2025-2026 Fellows
Ayaka Lingard (she/they) earned BS degrees in Social Work and Family Studies from Weber State University and an MSW degree from the University of Utah. Post graduation, Ayaka worked in substance misuse and chronic pain research as well as in clinical therapy as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker focusing on mindfulness-based interventions. As a Leadership Fellow, she is working on building a student organization for graduate students in the School of Social Work with the aims of fostering community, student identity, academic advocacy, professionalization, and mentorship
Destiny Kanning (she/her) is a master’s candidate in Global Health in MSU's College of Osteopathic Medicine from Hamburg, Germany with a background in emergency medicine and health policy. Her work centres on improving access to clinical experiences for minoritised and international students pursuing health professions. As a published researcher and TEDxMSU speaker, Destiny is committed to health equity, patient advocacy, and mentoring the next generation of globally minded healthcare leaders. As a Leadership Fellow, she aims to expand inclusive clinical pathways and strengthen support systems for underrepresented students in healthcare fields.
Anna Smolko is a Master’s student in Media and Information at Michigan State University and a Fulbright Scholar from Ukraine. With over four years of experience in communications, and media production, Anna has led large-scale content initiatives and developed international partnerships to support educational and social impact programs. Prior to MSU, she worked at an educational NGO, where she organized national campaigns and launched Ukraine’s first award for educational media. Passionate about storytelling, strategic communication, and community engagement, Anna brings a global perspective to her work and is excited to contribute to leadership initiatives that amplify meaningful causes.
Alejandro Pacheco is a Fulbright grantee and master’s student in Business Administration at Michigan State University, concentrating in Supply Chain Management and Entrepreneurship. He holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and Law from Universidad Iberoamericana.
Originally from Mexico, Alejandro had the opportunity to serve in the public sector, where he worked on public policy and led poverty alleviation projects in some of the country’s most vulnerable communities. He strongly believes that business can be a powerful tool for reducing poverty by enabling people to increase and generate sustainable income.
His passion for social equity and economic development continues to shape his academic and professional path. Alejandro aspires to bridge the gap between business and social good, using data and strategic thinking to serve others and create meaningful change.
Ly Duong (she/her) is an educational practitioner, space holder, and first-year Ph.D. student in the Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education program. With over a decade of experience in environmental and sustainability education across Vietnam and the U.S., she co-designs learning spaces rooted in nature, community, intention, and reciprocity. A Fulbright scholar with an M.S. in Leadership for Sustainability Education from Portland State University, Ly is also a certified Forest Therapy Guide and the founder of Tune in the Meadows, an initiative that fosters connection through slowness and deep ecological embodiment. Whether guiding forest walks, designing experiential curricula, or engaging in community-based research, Ly invites others to notice everyday wonders and reimagine education as a space for (re)connection—with ourselves, our ancestors, the land, our communities, and the possibilities of healing, belonging, and collective flourishing.
Jeevan Karki
I am a doctoral student and teacher educator in the Department of Teacher Education at MSU, specializing in language and literacy education. My scholarly interests revolve around (in and out of school) literacy practices of bi/multilingual students, inclusive and equitable language and literacy education, language policy and practices, children’s literature, asset-based pedagogies and teacher education. As a multilingual educator, I bring over 17 years of professional experience across public and private schools, colleges, and nonprofits, serving diverse learners. In particular, I have worked as a K-12 English educator in schools, college composition instructor, teacher educator in non-profits and higher education, instructional designer in community-based nonprofits and taught English to children, adolescents and adults in Nepal and the U.S. I have held some leadership roles in professional blogs such as (eltchoutari.com), youth clubs in high-school and colleges and youth based local social service organizations aiming to serve underserve population. I am excited to be part of the Leadership Fellowship program and look forward to engaging in collaborative learning, exchanging ideas, and exploring meaningful initiatives to support the graduate student community.
Saviour Kitcher is a doctoral student in Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education (CITE) and a Teaching Assistant in the Teacher Education Department. Additionally, he holds a FIFA License as a player agent. He graduated from the University of Ghana with a bachelor's degree and from the University of Education, Ghana, with his PGDE and MPhil in Curriculum and Pedagogic studies. His research interests focus on Project-Based Learning in social studies, Curriculum Development and Evaluation, and Soccer and Civic Education. As a teacher educator, he is committed to engaging in professional development opportunities to improve his skills and knowledge outside the classroom. He was a Global Curriculum Fellow. He is a recipient of the Residential College for Arts and Humanities (RCAH) Fellowship and Teacher Education Endowed Award. He is an IN!SPIRE Wellness Ambassador and a member of the GREAT advisory group. Saviour has served two terms as secretary and is the treasurer of the Council of Graduate Students (COGS). As a Leadership Fellow, he seeks to advocate for the safety and well-being of graduate students, thereby enhancing his capacity to drive meaningful change.
Anara Akhmetova is a PhD candidate in Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education at Michigan State University. Her research centers on how content-area teachers can support multilingual learners (widely known as English learners) in developing both language proficiency and academic content knowledge. For her dissertation, she collaborates with high school science teachers in a Midwestern state to co-design differentiated lesson plans and instructional materials using AI tools, with a focus on aligning instruction with students’ language development needs and observing their classroom implementation.
Anara has served as an instructor of record for multiple undergraduate and graduate courses on teaching practices, bi/multilingual education, and social justice in education. Prior to her doctoral studies, she was a vice principal at an international school and taught high school students for over a decade. She also brings international experience in school accreditation as a member of evaluation teams across various countries.
