Sakinah Ismael

Sakinah A. Ismael is an educator, researcher, and doctoral candidate whose work focuses on the pedagogical, ethical, and cultural implications of artificial intelligence in education. She is a final-year Doctor of Education (EdD) candidate at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, specializing in Learning Design and Leadership, with research examining AI, graduate attributes, and learner identity in technology-mediated environments. She also holds a Master’s degree in Education with a focus on Globalization in Education, shaping her internationally minded, context-sensitive approach to educational innovation. With professional experience across the Gulf region and internationally, she brings a globally informed yet locally grounded perspective.

Her work frames AI as a cognitive prosthesis, a learning partner that extends human thinking rather than replacing judgment, creativity, or ethical responsibility. She has extensive experience designing AI-enabled and blended learning environments, particularly in academic communication, professional writing, and reflective learning, with emphasis on AI literacy, assessment validity, and academic integrity.

Sakinah is an active international conference presenter and contributor to peer-reviewed research on human–AI collaboration in higher education. She also holds a Professional Certificate in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University, informing her human-centered approach to educational technology.