Selected Research & Publications
Our consulting frameworks are directly informed by premier, peer-reviewed academic research on multilingual identity, refugee resilience, and trauma-informed instruction.
Excavating the Layers of Trauma in Homelands and Hostlands: Supporting Political Refugees in U.S. Schools
🏆 Recipient of the UCEA Paula Silver Case Award (2022) | Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership
The Focus: This award-winning article explores the layered trauma political refugees experience across both their countries of origin and their U.S. resettlement contexts.
Impact for School Leaders: Provides actionable insights for educators to recognize complex trauma and respond with systemic practices that protect student well-being and academic success.
👉 Read the article: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1555458921997517
Accessing Educational Resources and Support: Newcomer Refugee Mothers’ Challenges and Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Peer-Reviewed Article | Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies (2025)
The Focus: Examines how newcomer refugee mothers navigated severe barriers to educational access during a global crisis, highlighting their incredible resilience strategies.
Impact for School Leaders: A critical resource for districts seeking to strengthen their family engagement models and authentically partner with newcomer communities.
👉 Read the article: https://doi.org/10.29333/ejecs/2242
Understanding Multilingual/Multicultural Immigrant High Schoolers’ Multilayered Identities and Imagined Futures
Doctoral Dissertation | Montclair State University (2023)
The Focus: Explores how immigrant high schoolers navigate complex identities while envisioning their academic pathways, analyzing the intersection of language, culture, and social context.
Impact for School Leaders: Offers practical frameworks for fostering belonging and empowering diverse adolescents within secondary school settings.
👉 Read the dissertation: https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/etd/1281/
Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies: Teaching and Learning for Justice in a Changing World
Book Review | Diaspora, Indigenous, and Minority Education (2019)
The Focus: An examination of justice-oriented teaching, exploring strategies to support MLLs while fostering equitable, inclusive practices.
👉 Access the review here: https://doi.org/10.1080/15595692.2019.1669016
Professional Learning Resources
Welcoming Afghan Families to Schools
Tools and training modules developed and facilitated in partnership with leading resettlement and higher-education institutions.
Welcoming Afghan Families to Schools In Partnership with: Rutgers University & The New Jersey Office for Refugees (NJOR)
Our Contribution: Serving as Education Programs Manager at NJOR, Dr. Mehtap contributed to the development of this vital professional learning module.
The Resource: Explores Afghanistan’s history and cultures, offering practical, culturally responsive strategies for educators welcoming newly resettled Afghan families.
👉 Access the resource: https://www.welcomingfamilies.org/
Healing Classrooms for Students Affected by Forced Migration (Classroom Management)
In Partnership with: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) & NJOR
Our Contribution: Dr. Akay contributed to content development and served as the video facilitator for this large-scale course.
The Resource: Equips educators to apply the renowned Healing Classrooms approach, creating safe, trauma-informed learning environments for students affected by forced migration.
👉 Take the free course: https://kayaconnect.org/course/view.php?id=11984
Trusted Field Resources
We recommend the following organizations for their outstanding guidance and practical tools in supporting MLLs and newcomer families.
New Jersey State Seal of Biliteracy (NJDOE): A vital initiative recognizing high school students who demonstrate proficiency in multiple languages, promoting multilingualism as an academic asset. https://www.nj.gov/education/standards/worldlang/SealofBiliteracy.shtml
Colorín Colorado: A premier national multimedia project offering research-based classroom strategies and family guidance for supporting English Language Learners. (Link to Colorín Colorado. https://www.colorincolorado.org/
NEW!!!☀️ Coming This July: The Responsive Leader’s Bookshelf
This July, I am launching The Responsive Leader’s Bookshelf—a curated summer series designed to fuel your professional reflection, prevent educator burnout, and give you practical tools to build high-retention cultures of belonging.
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Professional Use & Continued Learning
These resources are provided to support informed, equity-driven practices in K-12 and agency settings. We encourage educators to engage with these materials and adapt the insights to their specific community contexts.
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