Sara Bano

Sara Bano is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Administration at Michigan State University (MSU), specializing in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education (HALE). She holds a Ph.D. from MSU and focuses on the intersection of international comparative higher education and adult education in global contexts. Her research employs qualitative methods like phenomenology and case studies to explore transformative learning in cross-cultural settings, particularly in diverse educational environments. Bano serves as co-chair for the Teaching International Education Special Interest Group (SIG) within the Comparative and International Education Society.

Her expertise includes adult and continuing education, international education systems, and the design of inclusive learning frameworks. Recent work examines transformative learning experiences in post-disaster contexts, pandemic-driven pedagogical shifts in healthcare education, and cross-cultural competency development for global scholars. While her research spans multiple continents, her studies frequently highlight marginalized populations' educational trajectories and institutional challenges in globalized academic systems.

Bano’s contributions emphasize qualitative inquiry to address systemic inequities in education access and quality. She actively collaborates with international institutions to advance equitable educational policies and practices in adult and higher education sectors.