New USAID Higher Education Learning Network Steering Group Members

We are pleased to announce the selection of nine new members to the USAID Higher Education Learning Network (HELN) Steering Group for a two-year term (2023-2025). 

The HELN chose members from a competitive set of applications and made selections according to the roles and criteria in the Steering Group Terms of Reference. We welcome:

• Mary Chitsulo, Programme Management Specialist for Higher Education, USAID/Malawi 
• Allan Ochola, Graduate Student, Kenyatta University (Kenya)
• Rosie Falcon-Shapiro, International Education Program Manager, Fundação Estudar (Brazil)
• Nadine Abdelhadi, Director of the International Cooperation Office, Aqaba University of Technology (Jordan)
• Jamil Mir, Program Management Specialist, USAID/Afghanistan
• Ananya Singh, Youth Advisor, USAID CECA Digital Youth Council (India)
• Adetomi Soyinka, Regional Director of Higher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa, British Council (Nigeria) 
• Lana Mohammad Al Momani, University Partnerships Manager, IREX (Jordan) 
• Noor Seddiq, Assistant Director of Pre-Award Operations, Howard University (United States) 

The HELN Steering Group produces analysis, decisions, solutions, and opinions that help us achieve broad priorities and implement activity work plans. The new members join: 

• Samantha Alvis, Higher Education Senior Advisor, USAID Center for Education (2022-2025)
• Ghazala Syed, Higher Education Senior Advisor, USAID Center for Education (2022-2025)
• Eric Bergthold, Executive Director, Office of International Development, University of Arizona (2022-2024)
• Jack Elliot, Professor, Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture and Development, Texas A&M University (2022-2024)
• Diana Harbison, Director of Strategy and Operations, Purdue Applied Research Institute (2022-2024)
• Uzma Anzar, Project Director and Technical Advisor, FHI360 (2022-2024)
• Yolande Miller-Grandvaux, Global Education Senior Strategy Advisor, FHI360 (2022-2024)
• Jennifer Lebron, Leader, USAID Higher Education Learning Network, Leading Through Learning Global Platform (2022-2025)
• Mariana Cruz Murueta, Coordinator, LAC Regional Hub, Leading Through Learning Global Platform (2022-2025)
• Olawale Samuel, Coordinator USAID Learning Networks in Africa, Leading Through Learning Global Platform (2022-2025)

Thank you to everyone who expressed interest in joining the steering group. We look forward to updating the network on the HELN Steering Group’s work and future opportunities.

Please encourage your colleagues to join the HELN by signing up for the Leading Through Learning Global Platform, following the HELN LinkedIn Page, joining fellow members in the HELN Member Discussion Group, and exploring new knowledge products on the HELN section of Education Links!