Tag: Profiles

Favour Ilolo Profile

Profiles

Favour Ogechi Ilolo is a graduate student in the Master of Arts in Intercultural and International Communication program at Royal Roads University in Victoria, B.C.

Favour IloloShe holds a BA in Mass Communication from the National Open University of Nigeria, and her areas of specialization include Media and Communication, Intercultural Dialogue, and Community Engagement. Her research interests span Intercultural Communication, Social Media for Social Change, Community Outreach, Cultural Representation in Media, and Advocacy for Inclusive Dialogue.

She has been actively engaged in a variety of community-based projects, working closely with organizations that support families, foster intercultural understanding, and tackle societal biases. She has developed educational content for diverse audiences and is particularly passionate about designing media-driven programs that promote intercultural empathy and mitigate stereotypes. Her expertise encompasses video and news editing, voiceover work, and content creation, where she seeks to craft compelling narratives that unite audiences across cultural divides.

Favour currently serves as a caregiver, utilizing her communication skills to establish trust and cultivate meaningful connections with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those with special needs. Moreover, she actively participates in volunteer work that supports community outreach programs centered on intercultural communication and education.

Favour has actively participated in a range of academic and community initiatives, including workshops that underscore the significance of effective communication in diverse contexts. As she advances in her career, Favour is dedicated to fostering intercultural understanding through innovative communication strategies, with the aspiration of promoting empathy, respect, and inclusivity within communities.

Work for CID:

Favour Ilolo was an intern at the Center across fall 2024-spring 2025, and one of the co-authors of ICD Exercise 4: Implicit Bias Awareness and ICD Exercise 5: Challenging Cultural Stereotypes through Intercultural Dialogue, ICD Exercise 6: Exploring Cultural Symbols in Intercultural Dialogue, and ICD Exercise 7: Anti-Bias Advocacy.

Stellina Ibrahim Profile

Profiles

Stellina Ibrahim holds a BA in Economics and an MBA in Business Administration. She is currently pursuing an MA in Intercultural and International Communication at Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC.

Stellina IbrahimAs of October 2024, Stellina has joined the Center for Intercultural Dialogue (CID) as an intern, collaborating with her team, “3 Connect-1 Voice,” to develop initiatives centered on intercultural dialogue. In her role at CID, Stellina focuses on creating Intercultural Dialogue Exercises to address stereotypes and bias, managing a new Instagram account for the Center, and translating some of the Key Concepts in Intercultural Dialogue into Yoruba, one of Nigeria’s primary languages. Her passion for intercultural communication stems from her extensive experience as an Information Manager for a Nigerian government organization, where she cultivated a deep interest in diversity and cultural exchange.

Stellina’s current studies in Canada have enriched her understanding of global cultures, allowing her to engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds and experience the convergence of cultures firsthand. She is dedicated to fostering meaningful dialogue and bridging cultural divides.

Work for CID:

Stellina Ibrahim was an intern at the Center across fall 2024-spring 2025, and one of the co-authors of ICD Exercise 4: Implicit Bias Awareness, ICD Exercise 5: Challenging Cultural Stereotypes through Intercultural Dialogue, ICD Exercise 6: Exploring Cultural Symbols in Intercultural Dialogue, and ICD Exercise 7: Anti-Bias Advocacy.

Alex Szebenyi Profile

Profiles

Alex Szebenyi is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Acquaint, a platform dedicated to fostering global community and empathy through the practice of human connection.

Alex Szebenyi At Acquaint, Alex oversees the technology powering acquaint.org, where volunteers from over 100 countries train human connection skills and engage in 1-on-1 intercultural dialogue sessions. To date, Acquaint has facilitated over 15,000 hours of dialogue, supported by AI-powered communication training courses and a suite of additional tools designed to make the practice of human connection more accessible and rewarding.

Alex’s career began in neuroscience, researching chemosensory systems, before he transitioned to software engineering in fields such as AI and fintech. After holding positions at various startups, Alex most recently worked as a Principal Software Engineer at AssuranceIQ. In January 2024, he fully dedicated himself to Acquaint as CTO, having previously supported the organization part-time for several years.

