Dr. Mendenhall’s scholarly work examines the contemporary educational practices and policies that affect students, teachers, and communities living amidst displacement. She is particularly interested in their lived experiences, and draws on longitudinal, participatory, and qualitative approaches to critically understand and learn from and with displaced individuals, primarily in (but not limited to) Sub-Saharan Africa. As a multidisciplinary scholar—engaging with anthropology, policy studies, and sociology—she draws on critical and social justice frameworks in an effort to identify and conceptualize how more equitable, fair, and robust policies and approaches are needed to improve teaching and learning amidst displacement. Her work spans refugee camp, urban settings, and resettlement contexts and engages diverse organizational actors, including community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), national governments, and United Nations (UN) agencies. Her work has been funded by Columbia World Projects, Education International, the European Union, IDEO, the LEGO Foundation, UNHCR, and U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.

Dr. Mendenhall completed her doctorate in International Educational Development in 2008 from Teachers College, Columbia University with a specialization in International Humanitarian Issues. She holds a master’s degree in higher education administration from New York University, and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Ohio University.

The artwork featured on this website was painted by Mary’s mother, Carol Carson Mendenhall.