She has a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and an M.A. in the Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education. Dr. Joanou has an extensive amount of experience in qualitative research, including participatory research methods. Her dissertation focused on the relationship between children living on the streets of downtown Lima, Peru, and the urban landscape, with particular attention paid to the role of non-profit organizations in this relationship. Her continued research interests focus on issues of identity development and space among marginalized populations and her areas of specialization include: