In the fourth webinar in the "Global Perspectives on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" series, panelists from Argentina, Palestine, and Japan/Spain shared their perspectives on how issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion are being discussed around the world.

Panelists

Bea Comte
Academic Coordinator - Onsite Director of the University of Minnesota Study and Intern Program in Buenos Aires at the Fundación Ortega y Gasset Argentina 

Bea Comte has been working at the FOGA for over 18 years. She holds a degree in Literature from the University of Buenos Aires, an M.A. in Teaching Spanish as a Second Language from the University of Nebrija, in Spain, and is currently pursuing an M.A. in Education at the University of Bath (UK). She has traveled extensively and is a passionate teacher and learner.

Yuki Okazaki (she/her)
Director of International Programs-Toledo, Fundación Ortega-Marañón
Japan/Spain

Yukiko (Yuki) Okazaki is the Director for the Study Abroad Programs at the Fundación Ortega – Marañón (FOM) in Toledo, Spain. She was born and grew up in Matsue, Japan. In the mid-1980s, she studied abroad in Spokane, Washington and then she studied abroad in Toledo, Spain in the early 1990s. She started to work at the FOM as a student coordinator, was promoted to the assistant director, and continues as a faculty member of the “Community Engagement” course. She holds a M.A. in Contemporary International Migrations from the University Institute of Migration Studies of the University Pontificia Comillas in Madrid.

Leyan Sayeh
UMN Undergraduate Student
Palestine

Layan is a driven senior at the University of Minnesota, where she is studying computer engineering with a minor in statistics. Born and raised in Nablus, Palestine, Layan moved to the United States when she was 17 years old to pursue a degree in computer engineering.

During her time at the university, Layan has been actively involved in a number of student organizations, including serving as one of the co-founders and vice president of the Arab Student Association. In this role, Layan helped to create a welcoming and inclusive community for Arab students on campus and worked to promote understanding and awareness of Arab culture and traditions among the broader student body. Currently, she is the president of the Institute of IEEE Women in Engineering, where she works to empower and support women in the field of engineering, providing them with opportunities to network and learn from one another.