“Their story, yours and mine — it’s what we all carry with us on this trip we take, and we owe it to each other to respect our stories and learn from them.”
William Carlos Wiliams
As an educator and researcher with a doctoral degree from Harvard University Graduate School of Education, I have gained extensive experience working in K -12 education in the United States while also consulting with educational organizations with global connections. These experiences gained over more than a decade have given me an in-depth understanding of communities of learning and the institutions within which they function. My commitment to learning for all, social justice and related issues of equity along with a passion for building inclusive communities have further enriched these experiences.
David Perkins, distinguished scholar, author of ‘Smart Schools’ among other books on education and Chair of my doctoral dissertation committee at Harvard, referring to my work with him writes in a letter, Her energy for both taking an analytical look at the world and considering how the world might become a better place is notable.At this stage in my career, while I am well aware of the possibilities for innovation in education unleashed by technology, I am equally mindful of the grave challenges of educational equity facing our communities. I am committed to leveraging resources by fostering partnerships. Indeed the work of linking and bridging has been the hallmark of my educational practice and academic training.
To summarize, my urge to make the world a better place that Perkins refers to above, comes from a place of empathy. Empathy underlies and resonates deeply in my work as an educator, be it in a quiet meeting with a student who is struggling with academic pressures in her new high school or a teacher impatient with having to learn a new practice, that of digitizing his curriculum and uploading it on a website. And it is with empathy that I work with others to build a community where there is dialogue, respect for diverse voices and a thoughtful exploration of ways in which we can build a more sustainable and equitable world. This is an urgent need and a challenge in a world riven with polemics and conflicts. I have made a commitment to rise to this challenge.
More about my community arts and studio projects here.
Higher Education
How does learning happen outside formal classroom settings? What is the role of tools [technology], the body and senses in learning? How does this impact the design of learning interventions and educational programs? My research drew from the literature on embodiment and cognition to better understand these questions and translate them into practice.
While completing my doctoral research at the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University, I also worked at the HGSE Learning Technologies lab. Over my time there I became a teaching fellow mainly supporting faculty in integrating technology. I worked as a head teaching fellow with Professsor David Perkins teaching his popular course on Cognition and the Art of Instruction. In addition I assisted with courses on Universal Design for Learning, Gender and Education, Global Education and Narratives in Learning. The later with Professor Mary Catherine Bateson.