Dr Hazel Acosta is an associate professor at the Universidad Nacional de Educación who holds a PhD in Development Studies specialising in development and education. She is a committed educator-researcher who has had exposure in the Philippines, Denmark and the United States, and is currently based in Ecuador. Hazel’s interests revolve around students’ resilience and agency as a lens for understanding development in education. Aside from research and teaching, Hazel is also involved in various continuing professional development training projects for preservice and in-service teachers to establish the synergy between teaching and research.