheyney, PA 19319
Phone: (610) 399-2416
Email: ngeorge@cheyney.edu
Click here for bio.
Norma George is a professor at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania where she now teaches in the
English program after having taught French and Spanish for several years. She served as the
institution’s director of international programs from 2005-2018 and implemented its annual
International Festival which began in 2004. She served five years as the chairperson of her
department, several years as the chairperson of the Faculty Senate, and is now the president of the
local chapter of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF),
the faculty union.
Dr. George attended Cheyney University as an international student and studied abroad in France and
Spain during her undergraduate years. She graduated with Bachelor of Arts degrees in French and
Spanish and went on to earn a Master of Education degree from Cheyney. She continued on to
Middlebury College where she earned the Master of Arts in French and the Doctor of Modern Languages
degree. Additionally, she pursued the Master of Arts in Spanish with the University of Salamanca in
Spain, and completed graduate coursework in English.
Passionate about international education, Dr. George made tremendous strides towards
internationalizing her University. She authored three successful proposals which brought Fulbright
Scholars in Residence from Cameroon, Turkey and South Africa to the institution. She hosted visiting
scholars from Ghana, Nigeria and India, and was herself the recipient of a Fulbright award to India
and a Fulbright-Hays award to South Africa. She has served on review panels for the Fulbright
Scholar in Residence and English Language Teaching Assistantship programs, the Gilman Study Abroad
Scholarship, the Boren Scholarships and the Critical Language Scholarship. She introduced the Peace
Corps Prep Program, the United Nations Association, Model African Union, Phi Beta Delta Honor
Society for International Scholars and Rotaract Club to her University.
In 2010, she was awarded the Blankenship Award, and began serving as the vice president of the
North-East region of the Phi Beta Delta. She served as president-elect in 2017-2018. Serving as the
senior vice-president of the Society would be a tremendous opportunity to help strengthen the
society by supporting the work of the regional vice-presidents as they assist our chapters, and
working with the board to ensure the health of the Society as we move ahead.
Historian, Archivist
Ann Marie Legreid, Ph.D
Shepherd University, Emerita
223 Hensel Drive
Shepherdstown, West Virginia 25443
Email: alegreid@shepherd.edu
Click here for bio.
“I serve on the Board of Directors because I believe firmly in the value of international education and
exchange. My study abroad experience as an undergraduate student was transformational, and I have
spent my career working to promote and support international initiatives at the university level.”
Dr. Legreid received her Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Geography from the University of Wisconsin-
Madison, and her B.S. in Geography from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Her specialties are
cultural, urban, historical, European, and North American Geography. Her research interests lie primarily
in migration and population studies, with a focus on the Nordic countries.
She served in dean positions at Shepherd University prior to her retirement. She also chaired the
Shepherd Internationalization Advisory Council, served on the Global Studies Advisory Council, and was
a charter member and the campus coordinator for Phi Beta Delta-Theta Epsilon Chapter. She is a past
International President of Phi Beta Delta.
Dr. Legreid was a Fulbright Scholar to Norway and the recipient of the Crown Princess Martha Award
from the American Scandinavian Foundation, NYC. She also completed the Management Development
Program at Harvard University and the HERS Women in Higher Education Administration Program at
Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. She enjoys traveling, reading, visiting museums, and participating in
outdoor activities.
Director of Membership
Virginia L. Hicks PH.D
Shepherd University
Assistant Provost for Academic Community Outreach
P. O. Box 5000 Shepherdstown, WV 25443-5000
Phone: (304) 876-5712
Fax: (304) 876-5169
Email: vhicks@shepherd.edu
Click here for bio.
I have always and continue to value the importance of international education. I would enjoy
reaching out to community colleges, colleges, and universities to share exciting information about
the benefits of being a member of Phi Beta Delta. If they are interested I and/or with a Phi Beta
Delta Colleague, would be very willing to share information with them about developing a Chapter.
I have always enjoyed learning about various cultures and sharing them with my students and faculty.
I also enjoyed experiencing the rich culture in New Mexico when I had the opportunity to teach at a
Hispanic serving university and to work with a large group of Nativie Americans during two major
research studies. I started getting involved with international work when I worked for the
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and continued when I became the Dean of Education and
Professional Studies at Shepherd University. The experiences have truly been amazing.
As part of my current job as Assistant Provost I have the opportunity to collaborate with several
administrators/professors/teachers from various colleges (mostly community) and high schools.
