Dr. Ensign has always viewed education as a tool to shape leaders, instill values, and spark change in an often uncertain world. This conviction led her to become the 10th president of the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG), but her journey began much earlier, in regions where the challenges were even greater and the stakes higher.
Her path started as a student at New College in Florida, where she earned a Ph.D. in International Political Economy from the University of Maryland, with a dissertation focused on Artificial Intelligence and Economics. This academic foundation would serve as the basis for her efforts to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Dr. Ensign has long advocated for connecting learning to community engagement. At the University of the Pacific, where she served as Dean of the School of International Studies and Associate Provost for International Initiatives, she launched the Hispanic Outreach program, demonstrating her belief in linking education with real-world issues.
Her leadership philosophy is grounded in the idea that education is not just a path to personal success but a catalyst for social transformation. As president of Dickinson College, she solidified her commitment to global engagement and civic responsibility. Under her leadership, Dickinson became the first U.S. college to receive the Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization twice—a recognition of her vision for higher education in an interconnected world. Her work also led to the creation of the Center for Civic Learning & Action, which responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by keeping students engaged through innovative distance learning while helping local communities.
Dr. Ensign’s impact continued during her eight-year tenure as president of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), known as Africa’s “development university.” There, she founded the Adamawa Peace Initiative (API), a community-driven organization focused on countering Boko Haram’s violence in northeastern Nigeria. API empowered youth, built community resilience, and provided education in a region devastated by conflict. When 300,000 refugees fled to the area, API provided critical humanitarian aid—shelter, food, and medical supplies.
Dr. Ensign’s commitment to education in the region was unwavering. She created TELA (Technology Enhanced Learning for All), an education program funded by USAID, which allowed displaced students to continue their studies remotely. She also launched Feed and Read, a program that taught 30,000 orphans to read while providing meals, helping to break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy. Another Dr. Ensign’s initiative, Waste to Wealth, employed women to recycle materials into usable clothing, providing sustainable income and reducing waste. In a remarkable act of solidarity, she brought the kidnapped Chibok girls from Boko Haram’s 2014 abduction to AUN to continue their education and rebuild their lives.
After her time in Nigeria, Dr. Ensign became president of the United States International University-Africa (USIU-A) in Nairobi, Kenya. There, she expanded scholarship programs, particularly for refugees and students with disabilities, and focused on increasing access to education. Her leadership transformed the university into a place where students from all backgrounds could thrive.
As president of AUBG, Dr. Ensign has continued to lead with a vision that prepares students from over 40 countries to think critically, challenge misinformation, and become leaders who will make a positive impact on the world.
Throughout her career, Dr. Ensign has been a passionate advocate for the transformative power of education. She has written books on global development, genocide, and democracy and has spoken at prestigious events, including the World Economic Forum and U.S. Congress, sharing her expertise on how education can drive lasting change.
Dr. Ensign’s career proves that one person truly can make a significant difference in the world.
The information on this page was last updated on 11-08-2024 and was provided by the Luminary.
