Kean Professor Mia Zamora Honored with Open Education Award for Global Equity Work

Kean University’s Mia Zamora, Ph.D., professor in the College of Liberal Arts, has received international recognition from Open Education Global for her leadership in advancing inclusive, collaborative learning. 

The award honors Equity Unbound, a global professional learning network Zamora co-founded, and its annual Mid-Year Festival (MYFest). The program connects educators, students and scholars from across continents to explore equity, intercultural learning and digital collaboration. 

“Many of my graduate students are already part of the network, which is so resourceful because of who we connect with,” Zamora said. “It’s impactful for those exploring global perspectives, especially around equity and intercultural learning, because educators around the world are working on similar issues.” 

Elizabeth Reddington, Ed.D., acting associate dean of Kean’s College of Liberal Arts, said Zamora’s award reinforces Kean’s commitment to equity and innovation in higher education. 

“This recognition affirms Dr. Zamora’s commitment to inclusive, collaborative learning,” Reddington said. “Through her work, she has built a global network that empowers educators and students to redefine the boundaries of traditional education. We are proud of her leadership and impact in advancing equity and access in digital learning spaces.” 

Zamora has actively involved Kean students and faculty in MYFest since its launch in 2022. Held virtually each summer, the festival brings together participants from multiple continents for international guest speakers, collaborative workshops and reflective learning sessions. 

Launched in response to the global pandemic, MYFest was created to help restore and reconnect educators navigating change and uncertainty. Each year, the festival explores timely topics such as digital wellbeing, social justice in education and the ethical use of artificial intelligence. 

“MYFest started as a critical response to the pandemic and the anxiety that so many people experienced and we’ve done it for the last three years,” said Zamora. “The idea was to provide a recharge and a restoration to the values at the center of educators work.” 

Founded in 2018, Equity Unbound offers open, experiential learning opportunities designed to connect learners across cultures and differs from traditional classroom education. Zamora’s leadership in this global initiative exemplifies Kean’s commitment to public engagement, inclusivity and academic excellence. 

“Step by step, we continue to build,” added Zamora. “We have people from literally every part of the world involved with this participatory network, and it starts with making a friendship or a connection. There’s a similar interest in terms of scholarship and research, but it blossoms beyond that.” 

Continuing to grow its reach, Equity Unbound was also recently awarded a $167,000 Hewlett Foundation grant for organizational effectiveness. The new support will help the network increase its global impact and create a 3-to-5-year vision plan. 

“The future is bright,” Zamora said. “I intend to deepen our international partnerships and include Kean students in this work for the next several years.”