Department of Education

Hometown: Hope, ME    
Education: Wheaton College - earned BA in Russian Studies and Classical Civilization in 2012; University of Wisconsin-Madison - earned MA in Russian, East European, and Central Asian Studies in 2015; Rhode Island College - earned MA in Secondary Education in 2023    

Joshua Dufour, a proud New Englander, spent his formative years growing up in rural Maine. Staying true to his New England roots, he graduated from Wheaton College in Massachusetts where he earned a B.A. in Russian Studies and Classical Civilization. 

As an undergraduate, Josh cultivated a deep interest in cross-cultural collaboration and international development. As a Balfour scholar, Josh partnered with the humanitarian organization Friends For Asia as an English Education Volunteer in Chiang Mai, Thailand where he taught English and spearheaded afterschool programs. While studying abroad in Vladimir, Russia, Josh, in addition to learning Russian, served his local community as a volunteer English tutor at the American House. 

After earning his M.A. in Russian, East European, and Central Asian Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Josh collaborated with two Boston non-profit organizations, Soccer Without Borders and Refugees Welcome!, focusing on education access and dismantling barriers for immigrant and asylum-seeking communities. Through his work, Josh gained a better conception of how systems, policies, and laws disadvantaged vulnerable populations.

From 2018 - 2020, Josh served as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. There, his role exposed him to the alarming scarcity of educational resources and opportunities depriving students of a quality education. To address this issue, he spearheaded free outreach initiatives, extended educational access to remote areas, and forged collaborations with local organizations to offer supplementary English language support. Witnessing firsthand the disparities in educational access and quality cemented Josh’s dedication to global education and working to empower communities to increase their educational capacities.

Currently, Josh is a 2021 Teach For America corps member and teaches secondary English Language Arts at Blackstone Valley Prep (BVP). He is honored to receive Brown’s Urban Education Fellowship and looks forward to pursuing his MA in Urban Education Policy. "