Stevens Initiative Connected Classrooms supports higher education institutions in Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States to build their capacity and prepare faculty to implement meaningful virtual exchange experiences for students. Successful, proven models of virtual exchange are integrated into the institutions by linking classrooms in different countries and cultural settings.

This cohort includes 50 Faculty Scholars and 29 leadership team members from 15 universities in Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. 1,500 students will participate in a virtual exchange between June 2021 and June 2023. Learn more. 

Paired Faculty Scholars will design and run a virtual exchange in their classrooms, integrating the exchange into existing class topics. While still being planned by Faculty Scholars, the virtual exchanges could focus on fashion and brand management, mathematics and music, and chemistry and urban development. Leadership Teams will support faculty scholars as they implement their virtual exchange programs and will guide the sustainable growth of virtual exchange at participating institutions. 

Both Faculty Scholars and Leadership Teams will participate in trainings and ongoing mentorship led by Greg Tuke with support from trainers Karim Ashour and Abdellah Ghazi. These institutions will be prepared to continue their virtual exchange programs and expand programming to even more classrooms following participation in Connected Classrooms.

Osama Abu Salah | Ajman, UAE

Lecturer, College of Business Administration, Ajman University

Robyn Albers | Abu Dhabi, UAE

Senior Instructor, Business Communications, Zayed University

Nadera Alborno | Dubai, UAE

Associate Professor, School of Education, American University in Dubai

Viktoriia Babicheva | New Mexico, USA

Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Mexico

Ganesh Balakrishnan | New Mexico, USA

Professor and Chair, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Mexico

Gonzalo Baptista | Maryland, USA

Assistant Professor, Spanish, Morgan State University

Sanaa Belabbes | Casablanca, Morocco

Assistant Professor, Healthcare Management, Mohammed VI University for Health Sciences

Latifa Belfakir | Fez, Morocco

Professor, Linguistics and Leadership Studies, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University

Stephen L. Bishop | New Mexico, USA

Associate Professor, French and African Studies, University of New Mexico

Dexter Blackman | Maryland, USA

Assistant Professor, Department of History, Morgan State University

Radouan Boukharfane | Ben Guerir, Morocco 

Professor and Research and Education Fellow, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University

Jennifer Crespo | Ben Guerir, Morocco

Project Manager, Language Lab, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University

Joseph Cutrone | Maryland, USA

Assistant Professor, Mathematics and Computer Science, Goucher College

Christine Cress | Oregon, USA

Professor, Educational Leadership & Policy, Portland State University

Fatima Zahra El Amrani | Dakhla, Morocco

Assistant Professor, Business English, National School of Business and Management in Dakhla, Ibn Zohr University

David Francis | Washington, USA

Professor, Operations Management and Marketing, Green River College

Matthew Gebhardt | Oregon, USA

Associate Professor, Real Estate Program, Portland State University

David Grossman | Maryland, USA

Associate Professor, International Business and Marketing, Goucher College

Belkacem Harroud | Oujda, Morocco

Associate Professor, English Language and Literature, Mohammed First University

Aziz Ifzarne | Khouribga, Morocco

Professor of Mathematics, Sultan Moulay Slimane University

Michelle Illuminato | Oregon, USA

Associate Professor and Head of the CORE Program, Portland State University

Tizreena Ismail | Ajman, UAE

Lecturer, College of Education and Basic Sciences, Ajman University

Ali Jafri | Casablanca, Morocco 

Assistant Professor, Human Physiology and Nutrition, Mohammed VI University for Health Sciences

Cherki Karkaba | Beni Mellal, Morocco

Senior Lecturer, English Studies, Sultan Moulay Slimane University

Priya Kapoor | Portland, Oregon

Professor, International and Global Studies, Portland State University

Scarlett Kingsley | Georgia, USA

Assistant Professor, Department of Classics, Agnes Scott College

Julia Caroline Knowlton | Georgia, USA

Professor of French, Agnes Scott College

Said Laasiri | Ben Guerir, Morocco

Assistant Professor, Heterogenous Catalysis, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University

