Master’s Thesis in University Repository
My graduate engineering thesis on adsorption of copper, cobalt, and nickel ions using Zeolite 13X is publicly available through the University of Zagreb institutional repository.
View publication sectionAcademic & STEM Education Portfolio
Student-centered STEM educator, safeguarding lead, and science learning designer.
Building engaging, inclusive, and well-structured virtual learning environments through STEM education, safeguarding leadership, assessment design, and student-centered academic support.
Professional Focus
- Chemistry, Biology & Applied Sciences
- Online American Curriculum Teaching
- Rubric-Based Assessment & Academic Feedback
- STEM Club Guidance & Enrichment
- Child Protection & Ethical Practice
- Teacher, Parent & Student Training
- Accreditation, MUN & Educational Leadership
About
About Me
I am an Online STEM Educator at International Schooling with a strong focus on building engaging, inclusive, and well-structured virtual learning environments. My approach combines academic rigor with attentiveness to student experience, ensuring clarity, consistency, and meaningful engagement in online classrooms.
Alongside teaching, I serve as the school’s Child Protection Officer, a role that requires discretion, sound judgment, safeguarding awareness, and the ability to recognize early warning signs. I also serve as Science Club Faculty Advisor, where I support student-led STEM initiatives, research projects, scientific communication, collaboration, creativity, and inquiry-based learning. Beyond direct teaching, I design and deliver training and awareness sessions for students, teachers, and parents on safeguarding, digital safety, student well-being, and online learning responsibilities.
Professional Identity
My strengths lie in pattern recognition, structured thinking, calm leadership under pressure, and balancing people-centered care with clear systems, protocols, and academic expectations.
Featured Evidence
Professional Proof Points
A curated snapshot of the strongest evidence supporting my professional profile across academic research, STEM education, safeguarding leadership, accreditation, and school-community training.
NEASC & WASC Representation
Participated in major accreditation processes, including WASC visits and NEASC representation for International Schooling, reflecting professionalism, school quality engagement, and institutional trust.
View accreditation evidenceTeacher, Parent & Student Training
Designed and delivered safeguarding and digital safety training for teachers, parents, and students, including webinars, workshops, and child protection awareness sessions.
View training portfolioRubric-Based Systems for 300+ Students
Designed and implemented rubric-based assessment systems across multiple STEM courses, supporting grading consistency, constructive feedback, and academic progression.
View portfolio evidenceTeaching & Academic Expertise
Areas of Expertise
Science Instruction
AP and Honors Biology and Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, Anatomy and Physiology, Marine Science, Astronomy, and general STEM instruction.
Applied Chemistry
Cosmetic chemistry, industrial formulation, chemical engineering fundamentals, environmental engineering, adsorption processes, and materials chemistry.
Online Learning
Digital and hybrid teaching, LMS course management, virtual classroom communication, student engagement, and cross-cultural academic instruction.
Assessment & Mentoring
Curriculum and assessment design, rubric-based grading, assessment analytics, research methods, scientific writing, and academic mentoring.
Teaching Philosophy
How I Teach
Structure Before Complexity
I break complex scientific ideas into clear, organized steps so students can build mastery without feeling overwhelmed.
Science With Purpose
I connect scientific concepts to real-life contexts, applied chemistry, environmental issues, health, technology, and student interests.
Feedback That Supports Growth
I use constructive, rubric-aligned feedback to help students understand their progress and identify their next improvement steps.
Professional Experience
Experience Snapshot
STEM Club Faculty Advisor
Lead the Science Club by designing and facilitating interactive, student-led STEM initiatives. Guide research projects, foster scientific communication skills, and support students in showcasing work through presentations, publications, and school-wide initiatives.
Child Protection Officer
Oversee child protection and safeguarding practices across the school, support alignment with international safeguarding standards and school policies, lead staff training, and manage sensitive safeguarding cases with confidentiality and professionalism.
STEM Educator
Designed and implemented rubric-based assessment systems for 300+ students across multiple STEM courses, improving grading consistency and student feedback turnaround time while fostering an inclusive virtual learning environment.
Online Chemistry and Biology Educator
Supported university and high school students outside the classroom in chemistry, biology, life sciences, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and exam preparation.
Chemistry Educational Consultant
Prepared assessment papers and educational resources tailored for American High School students, including authoring EST Chemistry exams.
Chemistry and Biology Teacher
Taught chemistry and biology to students across grades 9–12 using grade-appropriate, comprehensive, and engaging instruction.
