Amanjit Kaur Ahuja (She/Her) is an Educator, Inclusion Advocate, and Higher Education Administrator with over a decade of experience building inclusive, student-centered ecosystems. She serves as the Director of Education and Student Experience at Krea University, leading initiatives that strengthen student wellbeing, academic success, and inclusion through integrated, holistic support systems. Her career reflects a deep commitment to advancing inclusion, wellbeing, and the professionalization of student affairs in Indian higher education. She is passionate about bringing an intersectional lens to institutional policy and practice, reimagining how campuses can foster balance, belonging, and environments where every learner can thrive.

Dr. Asli Hassan is an accomplished educator, researcher, and leader with over 20 years of experience in higher education across the USA, UAE, and globally. She is currently the Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) at Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Dr. Hassan earned her Ph.D. in Language, Literacy, and Culture from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and an M.A. in TESOL and Bilingual Education from the University of Findlay, Ohio.

Maisa Shadid is an academic advisor at Qatar University. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication with a minor in Applied Language Studies from Carleton University and a Master’s degree in Digital Marketing Leadership from University of Aberdeen. Her research interests lie at the intersection of communication, digital marketing, and technology. She has joined MENASA NASPA as a member in the research PD team, and serves as a guest editor at JCIHE.

Harshita Tripathi is an education administrator and actively engages in global engagements and international partnerships. She is vocal on issues pertaining to the higher education sector in India and abroad. She is the recipient of a DST-INSPIRE fellowship and DAAD DIES Fellowship on Management of Internationalization. She is the youngest Indian selected for the “Women in Education Leadership" program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. As an ardent believer in inclusion in education, she has promoted COIL programs within the country and is serving on a Board of Directors for the IVEC, International Virtual Exchange Consortium. She is currently associated with the Office of Research and Partnerships and is pursuing her PhD in the Contemporary History of Higher Education in India from Shiv Nadar IoE.

Miriam is the Director of Academic Advising and Student Success at Northwestern University in Qatar. Before this role, she was the Senior Academic Adviser at the American University in Dubai, where she gained extensive experience in academic advising and academic and student affairs.

Throughout her career, Miriam has held various academic positions across Lebanon and the GCC, advising diverse students in engineering, business, international relations, and media studies. She has successfully led a team of advisors and contributed to numerous academic committees focused on curriculum and quality enhancement.

Miriam’s expertise lies in multitasking, mentoring, researching, and implementing best practices to create a culture of student engagement. She is skilled in developing student-centered strategies, conducting data analysis and reporting, enhancing student retention and success, and supporting first-year student experiences and accreditation processes.

In her teaching career, Miriam has instructed finance, management, accounting, and mathematics courses, and has published research papers on academic advising.

Her passion for data analysis led her to complete three certificates in data analysis and reporting in 2021. More recently, she has completed a postgraduate program in AI and Machine Learning at the California Institute of Technology, further expanding her knowledge and expertise in cutting-edge technologies.

Recognized for her dedication, she was nominated for NASPA’s Dedicated Professional Award in 2021.

Miriam earned her MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Banking and Finance with distinction from the Lebanese American University in 2002 and 2005, respectively.

She currently serves as the Communication Team Lead for MENASA NASPA, where she continues to contribute to the field of student affairs and higher education.

Ms. Wadad Youssef El Housseini started her career as in higher education as Instructor of Social Sciences at Balamand University in Lebanon where she taught for a decade. In 2001, she joined the American University of Beirut as Director of Student Activities. In 2009, she joined Qatar University as Consultant to VP of student affairs where she resumed the responsibility of Acting Director of Student Activities till May 2012. Her role entitled her to get involved in various strategic initiatives to ensure the success of Qatar University students. She is the chair of the Student Affairs Professional Development committee at Qatar University.

Founding member and former vice president for the IASAS (International Association of Student Affairs and Services). Member of the MENASA-NASPA board for 2020-2023. Recipient of the Wisdom Award of the Commission of Women’s Identities – ACPA in 2021. Interested in Leadership of Higher Education and Student Affairs, assessment and women role in higher education.

Well known for having her finger on the pulse of the region, Wadad continues to be an engaged advocate of professional development, and student affairs leadership in the Middle East.