Asmaa Elsyed is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership at the College of Education. She is a committed human rights advocate and has served on the Illinois Scholars at Risk Program Executive Committee, supporting scholars facing threats to their academic freedom and safety. Asmaa’s teaching and research center on emancipatory and transformative lifelong learning, with a focus on healing, resilience, and holistic well-being for minority women.