Applied Science & Industry Foundation
Applied Chemistry, Engineering & Formulation Experience
Before and alongside my education-focused work, I built practical experience across environmental engineering, water treatment research, cosmetics formulation, production, quality control, and technical product communication.
Water Treatment Engineer — End of Studies Internship
Completed thesis-related research at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, exploring adsorption of heavy metals using different adsorbents through experimentation, literature review, and analysis of adsorption processes.
R&D Formulation Chemist Trainee
Completed an end-of-study internship on a skin-brightening face mask, including market research, formula development, microbiology tests, physico-chemical tests, packaging, and labeling.
Cosmetics Production Trainee
Gained production exposure in basic cosmetics and personal care products including base creams, roll-ons, shampoos, lotions, moisturizers, collagen creams, and liquid soap.
Quality Control Student Trainee
Developed early quality control exposure through raw and final product testing, HPLC, autoclave work, stability considerations, and bioavailability awareness.
Training & Workshop Portfolio
Workshops and Awareness Sessions Delivered
My training work supports teachers, parents, and students through practical, safeguarding-aware, and student-centered sessions. These sessions focus on online safety, classroom responsibility, child protection, student well-being, and professional practice.
Teacher Training & Professional Development
Child Protection Training: Clarity, Boundaries, and Reporting in an Online School Environment
Teacher-focused training on shared child protection responsibility, online safeguarding challenges, communication boundaries, professional presence, classroom environment, and reporting pathways.
View workshop slidesChild’s Social, Emotional, and Mental Well-Being
Capacity-building program for teachers focused on student well-being, professional growth, and fostering a supportive learning environment.
View certificateSocial and Emotional Development in Children
Teacher workshop focused on children’s social and emotional development, professional growth, and supportive learning environments.
View certificateClassroom Management Skills
Professional development workshop focused on classroom management practices and maintaining supportive learning environments.
View certificateParent Education & Digital Safety
Parenting in Digital World: Keeping Your Child Safe Online
Parent-facing webinar focused on digital safety, online risk awareness, and practical ways families can support safer online experiences.
View commendation letterStudent Safeguarding Awareness
Speak Up, Stay Safe: Recognizing, Reporting and Preventing Misconduct Online
Student-facing safeguarding webinar focused on recognizing online misconduct, reporting concerns, and understanding prevention in digital spaces.
View commendation letterTraining Strengths
Audience-Specific Delivery
Adapting tone, examples, and activities for students, parents, teachers, and school staff.
Interactive Facilitation
Using reflection prompts, scenario thinking, discussion questions, and practical examples to support engagement.
Online Safeguarding Context
Addressing the realities of virtual schools, off-platform risks, subtle signs, and reduced visibility online.
Clear Systems & Reporting
Helping participants understand boundaries, responsibilities, and when/how to escalate concerns.
Educational Leadership & Professional Engagement
Leadership Beyond the Classroom
My professional development and leadership work extends across accreditation engagement, student conferences, STEM enrichment, safeguarding practice, teacher training, parent education, and whole-school educational quality initiatives.
NEASC & WASC Accreditation Visits
Attended two school accreditation visits, including WASC and NEASC, strengthening my exposure to school improvement, quality assurance, safeguarding expectations, evidence-based reflection, and international education standards.
ISMUN 1.0 Co-Chairperson
Served as Co-Chairperson during ISMUN 1.0, supporting student debate, committee flow, award announcements, closing procedures, and professional conference communication.
ISMUN 2.0 Chair — Crisis Management Group
Chaired the Crisis Management Group committee during ISMUN 2.0, including committee management, moderated and unmoderated caucuses, crisis updates, chits, voting procedures, and closing remarks.
Teacher, Parent, and Student Training
Designed and delivered professional and community-facing learning experiences for teachers, parents, and students, including digital safety, child protection, social-emotional development, classroom management, and online safeguarding.
Child Protection Workshops & Awareness Sessions
Contributed to student, parent, and teacher-facing safeguarding education, including child protection awareness, digital safety, student well-being, reporting pathways, and supportive school-community practices.
Portfolio Evidence
Selected Real Work & Initiatives
This section highlights real work, roles, and initiatives connected to my teaching, assessment, STEM enrichment, and student support experience. Student names, images, grades, and identifying details are intentionally excluded for privacy and safeguarding reasons.
Aurelian STEM Club Faculty Advising
Serve as Faculty Advisor for the Aurelian STEM Club, supporting student-led STEM engagement, student communication, activity planning, feedback on student work, research guidance, leadership development, and club documentation.
Focus: student initiative, scientific curiosity, teamwork, responsibility, and STEM communication.
