Erika Kessler

Erika Kessler has a diverse range of work experience. Erika has worked as a Researcher at the American Institutes for Research since May 2023. Prior to that, they were a Research Associate at the Center for Sustainable Futures at Teachers College, Columbia University starting in September 2018. From April 2022 to May 2023, they were a Research Fellow at the Columbia Climate School.

Erika also has extensive experience at Teachers College, Columbia University. Erika was a Doctoral Fellow from September 2018 to May 2023, a Graduate Teaching Assistant from January 2019 to July 2022, and an Integrated Project Advisor for the Doctoral Fellowship from September 2018 to July 2022. Erika held various other roles at Teachers College, including Graduate Research Assistant, Zankel Fellow for the Sustainability and Environmental Education Working Group, and Grants and Funding Researcher for the Office of International Affairs.

In addition to their work in academia, Erika was a Summer Leadership Fellow at the Tennessee Department of Education from June 2019 to August 2019. Erika also worked as an Enrichment Tutor at The New York Public Library from September 2016 to June 2017.

Erika began their career as a Teaching Fellow at Teach For China from July 2014 to July 2016. Prior to that, they had roles as a Peer Advisor-Events Coordinator at the Center for Global Education from August 2013 to August 2014 and as an intern with the China University of Petroleum Beijing "Discover Tulsa Program" at the Center for Global Education from May 2012 to September 2013.

Erika Kessler obtained a Bachelor of Science in International Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Studies from The University of Tulsa in the years 2010 to 2014. In 2013, they also pursued an Intensive Chinese program at Shaanxi Normal University, focusing on Mandarin and Silk Road Studies. Following this, Erika went on to complete a Master's Degree in International Education Development with Policy Planning from Teachers College, Columbia University, from 2016 to 2018. Currently, they are enrolled at Teachers College, Columbia University, working towards a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Comparative and International Education, as well as Sociology.