Together we have developed many agreements and many of the students have enrolled in Shepherd
University. I enjoy talking to professionals and I believe I would enjoy reaching out to various
professionals to tell them about a quality organization, Phi Beta Delta.
Director of Publications
Michael Smithee, Ed.D.
Syracuse University (Retired) / Smithee Associates
President, Smithee Associates
5104 E. Lakes Drive
Deerfield Beach, FL 33064
Tel: (954) 573-1280
E-mail: ms@smitheeassociates.com
URL: www.smitheeassociates.com
Click here for bio.
A professional advisor and administrator in international education for over 40 years,
Mike retired from Syracuse University and moved to South Florida and where he formed a
higher education consulting service, Smithee Associates. During his tenure at Syracuse
University he established himself in administration of an international office, advising
and counseling international students and scholars on immigration and related topics,
developing and implementing cross-cultural training and programs, managing organizational
development. In addition to serving as the director of and faculty chair of the SU International
Living Center Learning Community, he developed and taught graduate and undergraduate courses in
intercultural communication, and intercultural environments. He is the lead author in a number
of publications, most recently on U.S Classroom Culture, and Intercultural Aspects of Academic
Integrity.
He has lived in France and has visited Albania, England, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands,
Switzerland, and Taiwan; lived in more than nine U.S. states and 14 U.S. cities
(all before the age of 21); and attended 12 different schools from K-12. He received his
Master’s degree in International Relations in 1970 from Florida State University, and his
doctorate in Higher Education in 1990 from Syracuse University. His doctoral dissertation
is titled, “Factors Related to the Development and Implementation of a University-Wide
Teaching Assistant Program.”
Mike has served in a number of capacities with NAFSA: Association of International Educators,
most recently as Chair of the National Education and Training Committee, as Chair of Phase II
(member interest group), and in 2017 he was awarded Life Membership in NAFSA. In Phi Beta Delta,
he has served as a Chapter Coordinator, Regional Vice President, as President (2005-06), and since
2007, as Director of Publications, and editor of the PBD journal , International Research and
Review.
Regarding Phi Beta Delta, he encourages all Phi Beta Deltans to do two things: (1) encourage
other institutions to establish a chapter, and (2) to submit news and information to the Medallion,
and papers for peer review to the International Research and Review.
Adriana L. Medina, Ph.D.
Professor
Co-Executive Director of the Global-ready Research and Equitable Education in Teaching (GREET) Center
Cato College of Education
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
9201 University City Blvd
Charlotte, NC, 28223
Email: amedina1@charlotte.edu
Phone: 704-687-8896
Click here for bio.
Dr. Adriana Laza Medina is a Professor of Reading in the Department of Reading and Elementary Education at UNC Charlotte. She earned her Bachelor’s in Education at Vanderbilt
University, her Master’s in Reading at Florida International University, and her PhD in Reading at
University of Miami.She has been an active member of Phi Beta Delta since 2015. She has served on the PBD annual conference planning committee and as a proposal reviewer. From 2018-2022, she served as the Mu Chapter Secretary and as the Mu Chapter President from 2023-2024. Dr. Medina has over 30 years of teaching experience at the elementary, middle, and high school level, as well as at the college and university level. As a classroom teacher, Dr. Medina taught 7th and 8th grade English, Reading, and Language Arts. As a teacher educator, she has taught undergraduate and graduate classes on Teacher Action Research, Teaching Reading to Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners, Assessment and Instruction in Reading, Mindfulness and Education, Identity through Art, Communication and Critical Thinking with a Focus on Global Citizenship, Multicultural and Global Education, and even a class on Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels.
Dr. Medina takes students to study abroad and teaches abroad in Germany. She aims to broaden the global and local perspectives of her teacher education students so they can in turn broaden the perspectives of their K-12 students and prepare them to continue to address the challenges of our interdependent world. As a researcher, Dr. Medina has experience in school-based educational research and in the evaluation of instructional programs. Her research interests include individuals who struggle with literacy, teacher education, global learning, and the impact of education abroad and virtual exchange experiences. Dr. Medina has contributed to several textbooks and many articles with regards to her areas of interest. She has served as a co-editor of a special issue for Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad and she is the co-author of the text Studying World Languages: An Interactive Guidebook.
Dr. Medina is an award-winning educator. She has received the 2022 Bank of America Teaching Excellence Award and the 2023 North Carolina Board of Governors’ Award for Excellence in Teaching as well as UNC Charlotte’s Faculty International Education Award.
Director of Development/Conferences
Nabin Sapkota, Ph.D.
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Professor of Engineering Technology
Click here for bio.