Mason Marzbali | Dubai, UAE

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, American University in Dubai

Ramin Masoudi | Dubai, UAE

Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering, American University in Dubai

Said Mentak | Oujda, Morocco

Professor of English, Mohammed First University

Mohammed Moubtassime | Fez, Morocco

Professor of English, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

Ian Michael | Dubai, UAE

Associate Professor, Marketing, Branding and Innovation, Zayed University

Khalis Mohamed | Casablanca, Morocco

Assistant Professor, Epidemiology, Mohammed VI University for Health Sciences

Julie Moore | Washington, USA

English Instructor, Green River College

Ruth Mueller | Washington, USA

Professor of Ethnomusicology, Green River College

Asmaa Naïm | Casablanca, Morocco

Associate Professor of Radiotherapy, Mohammed VI University for Health Sciences

Arlette Ngoubene-Atioky | Maryland, USA

Assistant Professor, Psychology, Goucher College

Chrysavgi Papagianni | Abu Dhabi, UAE

Assistant Professor, English, Zayed University

James Redman | Abu Dhabi, UAE

Assistant Professor, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Zayed University

Nellie Ruby | Georgia, USA

Professor of Art, Agnes Scott College

Qiao Chen Solomon | Georgia, USA

Associate Professor of Music, Agnes Scott College

Naima Soukher | Fquih Ben Salah, Morocco  

Assistant Professor, Sultan Moulay Slimane University

Houssine Soussi | Dakhla, Morocco

Associate Professor, Language and Communication, National School of Business and Management in Dakhla, Ibn Zohr University

Heather Sweetser | New Mexico, USA

Lecturer of Arabic, University of New Mexico

Michelle Swinehart | Oregon, USA

Instructor, General Education Program, Portland State University

Emma Trentman | New Mexico, USA 

Associate Professor, Arabic, University of New Mexico

Kimberly Warren | Maryland, USA

Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Morgan State University

Lei Yang | New Mexico, USA

Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Mexico

William (Harry) York | Oregon, USA

Senior Instructor, Honors College, Portland State University

Download all Faculty Scholar bios here.

Nadia Aachlouj | Ben Guerir, Morocco

Head of Language Lab, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University

Rachid Akhmassi| Ben Guerir, Morocco

Language Instruction Project Manager, Language Lab, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University

Rozana Aladdin Alocosh | Ajman, UAE

Administrative Assistant, Office of International Academic Affairs, Ajman University

Latifa Belfakir | Fez, Morocco  

Professor, Linguistics and Leadership studies, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University

Jalila Benhammou | Casablanca, Morocco

Director, Innovation Center, Mohammed VI University for Health Sciences

Vivette Beuster | Washington, USA

Associate Dean, Intensive English and Extended Learning, Green River College

Mark Bladel | Maryland, USA

Assistant Director, Office of Global Education, Goucher College

Hanine Antouan Bou Antoun| Ajman, UAE

Lecturer and Director of Office of International Academic Affairs, Ajman University

Youmna El Hissi | Beni Mellal, Morocco

Assistant Professor, Management and Entrepreneurship and Head, International Cooperation Department, Sultan Moulay Slimane University

Erin Fernández Mommer | Washington, USA

Professor of Spanish, Green River College

Bryan Gilroy | Dubai, UAE

Advisor to the Provost, Zayed University

Gundolf Graml | Georgia, USA

Director of German Studies, Assistant Dean for Global Learning, Agnes Scott College

Salem Haggag | Dubai, UAE

Chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering, American University in Dubai

