Image: The Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Meseret Hailu as assistant professor of higher education effective August 1, 2024. Dr. Hailu conducts sophisticated mixed methods research into student identity and educational opportunity and outcomes. She has done comparative studies into the experiences of undergraduate Black women in East Africa and the United States. Dr. Hailu’s work has also been funded through grants from the National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation and the US Agency for International Development. “As an expert in comparative and international education, a widely cited researcher, and a committed mentor to graduate students, Dr. Hailu deepens the Institute’s commitment to address national, state, and UGA priorities in STEM fields, serve diverse communities, and make an impact internationally,” said Interim Director Jim Hearn. He continued, "Dr. Hailu’s global perspective and expertise adds depth to our doctoral programs, and she brings a robust and distinct research program to the McBee Institute of Higher Education." Dr. Hailu respects the ongoing work at the Institute. "The Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education’s explicit commitment to first-rate public service and outreach makes this position appealing to me. I look forward to working with the faculty and students to advance the multidisciplinary character of the Institute, add to the depth of the faculty, and bring innovative perspectives to the study of higher education," said Dr. Hailu. Dr. Hailu received her Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Denver. Following a brief term as a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Engineering Education at The Ohio State University, she has been on faculty at Arizona State University since 2019. Dr. Hailu has received several professional awards and recognitions, including a postdoctoral fellowship from the National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation (2023), Joyce Cain Award for Distinguished Research on People of African Descent Comparative International Education Society, a Fulbright-Hays Fellowship in Ethiopia (2017), and several awards at ASU, including the President’s Medal for Social Embeddedness (2022). To learn more about her current research projects and other work, see: https://www.meserethailu.com/ Type of News/Audience: General News