Dr. Nabin Sapkota: I would welcome the opportunity to serve as Director of Development/Conferences for Phi
Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars. As a Professor of Engineering Technology and a
coordinator of my local NSU Eta Mu Phi Beta Delta chapter, I have experience in academic leadership,
program coordination, and member engagement. I have planned and facilitated virtual events by coordinating
presenters, managing breakout rooms, and supporting participant interaction. I have also helped organize
Faculty On-Call Week programming and participated in several virtual conferences, giving me experience from
both organizer and participant perspectives. In addition, my current role as Editor of the Journal of
Research in Business and Information Systems (JRBIS) has strengthened my scholarly leadership,
communication, and collaboration skills. These experiences have prepared me to organize effective
conferences and support Phi Beta Delta's continued growth.
John Dunleavy
College of Staten Island/The City University of New York
Study Abroad Advisor | ARO
Center for Global Engagement
Click here for bio.
Mr. Dunleavy has been an international educator for over 25 years. He started out with a study abroad
program as an undergrad in the same college he now works for: the College of Staten Island (CSI) – City
University of New York. He spent a total of 4 years living and teaching in Guayaquil, Ecuador. He obtained
his MA in TESOL in 2013 and was inducted into PBD – Eta Lambda Chapter in 2013 while teaching ESL at CSI.
Mr. Dunleavy is a study abroad advisor (ARO) and has been advising study abroad students for over 11
years.
Executive Director & CEO
Hyunkyoung Oh, Ph.D.
Professor of Kinesiology
California State University, San Bernardino
5500 University Pkwy, HP 120
San Bernardino, CA 92407
TEL: (909) 537-5349
Email: hkoh@csusb.edu
Click here for bio.
Dr. Oh is a Professor and Coordinator of the Adapted Physical Education (APE) Credential
Program in the Department of Kinesiology at California State University, San Bernardino
(CSUSB). Her expertise lies in Adapted Physical Education and Pedagogy, with a commitment to
preparing educators who can effectively support learners with diverse abilities. Dr. Oh teaches
a range of courses in APE credentialing and physical education pedagogy. Her research focuses
on teacher education in both adapted and general physical education, with an emphasis on
behavioral issues in students with disabilities, teacher self-efficacy, and emotional responses to
challenging behaviors in educational settings. Before joining CSUSB, Dr. Oh coordinated the
Adapted Physical Education program at Indiana University, where she earned her Ph.D. in
Human Performance. Her doctoral work earned her the prestigious Patricia Austin Award from
the North American Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (NAFAPA) for outstanding
dissertation research.
At CSUSB, Dr. Oh has also served as Faculty Director of the Center for International Studies and
Programs and as Interim Dean for International Education in the College of Extended and Global
Education. In these roles, she advanced institutional internationalization strategies to support
student and faculty success, and co-chaired CSUSB’s engagement in the American Council on
Education (ACE) Internationalization Lab. Dr. Oh served in many leadership roles including, but
not limited to Program Chair, the National Adapted Physical Education Conference in 2010;
Chair, Awards, and Scholarships Committee in the California State Council on Adapted Physical
Education; CSU’s Adapted Physical Education Coordinator representative, the California State
Council on Adapted Physical Education; Board member, the International Federation of
Adapted Physical Activity (IFAPA) and NAFAPA.
Regional Vice Presidents:
Regional Vice President, Northeast
Winnie Brophy
College of Staten Island/The City University of New York
Director of Special Programs and Initiatives
Center for Global Engagement
2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10314
Email: Winnie.brophy@csi.cuny.edu
Phone: (718) 982-2100
Click here for bio.
Winnie Brophy is the Director of Special Programs and Initiatives of the Center for Global
Engagement at the College of Staten Island (CSI)/City University of New York. She has managed
logistics for international visitors, special projects, and global initiatives for the Center and
the College for 17 years. She is also the club advisor for the Japanese Visual Cultural
Club.
Winnie is the coordinator and founding member of the Eta Lambda chapter, established at CSI in 2011.
She is proud to be steward for the only chapter within the CUNY system, the largest public urban
university in the United States. In this role, she is committed to encouraging other CUNY schools to
establish chapters of Phi Beta Delta.
Winnie also served as the coordinator of the College’s Pluralism and Diversity Program for seven
years, developing and implementing diversity programs for the campus community. Prior to working at
CSI, Winnie worked at the Council of East Asian Studies at Yale University. She received her M.A. in
Urban Education and B.S. in Cultural Geography from Southern Connecticut State University.
