Lindsey Smaka

In addition to my doctoral work, I am a chemistry teacher and coordinate the Global Scholar Program at Edina High School in Edina, Minnesota. My passion for global and international education was sparked by my experience as a Fulbright Fellow in Morocco in 2019, where I researched the language of instruction in science education. Another passion is student travel, specifically environmental conservation research and connecting students to Indigenous communities with fieldwork. I have coordinated and led student conservation research expeditions to South Africa (2017), Fiji (2018), and Ecuador (2019). I became a National Geographic Certified Educator in 2019 and continue to be involved with their education initiatives. Another huge part of my life is my membership in the Rotary Club of Edina, which sponsors the Global Scholar Program I coordinate. I volunteer in many capacities through our club, including coordinating and running the Global Scholar Program, participating in a service expedition to Guatemala, and participating in both the International Grants and Diversity and Equity Committees. I was named Edina’s 2021 Rotarian of the Year. In my free time, I love being outdoors in any way, including hiking, scuba diving, paddle boarding, and camping.