Thematic STEM Learning Experiences
Support monthly thematic STEM programming designed to connect science with real-world curiosity, student interests, and interdisciplinary exploration.
Examples of themes: Ocean Discovery, Space Discovery, the Science of Fear, and the Science Behind Exam Fear.
Monthly STEM Newsletters
Guided club newsletter work connected to interdisciplinary STEM themes, including “Hidden Mathematics in Daily Life” and “Hidden Chemistry of Daily Life.”
Focus: science communication, real-life STEM connections, student research, and accessible explanations.
Friday Snapshots Review & Feedback
Reviewed and supported weekly student STEM research updates, with emphasis on research diversity, source awareness, timeline accuracy, originality, and clear scientific communication.
Focus: student voice, academic integrity, research quality, and constructive improvement.
Aurelian Innovation Hackathon
Supported the club’s innovation-focused hackathon workflow, including communication, student guidance, recognition planning, and coordination around certificates and school documentation.
Focus: innovation, student confidence, STEM presentation, and academic enrichment.
Rubric-Based Assessment Systems
Designed and implemented rubric-based assessment systems for 300+ students across multiple STEM courses, supporting grading consistency, constructive feedback, and academic progression.
Focus: fair assessment, feedback quality, academic standards, and student improvement.
Chemistry Assessment Resources
Created assessment papers and EST Chemistry exam resources for American High School students as a Chemistry Educational Consultant with York Press Limited.
Focus: curriculum alignment, assessment writing, chemistry standards, and exam readiness.
Academic & Research Foundation
Applied Science Background
My academic training connects chemistry, environmental engineering, cosmetic science, formulation, synthesis, spectroscopy, sustainable process design, and applied problem-solving.
My Master of Engineering thesis focused on the adsorption of copper, cobalt, and nickel ions from ternary solutions using Zeolite 13X, combining experimental analysis with environmental engineering applications.
Research & Applied Areas
- Adsorption processes
- Materials chemistry
- Environmental engineering applications
- Cosmetic chemistry and formulation
- Industrial chemistry and quality awareness
Published Academic Work
Master’s Thesis in Institutional Repository
My graduate engineering thesis is publicly available through the institutional repository of the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb.
Title: Adsorption of copper, cobalt and nickel ions from ternary solutions using Zeolite 13X
This research focused on adsorption processes, environmental engineering applications, and the removal of metal ions from aqueous systems using Zeolite 13X. It reflects the research foundation behind my current work in STEM education, applied sciences, assessment design, and student mentoring.
Repository Citation
Abou Khalife, Donna-Maria. Adsorption of copper, cobalt and nickel ions from ternary solutions using Zeolite 13X. University of Zagreb, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, 2021.
Type: Master’s thesis / institutional repository publication
Safeguarding, Training & Student Well-Being
Training Students, Teachers, and Parents to Build Safer Learning Communities
My work as Child Protection Officer includes safeguarding leadership, confidential case handling, awareness-building, and training across the school community. I support students, teachers, and parents in understanding digital safety, reporting pathways, communication boundaries, online learning risks, and shared responsibility in child protection.
Teacher Training
Designed and delivered teacher-facing safeguarding sessions on child protection, communication boundaries, online school challenges, classroom safety, and reporting responsibilities.
Parent Webinars
Delivered parent-facing digital safety guidance, including “Parenting in Digital World – Keeping your child safe online,” recognized by International Schooling.
Student Awareness
Delivered student-facing safeguarding awareness, including “Speak Up, Stay Safe: Recognizing, Reporting and Preventing misconduct online.”
Online School Safeguarding
Developed training around the unique safeguarding challenges of online schools, including limited visibility, off-platform risks, subtle signs, and increased online exposure.
Professional Boundaries
Emphasized safe communication practices, approved school platforms, appropriate classroom presence, and early intervention when concerns appear.
Child Rights & Inclusion
Strengthened safeguarding practice through training in child protection, child rights, equality, diversity, inclusion, and ethical school-community responsibility.
Staff Development
Supported professional growth through workshops on classroom management, social-emotional development, student well-being, and safeguarding culture.
Confidentiality & Response
Contribute to confidential safeguarding case handling, referral awareness, response systems, and a proactive culture of student protection.
Academic Background
Education
Master of Engineering, Chemical Engineering
Focus on chemical and environmental engineering, sustainable process design, and applied problem-solving.
M2 Professional, Technology of Perfumes, Cosmetics and Dyes
Specialized graduate training in cosmetic science, industrial formulation, manufacturing practices, and applied chemistry.