Regional Vice President, Southeast
Anastasia Proctor, Ph.D
Doctoral Alumna | Curriculum and Instruction
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Click here for bio.
Dr. Anastasia Proctor is a scholar of international education whose work bridges research, policy, and
cross-cultural practice. She recently completed her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at the University
of North Carolina at Charlotte, where her research examined educator self-efficacy and multilingual
pedagogy across nested institutional systems. Her international scholarship spans three countries,
including field research in Spain's trilingual Valencian region and teacher-education research in Romania,
and she has presented her work at conferences in England, Spain, Mexico, and Romania. A dedicated member
of Phi Beta Delta's Mu Chapter, she was recognized with UNC Charlotte's International Women's Award for
outstanding research on the socio-emotional ecologies and translanguaging practices of educators in
trilingual systems, and was nominated for the PBD Marian Beane and Charles Gliozzo Domestic Student Award
for International Achievement. Committed to advancing global scholarship and building bridges across
borders, Anastasia brings a collaborative spirit, international expertise, and a deep belief in the honor
society's mission to her candidacy for RVP Southeast.
Regional Vice President, Midwest
Baili Zhang
Washburn University
Director, International Programs
Click here for bio.
Baili Zhang has been Washburn University's director of International Programs since 1996. He served
under the same title functioning as principal international education officer (till 2023) with
extensive involvement in the development, implementation, and maintenance of the university's
internationalization initiatives. During that time, he oversaw international relations with twenty
productive global partnerships and supervised all major international education units, including
Study Abroad, Intensive English, and International Student Services. By 2015, he had led the
transformative effort to enhance Washburn University’s international profile—tripling international
student enrollment, quadrupling study abroad participation, and increasing the Intensive English
program fivefold. He also served as chair of Washburn's International Education Committee (till 2023)
and campus coordinator of Phi Beta Delta - Honor Society for International Scholars.
In the community, Zhang has been executive director of the International Center of Topeka since 1995.
He is a charter member and current chair of Study Kansas, a state-wide organization promoting Kansas
higher education to the world. One of Zhang's points of pride is to promote Kansas education in China
and help bring Chinese partners to Kansas including KU's Joint Education Institute with ZJNU, which is
his alma mater. Zhang received his master's from Washburn and completed his doctorate course work at
KU.
Regional Vice President, Southwest
Kolawole Michael Afolabi, Ph.D.
Oklahoma State University
305 Willard Hall, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater
Email: michael.afolabi@okstate.edu
Phone: 405 762-1389
Also serving as President Elect — see bio under President Elect.
Regional Vice President, West
Bibiana Díaz, Ph.D
California State University, San Bernardino
Vice President of the Association of Latino Faculty Staff and Students (ALFSS)
Vice President of AATSP Southern California Chapter
Director of Acto Latino Theater Group
5500 University Pkwy,
San Bernardino, CA 92407
Email: bidiaz@csusb.edu
Phone: (949)-331-7608
Click here for bio.
Bibiana Díaz, originally from Colombia, completed her PhD with the Department of Spanish and
Portuguese at the University of California, Irvine, with a specialization in Latin American
literature and theater, and an emphasis in Gender and Sexuality Studies. She has taught language,
literature, theater and culture courses at UC Irvine, Chapman University and California State
University, Fullerton. Currently, she is an Associate Professor of Spanish for the Department of
World Languages and Literatures at California State University, San Bernardino. At this institution,
she is also the director of the student theater group Acto Latino: Teatro Universitario en Español,
which has presented plays in theater festivals in Colombia, Cuba and the US.
She previously served as Executive Director of the Faculty Center for Excellence at CSUSB. Nowadays
she is the Vice President of AATSP Southern California Chapter and part of the advisory board of the
Affordable Learning Solution program at CSUSB that has helped save millions of dollars to students
in text book costs. She has been a Member of PBD for several years and is a former President of Phi
Beta Delta Gamma Lambda Chapter, CSUSB.
Director of Programming
Weiwen Liao
Dr. David Winograd has lived quite an eclectic life. Earning a BS in Speech and Theater from Ithaca
College, an MBA in Management from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a Ph.D in Educational
Technology from Arizona State University, David has involved himself in many careers ranging from
acting in New York City, to creating and running a number of mutual funds, to writing professionally
for Apple Inc. oriented publications both in print and online for over twenty-five years, among
others.
His first love has always been online communication leading him to start the first themed Computer
Bulletin Board System on an Apple ][+ in 1979 and running forums for CompuServe for twelve years.
