We are now accepting applications to the Visiting Scholars Program.

The program is open to scholars from other academic institutions or independent scholars wishing to experience life on campus at Drexel University and take advantage of SoE faculty expertise and resources. This is a campus-based opportunity; virtual Visiting Scholars who do not plan on joining us on campus are not being considered at this time. The program is open to applicants from all disciplines with research projects that support the mission of the School of Education.

We welcome both U.S.-based and foreign scholars for up to one year renewable pending a new project and new sponsoring professor for no more than two years total. Visiting Scholars are expected to work with faculty on their research, present their research while in residence, and contribute to the intellectual development of the School of Education.

Visiting scholars may have the opportunity to teach or co-teach courses in the School of Education, attend School of Education and Department meetings, sit in on classes in the School of Education, and can obtain access to Drexel University facilities (including on-site library privileges) as a Drexel Non-Employee Associate. 

Scholars are expected to have their own funding to support their stay. A desk may be provided if one is available, but it is not guaranteed. Housing is not provided, but Drexel University’s Office of International Students and Scholar Services (ISSS) can provide information in that regard.

How to Apply

Applicants can visit the School of Education's faculty page to explore the research interests and expertise of the faculty. If they identify a potential match, they should contact the faculty member and request support for their application. The faculty member will determine if there is a match with the applicant and his or her area of interest. A letter of support from this faculty member is a required part of the final application.

Final applications should include:

• 1-2 page description of the intended research project and how it will contribute to the mission of the School of Education at Drexel University
• Current curriculum vitae
• Two recent publications
• Two letters of recommendation
• One letter of support from the School of Education faculty member who will facilitate the applicant’s stay at Drexel University 
• A TOEFL score of 79

Applications and inquiries are accepted on a rolling basis.

Inquiries and final applications to the Visiting Scholars Program should be addressed to:

Jason Silverman, PhD
School of Education
Drexel University
3401 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Email: js657@drexel.edu

2024-2025 Visiting Scholars

 

Pegah Abdollahzadeh, PhD
Drexel Host: Kristy Kelly, PhD

Dr. Pegah Abdollahzadeh is a dedicated educator and researcher specializing in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), with a focus on critical thinking, writing skills, and pragmatic failures in academic writing. With over a decade of experience in higher education and teacher development, she has held leadership positions, including serving as the head of English departments and contributing significantly to language teaching innovations.

Dr. Abdollahzadeh holds a Ph.D. in TEFL from Azad University in Bushehr, Iran, where her dissertation focused on Pragmatic Failure in Multi-Disciplinary Writing for Academic Purposes. She also earned an M.A. in TEFL from Azad University of Shiraz, Iran. Her recent research explores socio-pragmatic efficacy in AI-assisted scholarly composition and the integration of dialogic teaching methods to enhance writing skills.

Dr. Abdollahzadeh's teaching expertise includes English for Specific Purposes (ESP) for medical, health sciences, and linguistics students at Jahrom University of Medical Sciences and Jahrom State University. In recognition of her contributions to education, she received the Teaching Outstanding Mentor Award from the School of Humanities at Jahrom University.

As a Visiting Scholar at Drexel University, Dr. Abdollahzadeh looks forward to collaborating with Dr. Kristy Kelly to conduct a comparative analysis of socio-pragmatic efficacy in scholarly composition, focusing on AI-assisted writing and multi-literacies pedagogy.

Shamo Thar, PhD, Independent Scholar
Drexel Host: Rebecca Clothey, PhD
Email: st3437@drexel.edu

Shamo Thar brings over ten years of experience as a researcher, lecturer, advisor, and practitioner in higher education. She earned her Ph.D. in Education Policy and Leadership (Comparative Education Specialization) from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and received her M.A. in International Development at Brandeis University.

Dr. Shamo’s research interests include international higher education, education policy, international students, and intersections of culture, ethnicity, and identity for multilingual youth in the U.S., and China. Her publications include “Tibetan pastoralists and schooling-local challenges in a context of educational reform”, a Children’s illustration book “Tashi and Baby Yak”, among others. Her most recent work in the Multicultural Center with underrepresented students at the UMass Amherst has been awarded as the ‘Scholarly Excellence Award: Leaders of Tomorrow’ from the Student Affairs Department, where she has also held other positions as a researcher and curriculum integration specialist with the Center for International Education and International Program Office.

Dr. Shamo received prestigious fellowships and grants for her research from the Margaret McNamara Education Grant, Graduate School Grants for Dissertation, and Ambassador Cynthia Shepard Perry Award to name a few. In addition, she has held residential fellowship positions with the Ford Foundation in New York City, St. Francis Xavier University in Canada, and University of Queensland in Australia.

Prior to pursuing her Ph.D. at UMass Amherst, Dr. Shamo was a full-time lecturer at Qinghai Normal University in Tibet/China, teaching courses related to Education and Development in China. In addition to teaching, Dr. Shamo founded a nonprofit organization through which she raised millions of RMB globally to initiate schools, leadership and preschool teacher trainings, summer camps, community centers, and scholarship programs for nomadic Tibetans, especially for girls and women in eastern Tibet.

As a Visiting Scholar at Drexel University, Shamo Thar is excited to collaborating with Dr. Rebecca Clothey and Dr. Kristy Kelly, to study the impact of U.S. higher education on Himalayan international students, returnees, and their diasporic communities.