Camilla Sharshekeeva

Content created by Virtual Intern  Helen Zeidman

Camilla Sharshekeeva, a Kyrgyz education reformer, is a bridge for scholarship between Central Asia and the United States. Sharshekeeva started her career as an English professor at Kyrgyz State University with a passion for American education. In 1993, she was selected for the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) during an inflection point in education in the Kyrgyz Republic. By visiting American universities, Sharshekeeva gained the ideas, plans, and confidence needed to change the education system in her home country.

One of her main reforms was to initiate courses taught in English to foster a global community in Central Asia. In 2001, she earned an appointment as Minister of Education and Culture due to her innovations and ability to blend key elements of American education with Kyrgyz universities. She continued her work by collaborating with officials from the Kyrgyz Republic and the United States and created the International University of Central Asia (IUCA) in 2008. Now, as Provost at IUCA, she manages both academic and non-academic programs.

Camilla Sharshekeeva uses her passion for global collaboration to build communities and reform higher education..

Edited by Virtual Interns Regina Navarro-Gomez and Kristin Mitra