Ramona Meraz Lewis

Dr. Ramona Meraz Lewis is a Master Faculty Specialist in the Department of Educational Leadership, Research and Technology at Western Michigan University’s College of Education and Human Development. She plays a pivotal role in teaching, advising, and program coordination, particularly in the Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) leadership program and the undergraduate minor in leadership for social change. Dr. Lewis also serves as faculty fellow for the Seita Scholars Program and previously held a joint appointment as the first Faculty Director of Graduate Student Success in the WMU Graduate College.

• Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Eastern Michigan University
• M.A. in College Student Personnel, Bowling Green State University
• B.A. in English, Arizona State University

Dr. Lewis’s research and practice focus on intercultural development, graduate student services, adult learning (especially learners aged 50+), and international education. She is passionate about equity in higher education and creating opportunities for first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students, particularly through study abroad and global classroom initiatives. Her work emphasizes holistic student development, leadership, and pedagogy in graduate and professional education.

While no recent publications are listed in the provided texts, her scholarly impact is evident in her funded projects, national presentations, and innovative curriculum development, including globally focused courses and award-winning international collaborations.

Her notable honors include:

• 2023 Best Practices in International Education Award (NASPA)
• 2021 Mary L. Dawson Teaching Excellence Award
• CEHD Esprit De Corps Award
• ACPA-MI Excellence in Leadership Award
• NACADA Electronic Publication Award
• CIEE International Faculty Development Seminar Scholarship
• Member, Fulbright Specialist Roster (2018–2023)

Dr. Lewis has been a key figure in advancing faculty-led study abroad programs and international experiential learning. She co-developed a Global Classrooms initiative with the University of Toronto and launched three study abroad programs in Canada, Malaysia & Singapore, and the Dominican Republic. As part of her leadership, she was selected for the inaugural cohort of the Forum on Education Abroad’s Global Learning Launchpad in 2023—among only nine U.S. faculty members chosen. She also mentors graduate students and professionals in college teaching through co-instruction and serves on doctoral dissertation committees and undergraduate honors theses.

She is actively involved in professional service, including serving on the editorial board of the Mid-Western Educational Researcher and as an Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Qualified Administrator. Her leadership extends to program development, grant-funded research (including a 2021 NASPA-IVE Research Grant with Dr. Eric Archer), and institutional innovation in student success and internationalization.