EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL. Foundations of Education, 2018
Awarded Legacy Fellowship (Approximately $220,000).
Dissertation: Expanding the conceptualization of basic education: The implementation of a social and emotional learning curriculum in Malawi
Master of Science
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL. Educational Measurement and Statistics, 2018
Master of Education
Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. Comparative and International Development Education, 2013
Thesis: Achievements and challenges of free primary education in Zambia: The perceptions and experiences of teachers
Graduate Diploma
Southbank Institute of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), 2008
Bachelor of Education
Daegu National University of Education, Daegu, Korea. Elementary Education (Minor: English Education), 2006
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
RESEARCH & POLICY
Foundational Learning Specialist, World Bank, Washington, D.C, March 2025–present
Provide technical and research leadership across World Bank programs that advance foundational learning globally. Lead studies and develop policy guidance on literacy, numeracy, and education technology (EdTech), supporting governments in designing and implementing evidence-based reforms that strengthen teaching and learning. Design and facilitate professional learning initiatives, including the LEAP (Learning Foundational Progress for Leadership) Policy Academy and technical workshops for education officials, to build system capacity in curriculum alignment, instructional leadership, and data-driven improvement. Lead knowledge exchange for World Bank operational teams and client countries through in-person and virtual platforms. Build partnerships with multilateral, bilateral, and philanthropic organizations, including UNICEF, UNESCO, and the Gates Foundation, to mobilize evidence and resources for education reform. Provide technical review and quality assurance for World Bank reports, research products, and policy guidance on global education.
Research Specialist, University of Notre Dame, July 2021–March 2025
Led the Supporting Holistic and Actionable Research in Education (SHARE) initiative with USAID funding, including four multi-country and three single-country studies, including Responsive and Adaptative Implementation of SEL programs in Emergencies (PI), Learning to Improve Book Resource Operational Systems (PI), Contextually Relevant Emotional and Social Wellbeing Tools (Co-PI), Language of Instruction Transition in Education Systems (Co-PI), Transition-to-English Impact Evaluation in Ghana (PI), and Local Scholarship Program for Non-Public Universities Performance Evaluation in Egypt (PI), Advancing Partnerships for Improved Learning Impact Evaluation in Ghana (PI); Mentored researchers from developing countries, and supported stakeholder engagement and capacity building in education ecosystems to enable evidence-based policy and practice; Led research proposals targeting diverse governmental and private donors, including the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Gates Foundation.
Senior Research Advisor, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Washington, D.C, May 2018–July 2021
Led and co-led international development research projects, overseeing the entire process from design and execution to publication in conflict and emergency contexts across Ethiopia, Lebanon, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Uganda; Represented IRC as a focal technical advisor within the Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) Measurement Library Reference Group, guiding child assessments, donor outreach, and dissemination; Collaborated in steering the IRC-Georg Eckert Institute fellowship program, supervising research fellows.
Research Consultant, Save the Children International, Zomba, Malawi, February 2017– July 2017
Co-designed and executed a validation study of the International Social and Emotional Learning Assessment (ISELA) scale in 43 primary schools, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.
Research Fellow, Save the Children International, Zomba, Malawi, March–November 2016
Developed, executed, and authored two qualitative case studies exploring the implementation quality and participant experiences of the Healing and Education Through the Arts (HEART) project.
Research Fellow, Save the Children International, Gaza, Mozambique, March–November 2015
Developed, executed, and authored a qualitative case study assessing teacher performance in early primary literacy education within schools aided by the Save the Children's Literacy Boost project.
Research Assistant, Florida State University, 2013–Present
Conducted literature reviews and data analyses for several research projects in collaboration with Dr. Stephanie Zuilkowski related to early childhood education and school readiness in African countries.
Research Intern, Asia Pacific Center of Education for International Understanding, Seoul, Korea, June–August 2013
Developed teachers’ manuals for multicultural education in primary and secondary schools in Korea.
Research Associate, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea, May 2012–July 2013
Conducted a collaborative needs assessment study with research teams from Seoul National University in Korea and Kenyatta University in Kenya, examining digital literacy competencies among primary and secondary school educators in urban Kenya; Co-developed a successful project proposal for professional teacher development in technology-integrated instruction in Kenya, securing funding of approximately $1,000,000 from the Korean International Cooperation Agency.