At Arizona State University he found that most of what he had been doing as a hobby was being
written up in peer reviewed journals by others and he quickly started focusing on Distance Learning,
now called e-Learning. After graduating, David taught courses in Distance Learning, Instructional
Technology, Curriculum Development, Critical Thinking, Film and other related topics, at Potsdam
College in upstate New York, and York College in Jamaica Queens, New York as an Assistant Professor.
David is well traveled, having taken over one hundred cruises throughout the world starting in 1965.
He lived in London for a year and spent a good deal of time in Southeast Asia and all of Europe
going as far north as 524 miles from the North Pole. According to David: Travel is the best way to
attain a balanced worldview which is critical to understanding the ebbs and flows of our
interdependent planet.
Director of Omega Omega/Diversity Initiatives
Simon Njeri, Ph.D.
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Click here for bio.
Dr. Simon Njeri has been a member of the NSU Eta Mu Chapter of Phi Beta Delta, the Honor Society for
International Scholars. He has prepared and delivered presentations for the organization and genuinely
brings a global perspective to every conversation, informed by his own extensive background working
across Kenya, the broader East African region, and the United States.Dr. Njeri holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Project Planning and Management from the University
of Nairobi, along with a Master of Arts degree in the same field, a Postgraduate Diploma in Monitoring
and Evaluation from Mount Kenya University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Information
Technology from Kenya Methodist University. He also holds the Certified Associate in Project
Management (CAPM) credential and is CompTIA Project+ certified, and he is a Unity Certified Game
Developer. Dr. Njeri has authored or co-authored more than two dozen peer-reviewed journal articles on topics
including stakeholder engagement, project monitoring and evaluation, infrastructure and health project
performance, and disability services, published in outlets such as the Journal of Sustainable
Development, the International Journal of Social and Development Concerns, and the Advances in Social
Sciences Research Journal, among others. He also serves as a manuscript reviewer for the Canadian
Center of Science and Education's Journal of Sustainable Development.
Director of International Chapters/Global Initiatives
Carmella Parker
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Professor of Business Law and International Strategy
College of Business and Technology
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Carmella Parker has been licensed to practice law in Louisiana for over twenty-three years and serves as a
Full Professor of Business Law and International Strategy in the College of Business and Technology at
Northwestern State University. She teaches Cyber Business Law, Fintech Law and Policy, Business Law I and
II, International Business, International Comparative Management, and Entrepreneurship. She is the first
African American woman tenured in the College of Business and Technology--and to run for city judge in
Natchitoches, the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase, a founding member of a former law
journal published by the Academy of Legal Studies in Business—Journal of Business Law and Ethics Pedagogy
(JBLEP), and a co-author of multiple business and legal education presentations for area and statewide
attorneys. She is a Chief Legal Officer of a digital asset company, Of Counsel for a Shreveport law firm,
the former President of Crime Stoppers of Natchitoches, an advisory board member of the Boys and Girls Club
of Natchitoches, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. Her previous roles include Field Counsel for a
Fortune 100 company and Assistant Attorney General for the Louisiana Department of Justice-Risk Management,
along with service on Governor-Elect Bobby Jindal’s Youth Development Panel--a cross-political group. She
also interned at Walt Disney World and the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities. Ms. Parker
holds degrees from Louisiana Scholars’ College, Loyola College of Law, and LSU–New Orleans, along with a
certificate in Fintech Law and Policy from Duke University-Coursera
Goal Statement: Carmella currently is a member of the UN Blockchain Dynamic Coalition of the Government
Blockchain Association. She would also like to work toward having Phi Beta Delta recognized by the United
Nations--if it is not.
Director of Social Media & Marketing
Sachinthani Ayabadda Devage
PhD Student in Chemistry
Oklahoma State University
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Sachinthani Ayabadda Devage is a PhD student in Chemistry focusing her research on analytical biochemistry field and currently serves as the Director of Social Media & Marketing for the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society National Board, where she leads digital strategy, marketing initiatives, and national-level storytelling to amplify the voices and achievements of international scholars across chapters.
She also serves as the Social Media Officer for the Phi Beta Delta OSU Chapter, a role she has held since 2025. Through her early and consistent involvement, she has played a key role in strengthening engagement, expanding visibility, and establishing a strong digital presence for the chapter, experiences that directly inform her work at the national level.
