Zamira Akobirova has 15 years of experience in Higher Education Administration, offering academic and career guidance to international students, including support with financial aid, visa status, and campus resources for success in U.S. and overseas universities. Her background spans classroom teaching and student affairs, including leadership roles as Director of Admissions and International Student Advisor at Reformed University in Georgia. She also served as Residential Manager at the Cambridge Institute in Boston, leading a team of Student Services Coordinators and conducting cross-functional training. Zamira interned in the Dean’s Office at Rockhurst University’s School of Business and was a finalist for the competitive Edmund S. Muskie Fellowship (2002–2004). A regular guest speaker on leadership at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Uzbekistan, she speaks five languages: English, Russian, Uzbek, Persian, and Turkish. She lives in Georgia with her husband, Viral Kansara, and their three children. They met at the University of Missouri.
Alex Duncan is the Senior Director of the Online Master of Science in Computer Science (OMSCS) program at Georgia Tech, as well as the co-founder of the OMSCS Conference. His research interests lie at the intersection of online education, learning at scale, and student experience. Alex holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UT Austin and an M.S. in Human-Computer Interaction from Georgia Tech. Before starting his current position in 2018, he worked at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI); prior to that, he worked in industry, including positions with Home Depot, Boeing, Epic Systems (nope, not the videogame company), and ConocoPhillips.
Connect with Alex on LinkedIn
Dr. Marc Ebelhar serves as Graduate Student Success Specialist in the Office of Graduate Education at Georgia Tech and is the Instructor of Record for GT6000. Marc has over 20 years of experience as a higher education professional with a primary focus in graduate education, students in transition, LGBTQIA allyship, and university housing. Marc earned a bachelor of arts in economics and political science from Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY, a master of education in higher education and student affairs from the University of South Carolina, and a doctorate in student affairs leadership from the University of Georgia. Outside of work Marc enjoys playing tabletop board games, is a proud supporter of Memphis Grizzlies basketball and Leeds United football and loves to explore Buford Highway with his partner Christina.
Anant Girdhar is an Aerospace Engineering PhD student at Georgia Tech. He has been involved with GT6000 since 2017 as a Group Leader and then from 2021 - 2024 as the Assistant Instructor for the program. In this most recent role, he has worked on training Group Leaders, updating the course content, providing logistical support for the course, analyzing trends in student feedback and survey data, as well as filming and editing interviews with students, faculty, and staff to create video content for the course. He enjoys teaching and has completed the Tech to Teaching certificate offered by Georgia Tech. He has also worked with Housing and Residence Life in various roles for 9 years. When he's not working, he enjoys logic puzzles, hiking, boba, and exploring his surroundings.
Diana Gregory, KSU Professor of Art Education, is an artist/researcher/teacher and Fellow for Creativity and Innovation at KSU’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning 2012-2014. Her research includes the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL), creativity in the 21st century, creativity in studio art/art education, and mandalas for art and healing. Her publications include: "Designing a Master of Art and Design: Student-staff reflections on first-year experiences as a process" (2022), "SoTL in the Margins: Teaching-Focused Role Case Study" (2021), "The Impact of Continual Refection Students as Partners: Becoming a/r/tographers” (2021), “Creativity: Unmasking the Process and Product of Art Educators as Pro-c Artists” (2014) in Connecting Creativity Research and Practice in Art Education: Foundations, Pedagogies, and Contemporary Issues, “Resting in the Darkness” “Falling Apart” (2009) in The mandala workbook: A creative guide for self-exploration, balance, and well-being. In 2023, she received the Felton Jenkins, Jr. Hall of Fame Award and the USG Regents’ SoTL Award.
Connect with Diana on LinkedIn
Catharine Groover is a dedicated graduate career development advisor who specializes in guiding students through career exploration, skill-building, and the transition to full-time employment. With nearly a decade of experience in higher education, she has held roles in career services, academic advising, and admissions. Before joining Georgia Tech, she served as an academic advisor at Kennesaw State University and Georgia State University and worked as an admissions counselor for Mercer University School of Medicine. Catharine holds a Master of Education in Professional Community Counseling from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Valdosta State University.
Peter Hriso is a Professor of Digital Animation and Graduate Coordinator at Kennesaw State University. With over three decades of experience spanning animation, motion graphics, visualization, and academia, he has held roles such as animator, project manager, and department chair. He specializes in bridging design and technology, guiding curriculum development, and industry partnerships. His research focuses on leadership development in graduate art and design programs, exploring best practices and challenges in cultivating future leaders. At the upcoming Georgia Council of Graduate Schools Annual Conference, Hriso and his colleagues will present Leadership Development in the MA in Art & Design: Best Practice Strategies and Challenges, sharing insights from their collective academic leadership experience and research.
Dr. Zachary Johnson is an Assistant Professor of Special Education in the Inclusive Education Department at Kennesaw State University. He received his doctoral degree in Special Education from Georgia State University. Dr. Johnson’s areas of research include both academic and behavioral strategies for students with high-incidence disabilities, utilizing computer-based instruction and blended learning to improve overall academic performance and engagement. As the past program coordinator for the Ed.S. program and current coordinator for the MAT program in Special Education, Dr. Johnson advises and oversees multiple cohorts of graduate students, including a residency cohort of students through a grant-funded partnership with Dekalb County Schools. Some of his recent articles can be found in Remedial and Special Education, Education and Treatment of Children, and Preventing School Failure.