TEACHING
Teaching Assistant, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, May–July 2017
Introduction to Program Evaluation (EDF 5461), Graduate Level, Summer Online Course
Full-Time Teacher, Korean International School, Shanghai, China, March 2009–January 2010
Taught as a specialized English teacher for learners from grade 1 to grade 7
Served as a coordinator of the English Education and Extra-Curricular Program Committees
Full-Time Teacher, Sunggok Elementary School, Daegu, Korea, March 2006–August 2008, February 2010–August 2011
Taught learners from grades 2 to 7 in multiple school subjects, including language, math, and science
Served as a coordinator of English education, student evaluation, and school safety committees
Received Distinguished Teacher Award, Daegu District Ministry of Education, 2010
Received Best Teaching Practice Award, Daegu District Ministry of Education, 2010
Received Best Classroom Management Award, Daegu District Ministry of Education, 2006
GUEST LECTURE
Graduate Level Courses, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Mixed methods workshop. Applied Research Methods in Education (EDF 6486), Spring 2023
Assessment and measurement in international development education. Applied Research Methods in Education (EDF 6486), Fall 2020
Discourses of education quality. Comparative Education (EDF5853), Spring 2018
Mixed methods research. Applied Research Methods in Education (EDF 6486), Fall 2017
AWARDS & FELLOWSHIPS
Professional Development Funding. University of Notre Dame, $2,000 (2024)
Presidential Team Irish Award for Global Education, University of Notre Dame (2023)
Professional Development Grant. International Rescue Committee, $5,000 (2019-21)
Community-Based Research & Service Moellership Grant. Florida State University, $4,000 (2017)
Three-Minute Dissertation Award. College of Education, Florida State University, $250 (2017)
Save-University Partnership for Education Research Fellowship. Save the Children, $14,000 (2015-16)
Under-Represented Ethnic & Ability Groups Standing Committee Travel Grant. CIES, $250 (2015)
Legacy Fellowship. Florida State University, approximately $220,000 (2013-18)
Dean’s Scholarship. Florida State University, $1,000 (2013)
Study Abroad Scholarship. Ministry of Education, Korea, approximately $45,000 (2013-18)
Brain Korea 21 Scholarship. Seoul National University, $10,000 (2011-12)
Outstanding Academic Performance Award. Seoul National University (2011)
Outstanding Academic Performance Award. Daegu National University of Education (2006)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & SERVICES
2025 Grant Proposal Reviewer, Play Learn Thrive by the Lego Foundation and Grand Challenges Canada
2022 – 2023 Member & Ad hoc Reviewer, Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness (SREE)
2022 – 2025 Member & Technical Contributor, USAID Social and Emotional Learning and Soft Skills Measurement Taskforce
2019 – 2024 Technical Contributor & the interim Co-chair in 2021, Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) Measurement Reference Group
2019 – 2023 Member, American Psychological Association (APA)
2014 – 2022 Member & Ad hoc Reviewer, American Educational Research Association (AERA)
2014 – present Ad hoc Reviewer for Refereed Journals; Teaching and Teacher Education, The Internet and Higher Education, International Journal of Multilingualism, American Educational Research Journal; International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy
2013 – present Member, Ad hoc Reviewer, & International Travel Award Committee, Comparative and International Education Society (CIES)
NON-DEGREE EDUCATION
2025 Certificate in Artificial Intelligence and Career Empowerment, University of Maryland
2024 Causal Inference I, II, and III, Mixtape Sessions, Virtual
2021 Designing Adequately Powered Cluster and Multisite Randomized Trials, AERA Professional Development and Training, Virtual
2020 Certificate in Structural Equation Modeling with Longitudinal Data, APA Advanced Training Institutes, Tempe, Arizona
2020 Panel Data Analysis Using Stata, StataCorp LLC, College Station, Texas
2019 Data Management, Analysis, and Graphics in Stata, StataCorp LLC, College Station, Texas
2019 Item Response Theory and Analysis, Statistical Horizons, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2018 Advanced Analysis Using School-Based International Large-Scale Assessment Databases, AERA, New York, New York
2017 Creative Strategies for Mixing Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches in Mixed Methods Research, AERA, San Antonio, Texas
2010 Chinese Language Proficiency Certificate, Advanced Level, Dong-Hwa University, Shanghai, China
LANGUAGE & SOFTWARE SKILLS
Native in Korean, fluent in English, and conversational in Chinese and Japanese
Proficient in Stata, Mplus, and Nvivo