CIIE Staff
Amanda Johnson, Ph.D.
Director
mjohn275@kent.edu
215 White Hall
330-672-0563
Amanda Johnson, director of the Gerald H. Read Center for International and Intercultural Education, is a leader and global educator in international higher education initiatives. Over the past 15 years, Amanda’s work has spanned the globe. She has worked in universities in Ecuador and South Korea and developed international university partnerships and federally funded capacity-building programs at Virginia Tech. Before joining Kent State, she was the executive director of the University of New Hampshire Global Student Success Program. She received her Ph.D. at the College of William and Mary in Educational Policy, Planning and Leadership, where she focused her research on higher education change in Ecuador. She has a Masters in TESOL from Eastern Michigan University and a BA in History from Hollins College, an all-women’s college in Roanoke, Virginia. Amanda is a first generation college graduate, a passionate advocate for liberal arts education, and a champion of sustainability practices in global education programming.
Rose Onders
Special Assistant
Rose Onders is the Special Assistant in the Gerald H. Read Center for International and Intercultural Education. Rose serves as a catalyst for the advancement of international and intercultural education which aligns with the University’s global education goals. The Center serves faculty, scholars, domestic and international students, and other members of KSU and other communities.
Noura Al-Khafif
Graduate Assistant
While pursuing her graduate studies in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, Noura Al-Khafif serves as a graduate assistant at the Gerald H. Read Center for International and Intercultural Education. As a Muslim Arab American, her career ambition is to become a mental health counselor, focusing on supporting underserved and marginalized populations. She is committed to breaking mental health stigmas and fostering greater understanding and acceptance of mental health issues.
Muazzam Abdu
Graduate Assistant
Muazzam Abdu is a graduate assistant at the Gerald H. Read Center for International and Intercultural Education and a graduate student in the Master of Education in Special Education program at Kent State University. Originally from Uzbekistan, she has lived in Japan for the past 8 years. With 6 years of experience in the education field, Muazzam has gained insight into teaching approaches across diverse cultures. Fluent in 5 languages, she aspires to become an Early Intervention Specialist. Her multicultural background equips her to support students and families from diverse backgrounds effectively.