Kunti Adhikari is a PhD student and Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Department of Teacher Education within MSU’s College of Education. Her research interests include language and literacy practices of bilingual/multilingual learners, with a specific focus on children aged 5-12. Her scholarly pursuits extend to curriculum development, reading materials, language policies, literacy instruction, teacher education, and other relevant educational issues pertaining to this group of children. Kunti holds a Master's degree in English Education from Tribhuwan University, Nepal and a second Master of Arts Degree in TESOL from MSU. Her professional experience includes service as a K-12 English language teacher, a Teacher Educator at the Centre for Education and Human Resource Development, and a Curriculum/Textbook Designer. Prior to commencing her doctoral studies at MSU, Kunti served as a Director at Curriculum Development Centre within the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology in Nepal. She is a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. As an international graduate student, a multilingual parent of a bilingual child, and a Fulbright scholar, Kunti brings a distinctive interdisciplinary, collaborative, and transnational perspective to her research and teaching learning approaches.
Tiffany M. Williams is a PhD student in the Departments of Sociology and Environmental Science and Policy. Tiffany’s research interests are intersectional, mostly falling under the umbrella of environmental sociology, including environmental racism, environmental justice, climate change communication, environmental communication, and religion and environment. Her interests also include trust in governance and trust in science communication. She holds an M.S. in Environment and Natural Resources, a B.S. in Environmental Policy and Management, and a B.A. in Strategic Communication from The Ohio State University. Her Master’s thesis analyzed the intersection of race, religion and environmental concern among Black and white Americans.
Joanne Cheng is a Ph.D. student in Second Language Studies at Michigan State University. She received her M.A. in TESOL from the University of Mississippi and her B.A. in Language and Creative Writing, with a concentration in Chinese Education, from the National Taipei University of Education in Taiwan.
Her teaching experience includes instructing Chinese at an HBCU, as well as teaching ESL to K-12 students, postsecondary learners, and adults in a faith-based ministry. Prior to her arrival in the U.S., she taught English as a Foreign Language (EFL) to adults at community centers and public elementary schools in Taiwan.
Her research interests encompass the relationship between socio-affective factors and learners’ speaking performance, identity, the use of games in classroom learning, and teacher education. As a leadership fellow, she aims to enhance graduate students' health and well-being awareness by promoting the establishment of regular exercise routines. She believes that prioritizing physical health not only boosts academic performance but also fosters a greater sense of community among peers.
Chadale Smith is an MBA student at Michigan State University’s Broad College of Business, specializing in Marketing and Business Analytics. Originally from Jamaica, Chadale brings a rich background in brand management, advertising, strategic marketing, and community leadership.
Beyond her corporate experience, Chadale is deeply committed to community development and mentorship. She has received several national awards in Jamaica for cultural awareness and community involvement and has represented her country in leadership-focused pageantry, including being named Miss Jamaica Tourism Queen 2012 and Miss Jamaica Humanity International 2013. Throughout her professional and personal journey, she has remained passionate about empowering others through mentorship, advocacy, and leadership development.
Hye-In Yang is a first-year Ph.D. student in Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education, specializing in bi/multilingual education. Drawing on her previous experience teaching English as a foreign language to middle school students and working as a teacher educator for in-service teachers in South Korea for four years, she hopes to conduct research that supports both pre- and in-service teachers in pursuing multilingual education for social justice. Through these experiences and ongoing reflection, she has come to see her scholarly identity as a future Christian scholar—someone who believes that being truly outstanding begins with being genuinely caring toward the people and communities she engages with. Inspired by the advice of a role model who once told her, “Give your 5 to 10 years to your participants,” she has decided to become a caring scholar—one who takes the time to walk alongside her participants over the years, supporting their lives in meaningful and practical ways.
LJ Shackleford is a doctoral candidate in the Higher, Adult, Lifelong Education program in the College of Education. LJ’s research interests center on elevating minoritized voices and, through these spaces, helping foster a sense of belonging while ensuring that individuals are not traumatized in their own workplace environments. Specifically, they are examining the impact of work-related harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity among LGBTQ+ staff in higher education. As a Leadership Fellow, they aim to promote graduate student well-being and foster greater inclusion and success. Outside the office, LJ enjoys spending time with their fur baby, Lemon, listening to true-crime podcasts, and exploring Michigan breweries with their partner.
Pratik Bhattacharjee is an MBA student at Michigan State University’s Broad College of Business, specializing in Supply Chain Management and Finance. Prior to MSU, he served as a technical officer in the Indian Navy, where he led complex aviation and engineering programs, worked with international partners, and drove initiatives that improved efficiency and reduced costs. Outside of work, he has led long-standing community efforts in animal rescue and rehabilitation, partnering with local governments to support public welfare. He’s passionate about using data, collaboration, and innovation to solve real-world challenges and create sustainable impact. International students at Michigan State University often encounter challenges when adjusting to a new environment, especially in securing housing, navigating campus life, and building a sense of community. Building on the foundation of last year’s Fellow, I am exploring the possibility of creating a structured buddy system that pairs incoming students with current MSU peers—ideally from the same country or academic program—who can share guidance, resources, and personal experiences. Alongside the envisioned digital platform that highlights student stories, this system could serve as a more personal and practical layer of support, helping international students feel connected and confident as they begin their journey at MSU.
