Joanna Zimmerman

Joanna is Director of International Grant Initiatives at EdPlus at Arizona State University (ASU), where she leads and supports global initiatives that expand access to education, strengthen pathways to employment, and build innovative partnerships across institutions and sectors. Her work sits at the intersection of global education, technology, partnership development, and program strategy, with a particular focus on Africa.

Joanna works with universities, foundations, nonprofit organizations, private-sector partners, and other institutions to translate ambitious ideas into practical and scalable programs for learners. She leads the Baobab platform, a digital professional and learning community serving over 95,000 African youth and oversees partnerships and learner enrollment for the newly launched AYCE (Advancing Youth Careers and Employment) Digital initiative.

A central theme of Joanna’s work is exploring how global partnerships can move beyond institutional collaboration to create tangible opportunities for learners. She is particularly interested in how universities and their partners can combine technology, local knowledge, and innovative delivery models to expand access while maintaining quality, relevance, and inclusion. Her work has also focused on ensuring that program design considers the needs of refugees, persons with disabilities, women and other learners who have historically faced barriers to participation.

Joanna brings a practical, partnership-oriented perspective to global education: connecting stakeholders across organizations, cultures, and disciplines and helping move ideas from conversation to implementation. She is excited to join the conversations at the CIEE Study Abroad Conference.