M1, Molecular Chemistry
Graduate-level training in molecular and organometallic chemistry, synthesis, spectroscopy, and experimental design.
Bachelor’s Degree, Chemistry
Foundational academic training in chemistry and scientific laboratory thinking.
Skills
Professional Skills
Training and Webinar Development and Delivery
Safeguarding & Child Protection
Creativity and Innovation
Higher Education Pedagogy
Undergraduate Science Instruction
Active Learning Strategies
Generative AI in Education
Safeguarding & Ethical Practice
Curriculum Standardization
Curriculum and Assessment Design
Digital & Hybrid Teaching
Scientific Communication
Cross-Cultural Academic Instruction
LMS Architecture & Course Management
Assessment Analytics
Arabic — Native or Bilingual
French — Native or Bilingual
English — Professional Working
Italian — Limited Working
Armenian — Limited Working
Certificates, Recognition & Professional Development
Evidence of Training, Leadership, and Continuous Learning
This section brings together selected certifications, commendations, and professional development records supporting my work in safeguarding, online teaching, STEM learning, accreditation readiness, teacher training, parent education, and responsible educational innovation.
Safeguarding, Child Protection & Student Well-Being
Introduction to Child Protection
UNICEF course completed on December 1, 2025.
View certificateChild Rights and Why They Matter
UNICEF course completed on December 2, 2025.
View certificateEquality, Diversity and Inclusion
Save the Children / FIELD badge issued on December 4, 2025.
View badgeChild’s Social, Emotional, and Mental Well-Being
Certificate of appreciation for planning and conducting a teacher capacity-building program on March 15, 2025.
View certificateSocial and Emotional Development in Children
Certificate of appreciation for planning and conducting a teacher workshop on October 18, 2025.
View certificateChild Protection Training — May 2026
Teacher training presentation: “Clarity, Boundaries, and Reporting in an Online School Environment.” Certificate pending/requested.
View workshop slidesWebinars & Community Training
Parenting in Digital World
Letter of commendation for conducting “Keeping your child safe online” webinar on February 22, 2025.
View letterSpeak Up, Stay Safe
Letter of commendation for conducting an online misconduct recognition, reporting, and prevention webinar on February 15, 2025.
View letterClassroom Management Skills
Certificate of participation for professional development workshop held on January 18, 2025.
View certificateOnline Teaching, Active Learning & STEM Pedagogy
Excellence in Online Teaching
Johns Hopkins University / Coursera course completed with honors on April 3, 2024.
View certificateFoundations of Virtual Instruction
University of California, Irvine / Coursera course completed on April 18, 2024.
View certificateOnline Teaching: Using Zoom to Connect with Learners
Macquarie University / Coursera course completed on April 9, 2024.
View certificateLaunch Your First Online Meeting with Zoom
Coursera Project Network project certificate completed on February 28, 2024.
View certificateFoundations for Active Learning in STEM Courses
Johns Hopkins University / Coursera course completed on September 28, 2025.
View certificateAI in Education
Generative AI for Educators & Teachers
Vanderbilt University / Coursera specialization completed on September 16, 2025.
View specializationInnovative Teaching with ChatGPT
Vanderbilt University / Coursera course completed on August 27, 2025.
View certificateTrustworthy Generative AI
Vanderbilt University / Coursera course completed on September 16, 2025.
View certificateGPT Vision: Seeing the World through Generative AI
Vanderbilt University / Coursera course completed on September 15, 2025.
View certificateGenerative AI Primer
Vanderbilt University / Coursera course completed on August 24, 2025.
View certificateAccreditation & School Representation
ACS WASC Initial Accreditation Visit
Certificate of participation for International Schooling’s WASC initial accreditation visit on June 3–5, 2024.
View certificateACS WASC Accreditation Visit
Certificate of recognition for valuable participation during the ACS WASC accreditation visit on April 14–16, 2025.
View certificateNEASC Accreditation Visit
Recognition for exemplary representation during NEASC accreditation visit on January 13–15, 2026.
View certificateNEASC Representation Letter
Letter noting selection to represent International Schooling during the 3-day virtual NEASC visit.
View letterContact
Let’s Connect
I am open to opportunities in science education, higher education teaching, STEM learning, online instruction, assessment design, curriculum work, safeguarding-aware educational environments, and academic mentoring.
Email: donnamariaaboukhalife@hotmail.com
Location: Bsalim, Mount Lebanon, Lebanon
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/donna-maria-abou-khalifé-2965b8132
CV: Download my CV