Name: Mohammad Jawed Nazari
Email: jawed.nazari@nyu.edu
Program: International Education
Principal Advisor(s): Dr. Dana Burde
Research Interests: Refugee Education, Education and Conflict, Minorities and Education, Language Acquisition and Refugee Integration, Education in Emergencies, Distance Learning and Technology, and Learning Assessment in Conflict Settings.
Research Description/Bio: Mohammad Jawed Nazari is a PhD student in the International Education program at NYU Steinhardt. Jawed’s research focuses on the integration challenges and strategies for refugees resettling in the United States. His study examines how these individuals navigate the complex dynamics of economic, social, and cultural integration in their new environment. He is particularly interested in the role of language proficiency in shaping integration outcomes, family dynamics, and access to education, employment, and social services. Preliminary data reveal that while children adapt quickly to language acquisition, their parents face substantial barriers, leading to parental anxiety and familial discord. Jawed’s research aims to fill the critical gap in understanding the factors influencing refugee integration and identify effective interventions that facilitate smoother transitions for refugee families. Specifically, he focuses on the unique challenges faced by Afghan refugees evacuated during the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, emphasizing tailored language learning programs and community engagement initiatives. At NYU Steinhardt, he works as a graduate research assistant to Dr. Burde.
Currently, alongside his PhD, Jawed collaborates with a team of researchers at NYU and explores the potential of educational technology to provide access to quality education in conflict-affected areas.
Jawed joined the International Education program after a decade-long career in the education and development sectors. He worked as a Senior Education Research Specialist with USAID's Afghan Children Read (ACR) project, conducting qualitative research on parental involvement in early literacy development and language-minority children's learning experiences in Afghanistan.
Additionally, as a Research Officer with NYU's Assessment of Learning Outcome and Social Effects of Community-Based Education (ALSE), Jawed represented NYU in Afghanistan, monitored survey data collection, conducted qualitative interviews, and collected data on the Ministry of Education’s capacity to takeover community-based education. He also ensured program implementation in remote villages. In 2022, Jawed and his family were evacuated from Afghanistan through the efforts of NYU and Scholars at Risk.
Jawed has served in various capacities, including program manager and researcher, for organizations such as the Asian Development Bank, Aga Khan Foundation, Afghanistan Policy Lab, Human Rights and Eradication of Violence Organization, Tadbeer Consulting Inc., and Afghanistan Institute for Civil Society. He holds a Master of Arts in Politics and Security from the OSCE Academy in Bishkek and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. His fieldwork has primarily centered around Afghanistan.