Alex also leads Acquaint’s research framework, which aims to advance our understanding of human connection. Acquaint collaborates with multiple labs to conduct controlled experiments, studying areas such as empathy growth, intercultural listening skills, and the gap between expectations and reality in cross-cultural interactions. These insights feed back into the platform’s development, continuously improving the training tools and dialogue experience.

Alex is excited to connect with researchers and institutions studying human connection and intercultural dialogue. You can reach Alex by email or connect with him on LinkedIn.

Work for CID:

Alex Szebenyi is co-leader of an expert group for the Center.

Mimi Yang Profile

Profiles

Mimi Yang, Ph.D., is a Professor Emerita at Carthage College, WI, USA. Trilingual in English, Spanish, and Chinese, her professional and personal life speaks of interculturalism in ongoing dialogues.

Mimi YangShe authored the book Cultural Paradigms Across Chinese, English, and Spanish-Speaking Worlds (Edwin Mellon, 2014), and edited the book Multilingualism in Its Multiple Dimensions (forthcoming in 2024 at IntechOpen). Dr. Yang is a recipient of numerous grants and fellowships, as well as regional and national teaching awards.

Dr. Yang is deeply involved in intercultural and history studies. As a prolific writer, her articles (in English and Spanish) cover a range of cultural themes: Americanism, women’s suffrage, Latin American postmodernism, Mexican painting, and the Chinese-American experience, etc. Her works have gained traction in multiple academic disciplines and on multiple continents. Dr. Yang is also a regular contributor to the commentary column in the Kenosha News and the Racine Journal Times, dealing with pressing and controversial historical, cultural, and sociopolitical issues.

Dr. Yang believes we are more similar than different across cultures and regions; she seeks the connection between cultures, peoples, traditions, and ideas through differences.

Those who wish to reach her are invited to contact her via email.

Work for CID:

Mimi Yang is the author of a guest post, The Evolving Field of Multilingual Studies, and is  participating in an expert group for the Center.

Tina Coffelt Profile

Profiles

Tina Coffelt is a professor in the Department of English at Iowa State University. She holds a BBA in management from Florida International University, an MBA from Northwest Missouri State University, and a PhD in communication from the University of Missouri. .

Tina CoffeltHer research focuses on interpersonal communication and business communication and she uses qualitative and quantitative research methods. Her deep passion for international education evolved when she was asked to teach intercultural communication. That experience led to faculty exchanges, teaching study abroad, a Fulbright Scholar award to Uzbekistan, and grant work in Uzbekistan. She continuously seeks opportunities to blend her interests with international education and research initiatives. She received an internal International Service Award in 2023.

Selected publications and grants:

Coffelt, T. A. (2024). Crossroads on the Silk Road: Accounts of a faculty member’s culture shock and adaptation in Uzbekistan. Review of Communication, 24(2), 114-130.

Coffelt, T. A., & Koziel, J. (Accepted July 2020). Enhancing the reputation of research in Uzbekistan through professional development. UniCEN, American Councils. $40,000.

Work for CID:

Tina Coffelt is co-leader of an expert group for the Center.

Eddah Mutua Profile

Profiles

Eddah M. Mutua (Ph.D., University of Wales, Aberystwyth) is Professor of Intercultural Communication at St. Cloud State University, Minnesota.

Eddah MutuaHer research focuses on African communication research and education, the role of women in grassroots peacebuilding initiatives in post-conflict societies in Eastern Africa, relations between East African refugee and host communities in Central Minnesota, and critical service-learning as a pedagogical practice in peace education. Her work has received national and international recognition. She coordinates a nationally and internationally recognized award-winning service-learning project in Central Minnesota, has won NCA IICD top faculty paper, and co-edited award winning books Rhetorical Legacy of Wangari Mathaai: Planting the Future and Internationalization of the Communication Curriculum in an Age of Globalization. Her forthcoming edited book is titled Indigenous African Communication and Media Systems in Digitalized Age (Rowman & Littlefield, 2024). Her publications appear in Language and Intercultural Communication, Review of Communication, The Journal of Social Encounters, Qualitative Inquiry, Africa Media Review, African Yearbook of Rhetoric, Women & Language, Text and Performance Quarterly, Qualitative Inquiry and several edited intercultural books. She has served as a guest editor of Africa Media Review and The Journal of Social Encounters special issues on peace communication in Africa. Currently, she serves as a member of the editorial boards of Howard Journal of Communication, Communication Monograph and Journal of Social Encounters and previously as editorial member of Review of Communication.

