Originally hailing from Homs, Syria, I completed all of my P-12 education in Syrian public schools before attending Vanderbilt University to pursue a Bachelor of Arts with majors in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Music. My involvement on campus cemented my beliefs in the value of college and university campuses in changing student lives and to pursue a Master of education from the University of Vermont and a PhD in Educational Studies from The Ohio State University. My reseach to-date demonstrates to the power of scholarly research for creating collegiate environments that are truly transformational and equitable for students. I am particularly interested in the impact of college environments on student outcomes, such as psychosocial development, appreciative attitudes toward differences, and engagement in provocative ideas.