Dr. Mirka Martel is IIE’s Head of Research, Evaluation & Learning (REL) and a recognized researcher and author on international education issues spanning global academic mobility, international leadership and scholarship, and impact and evaluation. Her academic and professional focus is on advancing the role of research and evaluation in international education, using data for impact and storytelling, and leveraging insights to inform programs and policy.
Dr. Martel oversees two key resources international education practitioners use to map academic mobility flows in the United States and worldwide: the historic Open Doors report on international educational exchange and the Project Atlas research initiative on global student mobility. On an annual basis, Dr. Martel manages over 30 research projects and evaluations for IIE programs and external clients, including the Ford Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Publications by Dr. Martel include the annual Open Doors report, as well as book chapters, reports, articles, and blogs at the intersection of international education and impact evaluation. Many of these are featured on IIE’s research webpage. She is regularly quoted and cited in U.S. and international outlets, including The PIE News, Forbes, Washington Post, Inside Higher Education, and NPR Marketplace.
Dr. Martel holds a Doctor of Philosophy in International and Comparative Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and Masters in Philosophy and International Affairs from Columbia University.
Open Doors is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by IIE.
IIE’s mission is to help people and organizations leverage the power of international education to thrive in today’s interconnected world. IIE’s work focuses on advancing scholarship, building economies, and promoting access to opportunity.
The U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity.
EducationUSA is a U.S. Department of State network of over 430 international student advising centers in more than 175 countries and territories. EducationUSA is committed to promoting the diversity of U.S. higher education to help international students find their best fit.
USA Study Abroad is a U.S. Department of State entity focused on expanding and diversifying study abroad opportunities for U.S. students to gain critical skills in support of our national security and economic prosperity.