Jennifer Hamlow | Oregon, USA

Director of Education Abroad, Portland State University

William Harder | Maryland, USA

Director, Center for the Advancement of Scholarship & Teaching, Goucher College

Belkacem Harroud | Oujda, Morocco

Associate Professor, English Language and Literature, Mohammed First University

Lisa Jones | Georgia, USA

Assistant Director, Center for Digital and Visual Literacy, Agnes Scott College

Sirajuddin Kanoli Mohiudheen | Dubai, UAE

Systems Engineer, American University in Dubai

Annette Mares-Duran | New Mexico, USA

Faculty-Led International Program Coordinator and Senior Advisor, Global Education Office, University of New Mexico

Said Mentak | Oujda, Morocco

Professor of English, Mohammed First University

Mohammed Moubtassime | Fez, Morocco 

Professor of English, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

Sally Mudiamu | Oregon, USA

Director of International Partnerships and Initiatives, International Affairs, Portland State University

Lawrence Peskin | Maryland, USA

History Professor, Morgan State University

Nicole Tami | New Mexico, USA

Executive Director for Global Education Initiatives, University of New Mexico

Samia Rab Kirchner | Maryland, USA

Professor, Architecture and Planning and Chair, Internationalization of Education Task Force, Morgan State University

Aziz Sair | Dakhla, Morocco

Director, National School of Business and Management in Dakhla, Ibn Zohr University

Houssine Soussi | Dakhla, Morocco  

Associate Professor, Language and Communication, National School of Business and Management in Dakhla, Ibn Zohr University

Ibtissam Zbadi | Beni Mellal, Morocco

Administration Officer, International Cooperation, Sultan Moulay Slimane University

Sara Zitouni | Casablanca, Morocco

Morocco Innovation Project Manager, Mohammed VI University for Health Sciences

Download all Leadership Team bios here.

Karim Ashour is the UAE Associate Trainer for Stevens Initiative Connected Classrooms. Mr. Ashour was a Lecturer of Political Science and Public Policy at Future University in Egypt (FUE) where he and Greg Tuke have collaborated on numerous COIL courses since 2012. He has also led other COIL courses at FUE while working with international partners in the US and South America. He holds an MA degree in Global Affairs from the American University in Cairo (AUC) and Sciences Po, Paris as well as a BA in Political Science.  He is currently an Advisor at the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), in the area of sustainable economic development, focusing on migration policy advice, gender equality, and capacity development. Mr. Ashour speaks Arabic, English, Italian, and French.  

Abdellah Ghazi is the Morocco Associate Trainer for Stevens Initiative Connected Classrooms.  Mr. Ghazi holds a specialized Master in Translation Technology and Specialized Translation. He is currently a PhD candidate. He has taught at both the university and high school levels in Morocco for the past 26 years and has been a key country leader advocating for international collaboration courses for the past 17 years, while working with the International Education and Resource Network (IEARN).  Previously he served as a trainer and facilitator for online collaboration with the Steven’s initiative that brought together classes from the MENA region and their counterparts from USA.  He was a fellow student in the ILEP international program that brought outstanding teachers from around the globe to be international leaders in education at the University of Minnesota. He has taught in a variety of other schools in USA as well, expanding his understanding of teaching internationally.  Mr. Ghazi speaks Arabic, English, French and German.   

Greg Tuke is the lead trainer for Stevens Initiative Connected Classrooms. He is a Fulbright Scholar and an internationally recognized instructional coach, speaker and workshop leader focused on the design and implementation of high impact Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) courses. For the past decade, he has been designing and leading COIL training workshops for faculty at leading universities throughout North America, the Middle East, India and SE Asia. Mr. Tuke has taught more than twenty COIL courses in the fields of Communication, Environmental Sustainability, Business, Education Studies, International Studies, and Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.  Students in his courses have partnered with university students in Rwanda, Vietnam, India, Iraq, Egypt, Morocco, Peru, and the Philippines. He has a particular interest and history in working with students and faculty in the Middle East. He has a master’s in social work and in 1999 was selected for a three-year national program for social entrepreneurs led by faculty from Stanford and the Harvard Business School.