Pempho Chinkondenji

I believe that comparative and international education (CIE) is essential to understanding education as a global, relational, and socially situated endeavor, one that requires sustained dialogue across contexts, histories, and power structures. My long-standing engagement with the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) reflects this commitment. I have been an active member of CIES since 2016 and have consistently demonstrated a continued commitment to the Society through extensive service across committees, special interest groups (SIGs), and the annual conference. My contributions include serving as a conference reviewer, holding SIG leadership roles, and serving as a member of various award committees. For example, in 2024/25, I served as a committee member of the Joyce Cain Award for Distinguished Research on People of African Descent. This year, 2025/26, I served as a committee member for the Gail P. Kelly Award for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation.

Previously, for two years, I served as an Administrative Officer for the Gender Justice SIG, where I worked closely with SIG leadership to support communications, coordinate activities, and strengthen engagement among members. In this role, I gained valuable experience in facilitating collaboration and supporting the operational needs of a diverse scholarly community. This year, I have particularly enjoyed contributing to conference planning as Program Chair of the Afrika SIG for the 2026 CIES conference in San Francisco. After serving as Program Chair-Elect the previous year and learning the intricacies of conference organization, I am leading this year’s Afrika SIG unit planning efforts in curating intellectually rigorous sessions—including sessions on ‘global perspectives on schools, belonging, and identity in African and Afro-diasporan contexts’ and ‘international higher education: loan schemes, peace building, and post-conflict contexts.’ I have also continuously supported the broader CIES community as a conference proposal reviewer and session chair, facilitating dialogue on gender equity, inclusive education, and digital technologies in international research.

Across these roles, I have gained a comprehensive understanding of CIES governance, member engagement, and the importance of creating spaces that are equitable, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of scholars at different career stages and from different regions. As a Member-at-Large and drawing from my leadership experience at CIES, I would bring an informed, collaborative perspective to the Board, with a strong commitment to equity and supporting emerging and underrepresented scholars within CIES. Being someone who has benefited from the CIES New Scholars Publication Mentorship Workshop, as a Board member, I would advocate for continued intergenerational mentorship that connects graduate students and early-career scholars with senior CIES members.  I am deeply committed to fostering a sense of scholarly community and to advancing practices that center Southern-based scholarship and perspectives within CIES and the broader field of comparative and international education.