Sachinthani has held multiple leadership positions across campus organizations, including President of Net Impact and Vice President of the American Chemical Society Graduate Student Organization, and Treasurer for several other student organizations, reflecting her continued dedication to leadership, collaboration, and inclusive community building and longstanding commitment to student leadership at Oklahoma State University and global engagement
She is deeply drawn to Phi Beta Delta’s mission as the first honor society to celebrate international diversity alongside academic excellence. Through her service on the National Board, Sachinthani is committed to using strategic communication to foster connection among chapters, support global scholars, and advance Phi Beta Delta’s national impact.
Director of Scholarships & Awards
Jeffrey J. Simpson, Ph.D.
Oklahoma State University
Director, Study Abroad and National Student Exchange
242 Student Union / Stillwater, OK 74078
Email: jeff.simpson10@okstate.edu
Phone: 405.744.8540
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Dr. Jeffrey Simpson, Director of Study Abroad and National Student Exchange at Oklahoma State
University, received both his PhD in Higher Education Leadership and Policy and his MS degree in
International Studies from Oklahoma State University. His primary research interests focus on the
learning experiences of college students in global environments. These include the imagineering
process students engage to imagine their place in the world and construct high-impact, global
learning experiences, the emergence of self-representation in narrating learning experiences as well
as the salience of gender, behavior, and temporality in the education abroad space. He also enjoys
exploring applications of photo elicitation and other media as tools in qualitative research
methodologies.
Simpson’s leadership experiences include serving as the 2020 Region III Chair for NAFSA: Association
of International Educator, a global professional organization that has recognized him in the past
with the Award for Service – Oklahoma (2017) and the award for Special Service to International
Education (2014). He also serves on several national advisory boards including as regional
representative on the board of the National Student Exchange non-profit organization. He has served
as the Coordinator of the Epsilon Upsilon Chapter of Phi Beta Delta at Oklahoma State University
since 2012.
Members-at-Large
Dr. Marcia Sun
Oklahoma State University
330 Willard Hall, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
Email: marcia.sun@okstate.edu
Phone: 405.744.8830
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Dr. Marcia Sun has he Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies in Higher Education from Oklahoma State University. Her research focuses on international student
belonging, student development, and how campus environments shape engagement and success.
She is especially interested in how language proficiency, intercultural competency, and
institutional structures influence the student experience in global contexts.
Marcia has a longstanding commitment to graduate student leadership at OSU. She served two
terms as president of the Graduate and Professional Student Government Association (GPSGA)
and now serves as the past president and ex officio officer. During her tenure, she led efforts to
strengthen advocacy, expand research support, and build mentorship and community
opportunities for graduate and professional students.
Since December 2023, Marcia has served as a Member-at-Large on the Phi Beta Delta National
Board. She is also actively involved in several professional organizations, serving as a board
member of the NASPA International Education Knowledge Community, a board member of the
AERA Division A Graduate Council and Chair of the Dialogic Forum, and an elected graduate
student board member for the ASHE Council on Ethnic Participation (CEP).
Within Phi Beta Delta, Marcia has supported the society by presenting at conferences, assisting
with annual conference planning, moderating sessions, and serving on several committees. She is
the recipient of the Phi Beta Delta National Student Scholarship and the PBD OSU Epsilon
Upsilon Student Research Awards.
Marcia is committed to advancing global education and supporting international student success
through her leadership, scholarship, and service.
Sharon Joy, D.M.A.
Northwestern State University of Louisiana (retired)
Associate Professor of Music Education
Phone: (832) 978-6145
Email: joys@joysounds.net
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Sharon Joy is a retired Associate Professor of Music Education at Northwestern State University of Louisiana in Natchitoches. A published songwriter/composer, she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in music education and is committed to inspiring and preparing successful music educators.
Sharon was inducted into the Houston Delta Iota Chapter of Phi Beta Delta in 2001 and has given presentations at Phi Beta Delta conferences in past years. While in Houston, she founded and facilitated the Houston Palestinian-Jewish Dialogue group. She has participated in many Dialogue and Peace Initiatives in Palestine/Israel and in the United States.
Sharon served as president of the Delta Iota Chapter in Houston and is the founder, chapter coordinator and president of the Eta Mu Chapter of Phi Beta Delta at Northwestern State University. In 2005 she was awarded the Phi Beta Delta Outstanding Faculty Award for International Scholars. She is committed to international education and has enjoyed travels to many countries.
Sharon has composed, arranged, and produced two full-length music recordings for children, The Joy of Music and We are the Future. She is committed to the use of music as a vehicle to uplift and build intercultural relationships. Her music has been shared in many countries and languages and is often heard at gatherings that promote intercultural understanding.