Project Team
Aldo B. Martin Benros MA, History and Education, Teacher’s College, Columbia University. MS Education, Mercy College. BA History, SUNY Stony Brook. AA Liberal Arts - CUNY, BMCC. Raised in the Bronx, New York City Teaching Fellow Alumni, and an educator for over twenty years, Aldo combines his love of history, conversation, learning, and literature to bring stories to life.
Aldo B. Martin Benros MA, History and Education, Teacher’s College, Columbia University. MS Education, Mercy College. BA History, SUNY Stony Brook. AA Liberal Arts - CUNY, BMCC. Raised in the Bronx, New York City Teaching Fellow Alumni, and an educator for over twenty years, Aldo combines his love of history, conversation, learning, and literature to bring stories to life.
Andrea Kim is a Ph.D. candidate in the Sociology and Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Drawing on Critical Race Theory, she employs multimodal, ethnographic, and historical methods to examine the intersections of race, carcerality, and U.S. public schooling. She currently serves as a research assistant with Digital Futures Institute, a teaching fellow with Cyphers for Justice, and an advisor to a podcasting elective with the Reimagining Educational Achievement Coalition of Harlem, where she cultivates youth literacy through creative expression. Before pursuing her doctorate, Andrea worked at the New York City Department of Education in both the early childhood and special education divisions. She holds an M.S.Ed. in Education Policy from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.
Andrea Kim is a Ph.D. candidate in the Sociology and Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Drawing on Critical Race Theory, she employs multimodal, ethnographic, and historical methods to examine the intersections of race, carcerality, and U.S. public schooling. She currently serves as a research assistant with Digital Futures Institute, a teaching fellow with Cyphers for Justice, and an advisor to a podcasting elective with the Reimagining Educational Achievement Coalition of Harlem, where she cultivates youth literacy through creative expression. Before pursuing her doctorate, Andrea worked at the New York City Department of Education in both the early childhood and special education divisions. She holds an M.S.Ed. in Education Policy from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.
Katie Jonckheer is a Masters student in the History and Education program at Teachers College. Her time tutoring in elementary schools during high school and college inspired her to pursue this degree and learn about the complex history that shapes American education systems. Katie is particularly interested in youth mental health in schools and is in the process of developing her Masters thesis on this topic. Prior to her time at Teachers College, she received her B.A. in History from UC Berkeley.
Katie Jonckheer is a Masters student in the History and Education program at Teachers College. Her time tutoring in elementary schools during high school and college inspired her to pursue this degree and learn about the complex history that shapes American education systems. Katie is particularly interested in youth mental health in schools and is in the process of developing her Masters thesis on this topic. Prior to her time at Teachers College, she received her B.A. in History from UC Berkeley.
Nick Shiffman is a Master’s candidate in International and Comparative Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, focused on history education and the analysis and establishment of historical narratives. He previously taught fifth and seventh-grade world history at a public charter school in the South Bronx for four years. Nick won an award for consistent and exceptional student academic achievement in 2024 and worked with other teachers and students to create an engaging history curriculum. Before teaching, he worked as a video editor on documentary films about Alzheimer’s Disease and WWII U-Boats. He graduated with honors from Boston College, double-majoring in History and Film Studies.
Nick Shiffman is a Master’s candidate in International and Comparative Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, focused on history education and the analysis and establishment of historical narratives. He previously taught fifth and seventh-grade world history at a public charter school in the South Bronx for four years. Nick won an award for consistent and exceptional student academic achievement in 2024 and worked with other teachers and students to create an engaging history curriculum. Before teaching, he worked as a video editor on documentary films about Alzheimer’s Disease and WWII U-Boats. He graduated with honors from Boston College, double-majoring in History and Film Studies.
Nairy Bzdigian is a Master’s candidate in Anthropology and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research focuses on genocide education within Armenia and its diaspora, and the role it plays in identity formation. Prior to joining Teachers College, she earned her undergraduate degree from the American University of Armenia where she studied English & Communication and completed a capstone project on homemaking among Lebanese-Armenian youth. Her academic interests are deeply shaped by her lived experiences of growing up Armenian in Lebanon.
Nairy Bzdigian is a Master’s candidate in Anthropology and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research focuses on genocide education within Armenia and its diaspora, and the role it plays in identity formation. Prior to joining Teachers College, she earned her undergraduate degree from the American University of Armenia where she studied English & Communication and completed a capstone project on homemaking among Lebanese-Armenian youth. Her academic interests are deeply shaped by her lived experiences of growing up Armenian in Lebanon.
Doctoral Candidate pursuing a PhD in Comparative & International Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Sara holds an interdisciplinary experience from engagements in Honduras, India, Italy, Switzerland, the UAE, the US, the UK, and Venezuela. Her dissertation studies impacts of climate disasters and internal displacement on adolescent girls’ education in the Sula Valley of Honduras. She graduated with the highest honors obtaining a Master’s in Law, Policy, & Practice from Swansea University’s School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University Abu Dhabi, double majoring in Social Research & Public Policy, and Theatre.
Doctoral Candidate pursuing a PhD in Comparative & International Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Sara holds an interdisciplinary experience from engagements in Honduras, India, Italy, Switzerland, the UAE, the US, the UK, and Venezuela. Her dissertation studies impacts of climate disasters and internal displacement on adolescent girls’ education in the Sula Valley of Honduras. She graduated with the highest honors obtaining a Master’s in Law, Policy, & Practice from Swansea University’s School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University Abu Dhabi, double majoring in Social Research & Public Policy, and Theatre.