In conversation ft. Stephen Ferst, Exec. Director College of Staten Island, City University New York, Edu Unlocked Podcast

Stephen Ferst

Guest

Dr. Stephen Ferst is the Executive Director of the Center for Global Engagement at the College of Staten Island, City University of New York, where he leads the institution’s comprehensive internationalization strategy. He oversees global partnerships, education abroad, international student services, and campus-wide initiatives that advance intercultural learning and global engagement.
With an extensive background in international education leadership, Dr. Ferst has held multiple volunteer roles with NAFSA: Association of International Educators, including New Jersey State Whip, Chair of the Education Abroad Knowledge Community, and Chair of the 2013 Annual Conference Committee. His longstanding commitment to advocacy was recognized when he was named NAFSA Advocate of the Year in 2008.
Dr. Ferst earned his Doctor of Education in Theory, Policy, and Administration from Rutgers University. His work reflects a deep dedication to expanding global opportunities for students and strengthening institutional capacity for internationalization across the CUNY system.
Key Highlights:
1. Executive Director, Center for Global Engagement, College of Staten Island (CUNY)
2. Leads campus-wide internationalization, global partnerships, and education abroad initiatives
3. Former NAFSA New Jersey State Whip
4. Former Chair, NAFSA Education Abroad Knowledge Community
5. Chair, NAFSA 2013 Annual Conference Committee
6. Named NAFSA Advocate of the Year (2008)
7. Doctor of Education in Theory, Policy & Administration, Rutgers University

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