Jihae Cha

Dr. Jihae Cha is an Assistant Professor of International Education at George Washington University's Graduate School of Education and Human Development. Her research focuses on education quality, belonging, gender, and psychosocial well-being among displaced populations, particularly refugees. She holds a Ed.D. from Columbia University's Teachers College.

Education Background:

• Ed.D. in International Educational Development, Teachers College, Columbia University
• M.A. in International Educational Development, Teachers College, Columbia University
• B.A. in International Studies, Ewha Womans University

Research Interests: Dr. Cha challenges deficit discourses about refugees by exploring both challenges and opportunities in their education. Her work uses narrative inquiry and participatory action research to understand identity formation and belonging among refugee youth in the U.S. and East Africa. Recent projects examine school dropout dynamics in Kakuma Refugee Camp and the impact of hidden educational costs on refugee students in Kenya.

Key Contributions: She co-led the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program e-Learning Initiative across 10 universities in Africa, Central America, and the Middle East. Her publications appear in journals like International Journal of Educational Development and Refuge: Canada’s Journal on Refugees.

Awards:

• 2025 Honey W. Nashman Center Faculty Development Grant
• 2024 REAL Lab GW University Seminar Grant
• 2024 GW Sigur Center for Asian Studies Summer Research Grant

Labs/Teams: Director of the REAL Lab (Research on Education and Livelihoods in Displacement), which recently received institutional grant funding.