REL Team
Mirka Martel, Ph.D
Project Director, IFP Alumni Tracking Study
Department Head / Research, Evaluation & Learning, IIE
Mirka Martel is IIE’s Head of Research, Evaluation and Learning (REL) and has been with IIE since 2012. Mirka is the Project Director of the IFP Alumni Tracking Study, an unprecedented study measuring the impact of international scholarship on emerging social justice leaders from marginalized communities. Mirka was brought onto the study in the final years of IFP’s existence and worked closely with the Ford Foundation and IFP’s Secretariat to plan the technical approach to the 10-year study. Mirka oversees key research in international and comparative education through her own scholarly work and that of the REL Unit at IIE. Her oversight of key resources in the international education community, such as Open Doors and Project Atlas, continue to advance the field and provide strategic insight into the future of international education. Mirka has more than 15 years of experience managing research and evaluation projects on international education, leadership, and development. She recently published a chapter on measuring impact in International Scholarships in Higher Education: Pathways to Social Change (2018).
Mirka is originally from Czech Republic and holds a Doctorate in International and Comparative Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Mirka is fluent in English and Spanish.
Selma Talha Jebril
Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist | Research, Evaluation & Learning, IIE
Selma Talha Jebril is Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist at IIE and oversees quantitative and qualitative data collection, analysis, and coordination of the writing of publications related to the IFP Alumni Tracking Study. Selma also serves at the Business Development Specialist for the Research, Evaluation and Learning Team, promoting and advocating for the REL Unit’s business development growth in the areas of international higher education scholarships and fellowships, and leadership programming. Prior to joining IIE, Selma was based in Washington, D.C., where she worked with Chemonics International and Search for Common Ground on projects implemented in the Middle East and North Africa.
Selma is originally from Morocco and holds a master’s degree in sustainable development, international policy and management from SIT Graduate Institute and a bachelor’s degree in international relations and Trade from Université de Cergy-Pontoise (France). She is fluent in English, French, and Arabic.
Nora Nemeth
Research & Evaluation Officer | Research, Evaluation & Learning, IIE
Nora Nemeth is Research & Evaluation Officer at IIE and supports the REL Unit from IIE’s office in Budapest, Hungary. In the IFP Alumni Tracking Study, Nora supports the team in quantitative and qualitative analysis, IFP alumni database updates, social media, and IFP Alumni Awards. Beyond IFP, she supports a variety of research and evaluation activities for Open Doors®, the National Science Foundation Track III Research, and others. Previously, she contributed to IIE’s evaluation for the International Development Research Centre IDRC’s: Contributions to Building Emerging Research for Development Leaders. Nora has over 10 years of experience in international education. She joined IIE Europe in 2009 to work on EducationUSA. She also has experience in outreach and selection for scholarship programs administered by IIE. Nora studied in the United States for almost 10 years.
Nora is originally from Hungary and received her master’s degree in international relations from the University of Pécs (in Hungary), and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Budapest Business School (in Hungary). She is fluent in English, Hungarian, and French.
Kyriaki Mihelakis
Administrative & Research Coordinator | Program Development & Partner Services, IIE | Research, Evaluation & Learning, IIE
Kyriaki Mihelakis is an Administrative & Research Coordinator at IIE, supporting the Program Development & Partner Services Department and the Research, Evaluation & Learning Unit. She plans and coordinates IFP meetings and events, supports IFP Alumni Engagement across various media, and assists with revision and content design for IFP study materials including Issue Briefs. Prior to joining IIE, Kyriaki was an Adjunct Lecturer at Queens College, CUNY. She also has over ten years of experience in the banking sector.
Kyriaki is originally from the United States and holds an M.A. in Liberal Studies from Queens College, CUNY. She is fluent in English and Greek.
Ashley Holanda
Research & Web Content Officer | Research, Evaluation & Learning, IIE
Ashley Holanda is a Research and Web Content Officer with the REL Unit and maintains the IIE website, as well as creates graphics and visualizations, to inform and communicate information to internal and external audiences about the IFP Alumni Tracking Study, among others, such as Open Doors® and Project Atlas®. In addition, she supports IFP alumni engagement through projects like the Photo of the Month. Prior to her position at IIE, she spent more than four years working with different organizations in both the United States and Japan.
Ashley is originally from the United States and holds a bachelor’s in Asian Studies. She is fluent in English and conversational Japanese.