How an FSU doctoral student is providing schooling for thousands in Nepal

For nearly 15 years, Bhushan Dahal, a doctoral student in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences and a graduate assistant in the Learning Systems Institute (LSI) at Florida State University, has played a significant role in education reform in his home country of Nepal.

As a doctoral student in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Dahal seeks to expand his influence and contribution to the field of education, and his work at LSI on projects such as the USAID Teacher Excellence Initiative in Egypt and Transforming Teacher Education Activity in Zambia is opening doors at the international level.

“Nothing beats the excitement of working in Nepal, but now, being with LSI has broadened my experience beyond domestic projects to a range of international ones,” he said. “This exposure is invaluable, and I’m learning so much from each opportunity.”

Earlier this semester, Dahal was selected by the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) as a 2024-2026 Jackson Scholar, which will give him the opportunity to engage in formal networking, mentoring and professional development opportunities to enhance his pathway to a career in educational leadership.

“As a first-generation international student who loves academia, networking and discovery, being selected as a Jackson Scholar is truly an honor,” Dahal said. “I am excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to building lasting memories and connections that will shape my journey and contribute to my vision of creating a dignified community.”

Before Dahal arrived at FSU, he was the first official employee at Kids of Kathmandu and later became the organization’s director. Through his work with the nonprofit, 11 schools have been constructed, accommodating 6,000 students and featuring computer labs, libraries, furniture and water purification systems.

“It went from being one person trying to do a few projects to being in a position where I was running an organization,” Dahal said. “It was a complete shift of responsibility.”

Things dramatically changed for Kids of Kathmandu and Dahal in April 2015 when Nepal was devastated by a catastrophic 7.8 earthquake, the worst natural disaster in the country in several decades. Nearly 9,000 people lost their lives, and another 22,000 suffered injuries.

Thanks to much of Dahal’s work in Nepal, Kids of Kathmandu was already a well-established and trusted organization. That credibility led to an influx of donations from around the world to aid in the country’s recovery. Dahal and his team immediately began developing strategies to maximize this new stream of resources from international agencies, local and national governments, and other stakeholders.

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