Dr. David J Hornsby – is a Professor in the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs and the Vice-Provost (Academic and Global Learning) Carleton University, Ottawa. Prior, David was the Associate Vice-President (Teaching and Learning) and held faculty positions at University College London and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), Johannesburg South Africa. David’s research interests pertain to the politics of science and risk in international governance, Canadian foreign policy in Sub-Saharan Africa, South African foreign policy, middle power cooperation, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. David has published in both the biological and social sciences, and is a recognized academic leader having recently been awarded a Principal Fellowship in the Higher Education Academy.

Manuel João Costa is an Associate Professor at the School of Medicine. He is Vice‑President of the National Council for Pedagogical Innovations in Higher Education of Portugal and coordinator of the interinstitutional EPIC consortium (Excellence in Pedagogy and Innovation in Co‑creation), focused on developing pedagogical excellence across six institutions. He served as Vice‑Rector for Educational Innovation and Student Affairs at the University of Minho and as coordinator of the University of Minho’s Centre for Innovation and Development in Teaching and Learning (IDEA‑UMinho) (September 2018–December 2025). He was the Institutional Lead at the University of Minho for the Arqus European University Alliance (January 2022–December 2025). Member of AMEE committee on Faculty Development and former member of the Learning and Teaching Steering Committee of the European University Association, FEBS Education Committee (2020–2024), AMEE research in medical education Committee and of the IUBMB education committee. Main interests relate to institutional enhancement of teaching and learning in higher education. His research focuses on student development in higher education, with an emphasis on medical and biomolecular sciences. Manuel’s teaching areas include biochemistry and molecular biology, as well as health sciences education.

Guest Interviewers:

Martha Lopez Lavias currently serves as an undergraduate advisor in the School of Education at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she helps guide students through their academic journeys. Prior to UNC-Chapel Hill, she worked at Elon University supporting high achieving students with financial need, allowing her to develop a passion for holistic, student-centered advising. In the fall, she will begin her doctoral journey in the Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development program at North Carolina State University. She is also a member of a research team led by Dr. Susannah McGowan and affiliated with the Global Forum for Student Success, exploring student success practices from a global perspective.

Aranza Obscura works at Georgetown University’s Red House as a Project Coordinator, where she supports the design, implementation, and evaluation of initiatives that aim to reimagine higher education. Her work includes supporting data analysis, coding, and representation for The Gardner Institute Global Forum for Student Success’s research and resources focused on advancing student success across borders.

Originally from Mexico City and raised in South Texas, Aranza is a bicultural, first generation graduate of Texas A&M International University and is currently completing her Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration at Georgetown University. Her capstone focuses on scaling a course that supports first generation undergraduate students in preparing for life after college, with a focus on adapting it for first generation graduate students. She is passionate about intentional program design, assessment, and evaluation that elevates student narratives and informs more empowering student experiences.