Recent COE Grad Starts New Teaching Position in Pakistan

Mueen Aizaz Zafar (PHD ’11, Higher Ed Admin) has been hired as Associate Professor at Riphah International University in Islamabad, Pakistan teaching PhD and MS students this fall .  In addition to his doctorate, he also has  master’s degrees in Development Policy and Planning (UK), and Business Administration (IBA, Karachi, Pakistan). Mueen, a native of Pakistan, previously served as Chair of Business Administration at the International Islamic University in Islamabad, Pakistan, and as Senior Vice President at the MCB Bank Ltd. in Pakistan. He also has taught business related courses for several international universities. In 2006, Mueen and his wife, two daughters, and son came to Gainesville, where he worked with the UF Department of Housing and Residence Education and received the Florida Excellence in Housing Award (2010), Outstanding Student Employee Award (2009), and IHLUAC Recognition for outstanding leadership and distinguished service (2008).

During his time at UF, Mueen was involved in numerous research initiatives with his adviser Professor Linda Behar-Horenstein, some of which are still continuing even after completing his PhD.  Mueen is very thankful for Dr. Behar-Horenstein, stating “I owe her so much!”.

The EduGator Nation is Everywhere

The EduGator Nation is everywhere, including Isparta, Turkey.  Muhammet Demirbilek ( MED ‘01, PHD ‘04 Ed Tech) is an assistant professor of Educational Technology and vice dean for the College of Education at Suleyman Demirel University in Isparta, Turkey. Demirbilek is the founder and director of The Games, Learning & Society (GLS) Eurasia game research group and vice president of the Asia-Pacific Association of Multimedia-assisted Language Learning (APAMALL). He also serves as faculty affiliate of Games, Learning, and Society (GLS) group. To read an article in Wired Magazine about Demirbilek’s research, click here.