Global at Douglass

Sheila Marie Feliciano (she/ella/her) is a first-generation graduate student and working practitioner in the language education sector. Raised in Long Island, NY, and Aguada, PR has guided her journey toward decolonizing language education, focusing on the strengths of multiculturalism and multilingualism. At Rutgers, she is a Ph.D. student at the GSE in the LCID program specializing in language education. Her research interests include language justice, language erasure, and policy.

Dr. Cynthia N. Sánchez Gómez (she/hers/ella) is a scholar-practitioner in higher education with over a decade of experience in student life, new student orientation, STEM education, and academic advising. She is an assistant dean at Rutgers’ SAS Honors Program. A proud Peruvian immigrant, her research centers on the experiences of immigrant youth, particularly undocumented college students. She has taught for Rutgers' Latino and Caribbean Studies and worked with DRC students.

Dr. Sharanya Sethuram (she/hers) is a RU Adjunct Professor, where she teaches Environmental Sustainability. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Policy and Climate Change Adaptation from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan. Her research focuses on natural resource management, climate change adaptation, & sustainability. She has conducted postdoctoral work at UCLA on air quality and water resources and integrates her research expertise into her teaching on environmental science and policy.

Dr. Merylou Rodríguez is a first-generation scholar-practitioner with a decade of experience in higher education. Born in Elizabeth, NJ, to Puerto Rican and Dominican parents, she earned her Ph.D. at Rutgers University. Her dissertation used Boricua-centric methodologies to explore Puerto Rican undergraduate persistence. As Associate Director of Research and Assessment at Rutgers, she advocates for equity and access and has taught in Latino and Caribbean Studies and Women’s, Gender, and Sexualities Studies.

Dr. Ajua Kouadio is an educator, researcher, and advocate for educational equity. She has spent 15 years teaching, mentoring, and transforming school culture in Harlem, working to expand opportunities for NYC youth. Ajua holds a Bachelor's from Syracuse in Social Studies Education & African American Studies and a Master’s from Teachers College. A Doctoral candidate at RU, her research focuses on the intersections of schooling and the criminal justice system, with a focus on Black youth.

Kelly Andrade (she/her) is a first-generation Brazilian American scholar-practitioner and Ph.D. candidate at Rutgers. Her research explores how financial aid policy and communication impact FAFSA completion for Latine students. She bridges practice and research, centering student voice and reimagining systems through equity-driven pedagogy.