Anastasia Lagmay is the Academic Program Manager for the School of Modern Languages at Georgia Tech, where she supports graduate students from inquiry to graduation for the M.S. in Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies and M.S. in Global Media and Cultures degrees. With extensive experience in graduate program management, she previously served as the Graduate Program Coordinator for the School of Life Sciences at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Anastasia holds a B.A. in Media and Communications from Clayton State University and an M.A. in Mass Communications from Georgia State University. Passionate about student success and academic development, she thrives on guiding students through their academic journeys. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, which includes three young children. They love outdoor activities like hiking and swimming and enjoy watching movies at the theater.
Connect with Anastasia on LinkedIn
Tyler Mueller is a Graduate Admissions Counselor at Kennesaw State University, supporting applicants to the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, the Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Coles College of Business. He earned his M.S. in Experimental Psychology from Georgia Southern University in 2020. With a passion for organizational effectiveness, Tyler believes in using psychology to improve workplace dynamics. He is committed to helping individuals find career paths they enjoy, knowing that a positive work environment leads to better outcomes for both employees and the organizations they serve. Since entering the field of education in 2022, he has found it to be a perfect fit for his interests, allowing him to support future professionals in their academic and career journeys. He strives to enhance the graduate school experience, ensuring students have the resources and support needed to thrive in their chosen fields.
Vidya Munandar is an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Kennesaw State University. She received her doctoral degree in Special Education at the University of Kansas. As a graduate degree program coordinator, Dr. Munandar advises multiple cohorts in the M.Ed. in the Special Education program and implements strategies to promote successful partnerships with school districts. She applies research-based practices in designing and teaching her courses to promote student success in asynchronous online settings. As a researcher, Dr. Munandar has published research articles on topics focusing on transition, autism, and career development of youth with disabilities. Some of her articles have been published in Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Children, the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
Dr. Joy Olabisi is the Assistant Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Executive Director of Graduate Admissions at Georgia Tech. She leads the Office of Graduate Education, overseeing the processing of over 40,000 applications annually, collaborating with campus partners to foster best practices and a supportive environment for graduate students, and working alongside campus leaders to create initiatives that support the long-term vision for graduate education at Georgia Tech. Previously, she was an Associate Professor at RIT, directing Global Supply Chain Management programs and teaching courses in the areas of organizational behavior, high-performance teams, and negotiations. Joy holds degrees from Georgia Tech (B.S.) and the University of Michigan (M.S., Ph.D.) and she has conducted research that explores organizational learning and entrepreneurship in emerging markets. She enjoys traveling, and she is passionate about mentoring and supporting students in their educational and career endeavors.
Dr. Gaeun (Gwenn) Seo is the Director of Graduate Career Development and an Academic Professional (faculty) at the Georgia Tech Graduate and Postdoctoral Education and Career Center. She leads a team supporting the career and professional development of Master’s and Ph.D. students. Previously, she served as the Senior Associate Director for Graduate Student Career Development at Princeton University and supported graduate career development at Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). With over a decade of experience, Dr. Seo has contributed to the field through research and publications, including her recent peer-reviewed article on doctoral students' career decision-making. Her insights have appeared in outlets like Inside Higher Ed and professional organizations. Dr. Seo holds a B.A. and M.A. from Ewha Womans University in South Korea and a Ph.D. in Human Resource Development from UIUC. Visit her website to learn more about her work.
Jana Stone is Assistant Vice Provost for Professional Development and Director of Postdoctoral Services within the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Education at Georgia Tech. Stone provides leadership and strategic directions for graduate career services, the Graduate Internship Program, Postdoctoral Services, and professional development programs that include the 3-Minute Thesis competition and mentorship training. She also oversaw the creation of the Office of Faculty Professional Development in 2020-2021. Stone has worked at Tech since 2013, when she founded the Office of Postdoctoral Services. She currently serves on the Graduate Career Consortium's Executive Committee as Secretary and is a former member of the Board of Directors of the National Postdoctoral Association. Stone earned a Ph.D. in genetics and molecular biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a B.S. in microbiology from Indiana University. She conducted postdoctoral research at the National Institutes of Health.
Nithila Adlin Thangaraj is currently pursuing her Master of Architecture at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she focuses on the intersection of sustainability, urban design, and human-centered spaces. With prior experience as a Junior Architect at LW Design in Dubai, she brings a rich global perspective to her academic and professional journey. She enrolled at Georgia Tech in Fall 2023, completed the GT6000 course that semester, returned as a group leader the following fall, and now serves as the GT6000 Graduate Assistant. Nithila has embraced opportunities to connect across disciplines, gaining a broader understanding of graduate life at Georgia Tech. She believes in balancing precision and imagination, whether she's deep in Revit models or challenging a friend to a game of chess. A curious traveler and avid foodie, she enjoys exploring cultures through their architecture and flavors.