Recent publications:

Mutua, E.M., & Chirindo, K. (2024). Sawubona Philosophy of African Communication (SPAC). In K. Langmia (ed.), Black communication theory (vol 2, pp. 189-209). Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.

Chirindo, K., & Mutua, E. (2024). Toward an African critical orientation. Communication Studies, 75(4), 390-406.

Mutua, E.M., & Kang, D. (2024). Constructing transcultural identities from global racial-justice events: A dialogue of Zulu, Kiswahili, and Chinese conceptions. Language and Intercultural Communication, 1-16. DOI: 10.1080/14708477.2024.2307598

Mutua, E. M, Musa, B. A., & Okigbo, C. (2022). (Re)visiting African communication scholarship: Critical perspectives on research and theory. Review of Communication, 22(1), 76-92. DOI: 10.1080/15358593.2021.2025413.

Mutua, E. M. (2021). Sawubona – We see, value, and respect you: A critical pedagogical invitation to communicate. In D. S. Strasser (Ed.), Communication and identity in the classroom: Intersectional perspectives of critical pedagogy (pp. 125-139). Lanham, MD: Lexington.

Mutua, E. M. (2020). Memorializing the work of Bishop Cornelius Korir in advancing grassroots peacebuilding in Kenya: Perspectives on Amani Mashinani. Journal of Social Encounters, 4(1), 1-8.

Mutua, E. M. (2020). Service for peace: Working with students and youth to plant the future. In E. Sample & D. Irvin-Erickson (Eds.), Building Peace in America (pp. 105-118). Lanham, MA: Rowman & Littlefield.

Mutua, E. M. (2019). Connecting local and global communication contexts in the classroom: Intercultural engagements with university and K–12 students. In P. Turner, S. Bardan, T. Holden & E. M. Mutua (eds.), Internationalizing the communication curriculum in the age of globalization (pp. 223-234). New York, NY: Routledge.

Work for CID:

Edda Mutua was one of the participants at the Istanbul conference leading up to the creation of the Center for Intercultural Dialogue; in addition, she is participating in an expert group for the Center.

Elise Cuny Profile

Profiles

Elise Cuny is chair of the French association culture Solutions working towards the recognition of the role of culture in EU’s external relations and the understanding and promotion of international cultural relations at large. In this position, she coordinates projects and supervises the strategic development of content production, partnerships and network.

Elise CunyElise has a background in European affairs and extensive experience in the field of international relations and diplomacy from the capacity building and research perspectives, as well as on the topic of democracy and citizen participation. She has developed projects strengthening administrative cooperation and diplomatic skills in bilateral and regional programmes. She has also designed and monitored national training programmes for experts deployed in EU Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) missions.

She specialises in Africa-Europe partnerships with a focus on youth support and international exchanges in the development of cultural and creative industries. She spent three years in Rwanda as part of an international investigation team on the 1994 Genocide of the Tutsi, and developed knowledge and expertise on the field of memory policies. She is an alumna from the College of Europe (MA, International Relations and Diplomacy Studies of the EU) and Sciences Po Lille (MA European Affairs). She also supports projects raising awareness on cultural heritage among youth in schools. She runs the podcast series (Re)generating trust from culture Solutions focusing on the links between youth and culture.

Work for CID:

Elise Cuny is participating in an expert group for the Center.

Jane Yau Profile

Profiles

Jane Yau is a senior researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education in Germany.

Jane YauShe is a member of the Global Young Academy and co-led the Science Education for Youth and UN SDGs working groups from 2022-24. She is also a member of the International Science Council and an expert member of the Science Education consultative working group. In addition, she is an Advisory Committee member of the Smithsonian Science Education Center based in Washington DC. Previously, she was a Visiting Researcher at the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, Hamburg.

She is currently the Program Manager of a Horizon Europe project – GREAT Realising Effective and Affective Transformation (2023-26), that aims to use games as an effective global communication channel between citizens and policy-makers. Via games, citizens’ attitudes on climate policies are collected with the aim of supporting policy-makers to make policies more suited to their needs. She has published over 80 articles in Mobile Learning, Learning Analytics and Educational Technologies.

Work for CID:

Jane Yau is participating in an expert group organized by the Center.

