Hayley Niad, PhD student in the CIDE program, was recently recognized by the International Literacy Association as a member of their global “30 Under 30” class for 2019, which celebrates the rising innovators, disruptors, and visionaries in the field.

In her role as an education advisor with Cambridge Education, Niad works to provide student workbooks to first through third grade students in 118 schools in Mozambique. She has coauthored workbooks in the Xichangana and Xirhonga languages, along with decodable texts, leveled readers, read-alouds, and teachers’ guides.

“I have always been very passionate about the study of languages, and the ways in which the ability to read can be an enjoyable activity that opens up pathways for further life opportunities,” Niad stated to the ILA. “I take great joy in witnessing young children across Maputo province enthusiastically learning to read using materials I have helped to write, and in training teachers to develop confidence in teaching literacy.”

Niad began as a project manager with Cambridge Education in 2016, and took on more responsibilities with technical delivery over time: “I was inspired through my work in the field to undertake further study (hence the PhD) that would allow me to offer more expertise on international development education in practice, now focusing on the inclusion of children with disabilities in low-resource school settings.”