September 13th, 2024 Welcome Erma Mujić | Evaluation and Certification Graduate Research Assistant
3 min read
What is your job title, and what will you be doing?
- I join MNCWTA as the Evaluation and Certification Graduate Research Assistant will provide support to the Academy’s Evaluation and Certification Team with ongoing evaluation activities at the Academy, including data analysis, focus group facilitation and interviews.
Tell us about your education and/or work experience prior to joining the MNCWTA.
- I am a fourth year PhD candidate in Comparative and International Development Education in CEHD, with minors in Evaluation and Human Rights. My research, situated in a humanitarian context in Greece, explores refugee youths' access to education and how nonformal education opportunities support their aspirations. My previous research experience includes arts-based, participatory, youth development programs, and research with Indigenous communities in Mexico and Native communities in Minnesota. I have extensive professional experience in supporting education and wellbeing for marginalized communities in the United States and globally. Most recently I worked for UN Climate Change on integrating gender justice into climate policies and at UNICEF / Education Cannot Wait on child safeguarding.
How long have you been working in your field?
- I have worked in various education and nonprofit organizations for 12 years on domestic and international issues around education equity, migration and refugee issues and climate change.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
- In addition to the interesting and impactful evaluation projects, it has been such a joy to join a team of dedicated and warm individuals. The teams' commitment to their work and MNCWTA mission shines through and it feels great to be a part of that!
What are you most passionate about professionally?
- Across all my professional and academic endeavors, I have really enjoyed working with others who are passionate about similar causes. There is something powerful about strategically-led collective efforts and it makes me feel connected and empowered to contribute to such teams. Since the transition to my academic role, I have become passionate about connecting research to practice, especially through monitoring, evaluation and learning initiatives.
What are you most passionate about personally?
- As our world continues to evolve and inequities become more pronounced, I am dedicated to affecting meaningful change by being more mindful in how I spend my time, energy, and resources. This commitment includes educating myself about the environmental impact of overconsumption and the global exploitation of labor, as well as becoming a more informed and engaged voter in local elections and advocacy efforts. I am fortunate to work on causes that align with my passions in both my research and professional life. Over the past five years, I have also made a conscious effort to critically examine how my personal choices and experiences contribute to the very inequities I strive to address through my work.
What are you surprisingly good at? (or what do you wish you were good at)?
- I am really good at travel planning and "travel hacking" -- finding the best deals, booking with points, finding unique ways to afford fun experiences around the world.
What do you like to do outside of work?
- I love to travel and spend time outdoors; hiking and cycling are my favorite pastimes. I had the privilege of taking 2 sabbaticals in the last decade and I traveled/backpacked to 13 countries. My favorite experiences were hiking in South America, especially the W Trek in Patagonia, Chile and Santa Cruz Trek in Peru. In total, I have traveled to 42 countries, but New Zealand is my favorite. Since coming to Minnesota to attend the U, I have gotten to explore so many amazing trails near the Twin Cities and beyond. The North Shore has my heart forever.