Simmons Post Doctoral Fellow Named to International Literacy Association’s 2025 30 Under 30

30 under 30 2025. ILA's 30 under 30. See the new class of honorees at literacywordwide.org/30under30Dr. Mai Zaru, a postdoctoral researcher in Simmons Teaching and Learning Department, has been named to the International Literacy Association’s 2025 list of 30 under 30. The prestigious recognition highlights emerging leaders who are transforming literacy education and promoting equity in classrooms, communities, and beyond.

The 2025 cohort includes change-makers from 12 countries, all under the age of 30, who are driving innovations and advocating for accessible, inclusive learning experiences. Dr. Zaru noted “This honor is both humbling and deeply meaningful, as it reflects not only my individual efforts but the collective work of many who are committed to advancing literacy and educational equity. Our shared mission is to break down the barriers to access and opportunity that persist in classrooms and communities.”

Dr. Zaru is a Palestinian postdoctoral researcher, educator, and poet, actively challenging the paradigm of the ‘Orient World’ (Said, 1978) through narratives and counter-narratives rooted in liberatory education. Her research harnesses qualitative methodologies to document refugee literacy practices, creating spaces for marginalized stories to flourish within the transformative dynamics of dialogue and translanguaging practices. Committed to advancing interdisciplinary discourse with and for immigrant families, she aims to drive qualitative methodologies that decisively decolonize literacy practices.

Dr. Stephanie Al Otaiba and Dr. Mai ZaruDr. Stephanie Al Otaiba, Patsy and Ray Caldwell Centennial Chair in Teaching & Learning, nominated  Dr. Zaru for this honor. “What makes her “one to watch” is her commitment to promoting literacy as a fundamental human right and her focus on amplifying the voices of immigrants while telling their stories through a lens of inclusion.”

Profiles of the 2025 honorees are featured in Literacy Today, ILA’s member magazine at literacyworldwide.org/30under30.

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