Sparking Global Curiosity: Q&A with EdD Student Molly McSweeney

As the assistant director for student and community engagement at the University of Pittsburgh Global Hub in Posvar Hall, Molly McSweeney connects students to resources and programming to internationalize their education. She recently started a new chapter at Pitt as a student in the Doctor of Education (EdD) program at the Pitt School of Education. In this Q&A, she shares about her journey to Pitt and aspirations for her EdD experience.

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

How did your academic and professional journey bring you to where you are today?

I went to college not knowing what to major in, but I knew I wanted to study abroad. As a student at Dickinson College, I studied abroad in both Rome and Brisbane, and those experiences were why I decided to work in international education. 

Following graduation, after a brief stint working with children on the autism spectrum, I worked at the Council on International Educational Exchange and later earned an MA in cultural and educational policy studies from Loyola University Chicago. During grad school, I worked part-time in recruiting and advising at IES Abroad and took a course at Loyola’s Rome campus. After I graduated, I had the opportunity to do an alumni assistantship at IES Abroad’s campus in Rome. That led to an internship at the House of Memory and History, which informs the way that I approach my work in international education because that experience contextualized cultural heritage and history in eye-opening ways. 

After that, I worked in international recruitment and admissions at Longwood University in Virginia, worked for a study abroad program and taught English in Italy, and volunteered as an ESL tutor for ReEstablish Richmond, a nonprofit that works with refugees in Virginia. I moved to Pittsburgh in 2020 and got involved in the global engagement nonprofit network here, which introduced me to connections at Pitt and eventually led to my current role as assistant director for student and community engagement at the Global Hub. As I settled into Pittsburgh, I also substitute taught at the Waldorf School of Pittsburgh and coordinated a working group on policy and intercultural competence through the World Council for Intercultural and Global Competence – both experiences that stretch beyond the traditional boundaries of international education and have also informed my work. 

It’s been a windy path that has taken a lot of stubbornness, tenacity, resilience, and resourcefulness to figure out my journey. But, it’s helpful in my role at Pitt as a resource for supporting students in identifying their personalized paths.

How do you engage with students through your role in the Pitt Global Hub?

The Global Hub is a student-centered space that serves as a one-stop shop for students to internationalize their Pitt experiences. My role is to facilitate programming and events in the space, and to be a point person to help direct students to resources on studying abroad and Pitt’s area and global studies certificates, among other things. We are fortunate at Pitt to have so many opportunities to support students and educators in developing cross-cultural communication skills and a global mindset. 

I also support the University Center for International Studies Academic Affairs Team with K-16 community engagement through our six National Resource Centers designated by the U.S. Department of Education, and I administer the Global Distinction, which is an interdisciplinary microcredential for undergraduates who may not necessarily be able to study abroad but want to spark global curiosity. 

What inspired you to pursue an EdD in Education Policy and Social Change?

I decided to do the EdD because I wanted to do something that’s grounded in affecting change. I want to connect the dots from the different spaces that I’ve been paying attention to through my work at Pitt, my role as the president of the Pennsylvania Council for International Education, as a member of the Comparative and International Education Society, and just being in Pittsburgh, which offers a fascinating microcosm of global, local, equitable engagement.

What research are you planning to conduct as an EdD student?

I aim to look at barriers to post-secondary education for refugee students in Pennsylvania. The UNHCR, UN Refugee Agency has created a goal to have 15% of refugee youth enrolled in higher education by 2030, and while enrollment has increased, there’s still a lot of data to be collected and best practices to be shared.

Part of my job at Pitt is to support PRYSE Academy, a five-week summer program for refugee youth. During that program, middle and high school students are on Pitt’s campus and can potentially see themselves pursuing higher education. Programs that engage refugee youth in that way really appeal to me, and I see a lot of potential in that.

Learn More

Pitt Education’s EdD in Education Policy and Social Change empowers education professionals to lead efforts to improve educational access, outcomes, and opportunities. The program is now accepting applications, so learn more and start your application today.