Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Dr. Fakhra Aziz comes to HFC for Fall 2026

HFC proudly welcomes Dr. Fakhra Aziz of the Lahore College for Women University in Pakistan as an HFC Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence for the 2026-27 academic year.

“This is one of the highest honors of my professional life,” said Aziz, of Punjab, Pakistan. “The Fulbright Scholar Program represents exactly what I believe in: The power of cross-cultural exchange to advance education and mutual understanding. Through this program, I will join HFC as a visiting scholar, teaching and engaging with faculty and students, along with the greater Dearborn community. I see this upcoming year not only as an opportunity to contribute my international perspective, but equally as a chance to learn from the remarkable educational practices and diverse community at HFC. I arrive as much a learner as I do a teacher.”

Building an understanding between the USA and Pakistan

HFC Pre-Education Director and Fulbright Coordinator Dr. Carolyn Casale, a Fulbright Scholar herself, is one of the people responsible for inviting Aziz to the College.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Aziz to our community. She has a wealth of experience, and I look forward to learning from her. These types of exchanges are essential to intellectual growth,” said Casale.

Aziz will be an instructor in both the HFC Schools of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Health and Human Services (HHS). She will co-teach science and pre-education classes with HFC faculty.

“I can see many students beginning their teaching careers driven as much by passion and purpose as by personal choice,” said Aziz. “I saw the transformative power of access to quality education, especially for women and girls, growing up in Pakistan. That made me want to work on something that will leave a lasting legacy. The compelling notion that one teacher can alter the trajectory of innumerable student lives was especially attractive to me. I still have that sense of purpose today; it has accompanied me throughout the journey. And as my education commitment grew, I became passionate about STEM education. In fact, I feel that the most powerful engine of change and opportunity for entire generations in this century will be through empowering young learners, particularly young women, with scientific literacy coupled with critical thinking and problem-solving skills.”

During her time at HFC, Aziz plans to:

• Co-develop an educational literacy course that would be part of HFC’s Pre-Elementary Education Program. The course would transfer to the University of Michigan (U-M) in Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan-Dearborn, Wayne State University, Eastern Michigan University, and many others.
• Revise the course Introduction to Science for Elementary Educators so it can transfer as part of the Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) to Wayne State and other universities.
• Participate in community-driven activities (i.e., STEM Days) with local partner schools: William Ford Elementary School and Hillcrest Elementary School.
• Co-present with representatives from U-M Ann Arbor, EMU, and Wayne State to promote Fulbright opportunities and highlight HFC’s pre-education articulation agreements with these partners.
• Promote international awareness through the Michigan-based Alia Foundation, an organization that provides coordinated teacher professional development workshops from higher education faculty for local teachers.

“Wayne State is delighted to be working with HFC in supporting the work of such a prominent scholar and leader in broadening internal access to education,” said Wayne State Faculty Advisor of the Office of Fellowships and High-Impact Learning Dr. Kevin Deegan-Krause.

Aziz says she will arrive at HFC with an open heart and an open mind.

“The United States and Pakistan have much to offer one another educationally, and I believe exchanges like this program are among the most effective ways to build genuine, lasting understanding between our people. I look forward to a year of learning, collaboration, and friendship. I also hope the HFC community will find in me not just a visiting scholar, but a committed colleague,” she said. “HFC has a remarkable reputation for serving a diverse, multicultural student population and that resonates deeply with me, coming from LCWU where we champion women's access to quality education. My goal is not simply to teach a course, but to build bridges between Pakistan and the U.S., between different educational traditions, and between communities that share more common ground than they may realize.”

Teaching is about transforming how someone sees the world

The eldest of seven, Aziz was born in Pakistan. She is the mother of two adult children. Her son will accompany her to HFC this fall, which, she says, makes this opportunity even more special and meaningful. She is fluent in Urdu (Pakistan’s national language) and Punjabi (her native language), and has a basic understanding of Turkish, Arabic, and Persian languages.

Aziz is a three-time alumna of the University of the Punjab, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in biology, her master’s degree in science education, and her doctorate in education with a specialization in educational leadership. She has also completed postdoctoral research at the University of Nottingham in England and Dicle University in Turkey. These experiences enriched her academic expertise and provided valuable international perspectives on education and leadership.

“I was born in a historic and vibrant city that has shaped my love for learning and education,” recalled Aziz. “Whenever I speak about my family, the first person who comes to mind is my late father. Whatever I have achieved in life is largely because of his unwavering support, care, love, and the values he instilled in me. Words cannot fully express my gratitude for the role he played in shaping my mindset and guiding me throughout my life. My family has been my greatest source of strength, inspiration, and motivation throughout my academic and personal journey.”

Aziz has worked in higher education for more than 20 years as a professor, a researcher, a thesis supervisor, a journal editor, and a department head.

“These roles have helped me understand what good education means at the institutional level,” she said. “The best part about teaching is the moment a student's eyes light up when something clicks, when they make a connection they had never made before. That moment is irreplaceable. Teaching at its best is about transforming how a person thinks about the world. I have seen students who began their academic journey with little confidence and went on to become researchers and leaders. Nothing in my professional life compares to witnessing that growth.”

Learning is part of teaching

Casale is excited about Aziz’s time at HFC.

“Dr. Aziz's visit will include discussions about the Fulbright Scholar Program, emphasizing opportunities for academic and cultural exchanges that are significant to motivating community college students from diverse and under-served backgrounds,” she said.

Casale wanted to acknowledge the efforts of the HFC Fulbright Committee for making Aziz’s visit possible, particularly:

• Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Michael Nealon
• Arab American Community Liaison Sam Bazzi
• Pre-Education Instructor and Fulbright Scholar Dr. Jamie Dahman
• STEM Dean Janice Gilliland
• HHS Dean Dr. Cyndi Scheuer

“Sam Bazzi has led our efforts to ensure Dr. Aziz will be incorporated into our community,” said Casale. “Dr. Nealon has provided a vision and mission for our Fulbright efforts, and led to our successful Fulbright award.”

Aziz is confident that she and HFC students and faculty will have a great deal to learn from one another.

“I am looking forward to working with young people who come from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. I am looking forward to engaging with their questions, their curiosity, and their aspirations,” she said. “I am deeply eager to observe and study American early childhood and elementary education practices, which I plan to bring back to Pakistan in the form of curriculum improvements, a policy brief to our Higher Education Commission, and potentially an institutional partnership between HFC and LCWU.”