Ping Yang Profile

Profiles

Ping Yang holds a PhD in Linguistics from Macquarie University in Australia, and is Senior Lecturer in the School of Humanities and Communication Arts at Western Sydney University.

Ping Yang

His teaching and research areas of expertise are intercultural verbal and nonverbal communication, socio-cultural linguistics, educational linguistics, TESOL teacher education, and translation studies. He also publishes and supervises PhD candidates in these areas.

Dr. Yang is an associate editor of international peer-reviewed journals, such as SAGE Open, Current Trends in Translation Teaching and Learning E and Humanities & Social Sciences Communications. He is an editorial board member of Australian Review of Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching. He has been invited to peer-review book manuscripts for world-renowned publishers, including Routledge, SAGE, and Springer Nature. He is also an internationally recognised reviewer for many peer-reviewed journals of different disciplines. See details at https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3646-438X.

Selected publications:

Yang, P. (2024). Interpreting ethics in crisis in the conflict zones: A focus on the Afghanistan War. In C. J. M. Declercq & K. Kerremans (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of translation, interpreting and crisis (pp. 187-199). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003207580-16

Susilo, A., Yang, P., & Qi, R. (2023). Developing critical intercultural awareness through video clip-assisted intercultural tasks. Higher Education Pedagogies, 8(1).
https://doi.org/10.1080/23752696.2023.2235337

Yang, P. (2022). Co-constructing intercultural identity in the work-integrated learning: Pre-service TESOL teachers’ professional development. In K. Sadeghi & F. Ghaderi (Eds.), Theory and practice in second language teacher identity: Researching, theorising and enacting (pp. 121-135). Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13161-5_9

Yang, P. (2020). Intercultural responsiveness: Learning languages other than English and developing intercultural communication competence. Languages, 5(2), 1-13.
https://doi.org/10.3390/languages5020024

Yang, P. (2020). Informal learning: Approaching Chinese language and culture in authentic contexts. In M. Tian, F. Dervin, & G. Lu (Eds.), Academic experiences of international students in Chinese higher education (pp. 101-124). New York: Routledge.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003026143-7

Alkhlaifat, E., Yang, P., & Moustakim, M. (2020). Code-switching between Arabic and English in Jordanian GP consultations. Crossroads: A Journal of English Studies, 30(3), 4-22.
https://doi.org/10.15290/CR.2020.30.3.01

Yang, P. (2019). Intercultural dialogue as constructive and positive communication: From intercultural communication to global peacebuilding. In P. Samuel (Ed.), Intercultural and interfaith dialogues for global peacebuilding and stability (pp. 30-49). IGI Global.
https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-7585-6.ch002

Yang, P. (2016). Intercultural communication between East and West: Implications for students on study abroad programs to China. In D. M. Velliaris & D. Coleman-George (Eds.), Handbook of research on study abroad programs and outbound mobility (pp. 755-777). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-0169-5.ch030 

Yang, P. (2010). Managing miànzi (face) in Mandarin Chinese talk-in-interaction: A nonverbal perspective. Semiotica, 181(1/4), 179-223. https://doi.org/10.1515/semi.2010.041

Work for CID:

Ping Yang is the author of KC112: Intercultural Nonverbal Communication and is participating in an expert group organized by the Center. He also has served as a reviewer of translations into Simplified Chinese.

Maja Nenadovic Profile

ProfilesMaja Nenadovic holds a Ph.D. from the University of Amsterdam, and is the co-founder of the Croatian Education and Development Network for the Evolution of Communication – HERMES and of Reflectory, a consultancy in the fields of conflict transformation, social cohesion and civic engagement.

Maja Nenadovic

Maya is a monitoring and evaluation specialist, dialogue facilitator, human rights & civic education specialist, debate coach, critical pedagogy practitioner, and program design consultant. She has worked in 40+ countries worldwide. Since 2012, she has implemented “Across Divides – Training Workshops for Depolarizing Communication,” a methodology that she developed and tested in the field through a series of workshops and dialogues with both individuals using discriminatory and hate speech rhetoric, and with people and groups targeted by it. In addition she serves as a Board member of the Global Dialogue Collective.

Work for CID:

Maja Nenadovic participated in a CID/UNESCO focus group for the Futures of Education Initiative, and is participating in an expert group organized by the Center.