Dr. Balidemaj has been part of the RIT Kosovo community for more than 17 years, serving in several academic and leadership roles before becoming President. Her work in higher education is centered on student success, academic excellence, institutional development, research, and strengthening the connection between education and the needs of society. Her leadership reflects a strong commitment to preparing students not only for successful careers, but also for lives of purpose, responsibility, and meaningful impact in their communities.

During the 2022–2023 academic year, Dr. Balidemaj served as a Research Affiliate at Yale University’s MacMillan Center, where her research focused on the impact of intergenerational trauma on the mental health of Albanian populations. Her work at Yale included collaboration with Dr. Kaveh Khoshnood, Associate Professor at the Yale School of Public Health.

Dr. Balidemaj holds a Ph.D. in International Community and Family Studies from Clemson University’s College of Behavioral, Social, and Health Sciences, an M.Sc. in Clinical Psychology, and a B.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Minnesota. She is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), the American Orthopsychiatric Association (AOA), and the Association for Psychological Science (APS).

Her academic and professional work spans the Balkans, Europe, and the United States. She has served as a research reviewer for international academic journals and research organizations and has presented her research at international conferences. Her work has been published by international academic publishers, including Elsevier, Routledge, and SAGE. Outside academia, she has also served as a local and international consultant for a range of organizations.

Dr. Balidemaj’s research interests include refugee and migrant mental health, intergenerational and collective trauma, human rights, and public and global health. Her work is particularly focused on understanding how individual well-being is shaped by families, communities, migration, history, and broader social systems.

As President of RIT Kosovo, Dr. Balidemaj continues to bring these perspectives into her institutional leadership, with a focus on expanding educational opportunities, strengthening research and innovation, building meaningful partnerships, and connecting RIT Kosovo and its students with Kosovo, the region, and the wider global community.