Dr. Stefanie Panke is an educational technology specialist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is native German, and holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics and Literature from the University of Bielefeld, which she completed in 2012 with summa cum laude. Her research interests comprise social media, informal learning, open educational resources, and design thinking. As social media coordinator for AACE she is responsible for the blog AACE Review. Stefanie is an adjunct professor for teacher education at the Asian University for Women. She also teaches Web Science at Cologne University of Applied Sciences and Design Thinking at Münster University of Applied Sciences.

Israt obtained a research-intensive Master’s degree in Economic Policy in Global Markets from Central European University, with a concentration on higher education policy. With around two years of combined work experience in international development, financial/programme management, research, and higher education outreach, she envisions herself as an aspiring educator/research analyst committed to promoting sustainability and equality. Israt is also an alumna of the Asian University for Women; she graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and a minor in Development Studies. During her Master’s studies, Israt also attended a fully-funded exchange certificate programme at the Levy Economics Institute of Bard College, USA, titled “Advanced Certificate in Inequality Analysis. Israt co-taught “Educational Technology for Strong Schools” and “Design Thinking” with Dr. Stefanie Panke at the AUW graduate program in Education. Israt’s primary research interests in the education sector include the future of AI in education, the implementation of affirmative action policies in combating higher education inequalities, and the future of investments in women in STEM programmes and EdTech schemes.