In conversation ft. Piram Prakasam, Senior International Officer | CSU Sacramento – Edu Unlocked Podcast

Piram Prakasam

Guest

Dr. Piram Prakasam is the Director of the Office of International Education (OIE) at Ferris State University, where he leads efforts to expand global engagement, international diversity, and intercultural learning across campus. A former associate professor of Chemistry in the College of Arts, Sciences and Education, Dr. Prakasam brings academic expertise and a deep commitment to building community among Ferris’ domestic and international students.
Under his leadership, OIE has strengthened Ferris’ international footprint through expanded study abroad programs, intentional student support services, and initiatives that foster cross-cultural understanding. His vision centers on creating meaningful educational opportunities that broaden students’ horizons and prepare them for a global workforce.
Dr. Prakasam oversees OIE’s comprehensive portfolio, which includes international student recruitment and admissions, advising and retention, study abroad coordination, and campus-wide programming. His team collaborates with faculty, staff, community partners, and student interns—many of whom bring firsthand international student perspectives—to ensure a welcoming, culturally rich campus environment.
He continues to guide Ferris’ growing international student population through programs such as the International Festival of Cultures, intercultural dialogues, and a range of global learning experiences, reinforcing his belief that international exposure is an essential component of modern higher education.
Key Highlights:
1. Director, Office of International Education, Ferris State University
2. Former Associate Professor of Chemistry, Ferris State University
3. Leads campus-wide initiatives to enhance international diversity and global engagement
4. Oversees international student recruitment, admissions, support services, and study abroad programs
5. Guided development of study away opportunities ranging from short-term to semester-long programs
6. Advocate for blending domestic and international student communities through inclusive programming
7. Champion of culturally enriching events including the International Festival of Cultures and global dialogues
8. Dedicated to preparing students for success in an increasingly global workforce

Ashish Fernando

Host

Founder & CEO, EDMO
Ashish Fernando is the visionary founder and CEO of EDMO, a revolutionary educational technology platform that's transforming how people learn and grow. With over 15 years of experience in education and technology, Ashish has dedicated his career to making quality education accessible to learners worldwide. Before founding EDMO, Ashish held leadership positions at several prominent EdTech companies and worked as an educational consultant for Fortune 500 companies. He holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Master's in Computer Science from MIT. Ashish is a frequent speaker at educational conferences and has been featured in publications such as EdTech Magazine, Learning & Development Today, and TechCrunch. He's passionate about the intersection of technology and human potential, believing that the right tools can unlock extraordinary learning outcomes for everyone. Under his leadership, EDMO has grown to serve over 100,000 learners globally and has partnerships with leading educational institutions and corporations. Ashish continues to drive innovation in personalized learning, adaptive assessment, and educational analytics.
Key Achievements:
1. Founded EDMO in 2019, now serving 100,000+ learners globally
2. Named 'EdTech Innovator of the Year' by Learning Technology Awards 2023
3. Featured speaker at Global Education Summit 2024
4. Published researcher in educational technology and learning analytics
5. Advisor to multiple EdTech startups and educational initiatives