Niki Hrusa Castillo

Niki Hrusa Castillo is a dedicated international education professional with a diverse background in international education policy, program management, and classroom instruction. Raised in southern Honduras, her upbringing in semi-rural Central America sparked a lifelong commitment to development, equity and education. 

Her most notable roles include serving as a Project Coordinator at the Education Development Center, where she focused on out-of-school youth and middle school curricula centered on entrepreneurship and empowerment in Senegal. Prior to that, Niki worked at a nonprofit boarding school for girls from low socioeconomic backgrounds and vulnerable communities in Nicaragua. As a project manager, she was instrumental in hiring staff, developing a school curriculum aligned with a sustainability framework, and leading student recruitment efforts across Nicaragua. She has also taught in France and worked as a grant writing consultant in Brazil. 

Niki holds a Master's degree in International Education Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. in International Studies from Vassar College. Niki is fluent in Spanish, English, Portuguese, and French. In her free time, she enjoys photography, painting, and has traveled to over 50 countries.