Dr. Elsie C. Spencer works at Teachers College, Columbia University, and oversees many cross-functional responsibilities, including pre- and post-award grant administration, human resource management, and graduate student personnel administration. A Cuban American and native New Yorker, Dr. Spencer is a first-generation graduate who received her Ed.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in Higher Education Management and her M.P.A. from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. Dr. Spencer’s passion and expertise traverse international higher education, focusing on diversity and equity initiatives at institutions of higher learning and promoting community involvement across all levels of senior leadership. She is a powerful advocate for community initiatives and cross-border collaboration to improve the lives of underserved populations around the world.