Sophia Howlett

Dr. Sophia Howlett is a distinguished professor and academic leader with extensive experience in Renaissance philosophy, literature, and international higher education policy. She is currently affiliated with the School for International Training (SIT) and has held prominent roles at Central European University and Kean University. Her work spans academic leadership, educational reform, and philosophical scholarship.

Her research centers on Renaissance intellectual history, particularly the works of Marsilio Ficino and Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, exploring intersections of Platonism, Kabbalism, and Aristotelianism. She also investigates comparative and international higher education, focusing on post-Soviet and Middle Eastern contexts.

Dr. Howlett's publications reflect a dual trajectory: deep philosophical inquiry into metaphysical unity and historical analysis of systemic educational change. Her recent works analyze Pico’s metaphysics and the Bologna Process, demonstrating a sustained engagement with both humanistic scholarship and policy innovation.

• Open Society Institute International Policy Fellow
• Visiting Scholar at Harvard University
• Developer of Carnegie Foundation-recognized faculty programming

She has advised governmental and international bodies including UNESCO and the Open Society Foundations, led accreditation evaluation teams for NECHE, and chaired key committees in Vermont higher education. At Central European University, she founded a program for emerging democracies, advanced Romani and LGBTQ inclusion in academia, and developed faculty support systems.

Dr. Howlett has also served on the editorial board of the European Journal of Higher Education and contributed to global dialogues on academic freedom and institutional development.