March 2021
THE COLLEGE INSIDER
NEWS ABOUT FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
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Danielle Hargett selected as fellow for UC3 Collaborative Sustainability Leadership Program
The University of Arizona joined the University Climate Change Coalition, or UC3, in December 2018, joining 21 leading North American Research One universities. Together, the institutions are working to expand their commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and working with community partners to encourage climate-related resilience.
Danielle Hargett, marketing specialist for the college, was recently selected as a UC3 Fellow for the Spring 2021 UC3 Collaborative Sustainability Leadership Program. The program will involve working with The University of Arizona and greater Tucson communities on local environmental, sustainability, and climate action issues. The Spring 2021 fellowship cohort includes University of Arizona students, faculty, and staff as well as local community members. The main focus of the program is to build and support cohort members to mobilize and accelerate efforts to achieve climate resilience, environmental protection, and social equity goals.
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Amy Spotted Wolf shares A Mountain history
ITEP student Amy Spotted Wolf recently spoke with KGUN about the history of A Mountain and its significance to the Tohono O'odham. The current Miss Indian Arizona shared that a Tohoho O'odham village was built in the shadow of A Mountain, or "Shon-uh-gum," which means black base.
"The name of that village at the base of "A" Mountain was named Stjukson. "Stjukson, same thing, Stjukson means black base," explained Amy. The name Stjukson eventually morphed into Tucson."
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Become a Borderlands Master Teacher Fellow!
The college is seeking 13 STEM teachers (grades 6-12) in Southern Arizona to become Noyce Borderlands Master Teacher Fellows. Selected fellows in this National Science Foundation-funded teacher leadership program will earn a STEM Teacher Leadership Certificate and $11,000 per year ($55,000 over five years).
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A Virtual Little Library for Staying Connected
Taucia González, assistant professor of special education and alumna Hunter Brown (’20) recently worked together to curate an Equity Spotlight Vodcast Series, a collection of picture books read aloud by community members. The books and readers were selected specifically to highlight the diversity of within our local schools and communities. These read alouds are a way for us all to stay connected while also supporting children while they are unable to attend school.
This read aloud, which features three UArizona students, is a celebration of the self-esteem, confidence, and swagger Black boys feel when they leave the barber’s chair—a tradition that places on their heads a figurative crown, beaming with jewels, that confirms their brilliance and worth and helps them not only love and accept themselves, but also take a giant step toward caring how they present themselves to the world.
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It’s yield time!
Undergraduate Admissions is seeking assistance from faculty, staff, and graduate students to call prospective students from Arizona, particularly those who live in rural areas and/or are from underrepresented populations. These phone calls are intended to make connections/answer questions and encourage enrollment at the University of Arizona.
Phone calls will begin the week of March 8 and take place through March 26. Our goal is for partners to make 5-10 calls per week. If you (or members of your team) are able to participate, please fill in this form by COB Friday, March 5, and a recruitment team member will be in touch. Scripts and a list of FAQ will be provided.
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Tucson Festival of Books is not-to-be missed opportunity for kids and teens
The Tucson Festival of Books is a virtual festival this year on March 6 and 7, offering kids and teens exciting options ranging from comics and dragons to fantasy worlds and social issues. The three stages for kids and teens are live sessions with opportunities to interact virtually with authors and illustrators.
The first stage features interactive sessions and workshops, such as a panel of Rick Riordan Presents authors, including Roshani Chokski, who writes the bestselling Aru Shah series, and a GraphixCon celebrating graphic novels with authors including Tom Angleberger of Origami Yoda fame. Fans of Tui Sutherland’s Wings on Fire dragons can join her solo session to hear about her plans for the series.
Adam Ward, a LEGO Master, is conducting a virtual tour of his studio and sharing building tips from “Brick x Brick,” while Kate Bieberdorf is doing a live chemistry demonstration from her Kate the Chemist series. John Gallagher is teaching a drawing workshop on comics and the popular Illustrator Draw-Off session led by Adam Rex is a virtual drawing contest with children offering suggestions through chat.
The second stage features panels of picturebook and middle grade authors and illustrators, including longtime favorite Kevin Henkes. Caldecott award winners Matt de la Peña, Christian Robinson, Matthew Cordell, and Phillip Stead share their insights on story and imagination. Three Indigenous authors talk about their books with Heartdrum, a new initiative to publish Native books by Native authors. Join David Bowles, Van Hoang, and Daniel José Older on fantasy journeys of adventure and conflict, along with other panels on cultural identity, hope and comfort, and healing.
The third stage features panels of young adult authors, including a solo by Scott Westerfeld of Uglies and Imposters fame. Two panels feature major names in fantasy, including Melissa de la Cruz, Adam Silvera, Alexandra Bracken, and Hafsah Faisal. Neal Shusterman, Gene Luen Yang, and Andrew Maraniss explore the intersections of equity with sports. Omar Mohamed and Victoria Jamieson share the reality of life in a refugee camp in “When Stars are Scattered” and their special connection with Tucson, while other panels explore survival and hope, speaking up, and love and secrets.
Don’t miss the opportunity to interact with award-winning authors and illustrators who range from long-time favorites to new emerging superstars. Links to the sessions with be on the Tucson Festival of Books website at the time of the festival.
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33rd Annual TLS Graduate Student Colloquy
Please join the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Sociocultural Studies for the 33rd Annual Graduate Student Colloquy on March 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This year the theme of the colloquy is Reimagining learning in the time of COVID-19: Confronting issues of equity and access in education.
This year's colloquy will be held virtually and will feature Angela Gunder as the keynote speaker. Gunder is the Chief Academic Officer for the Online Learning Consortium and brings to this colloquy a wealth of knowledge in the area of creating an equitable online learning environment.
The colloquy will also provide a space for graduate students to present current research related to the theme, faculty to mentor graduate students, and for graduate students to come together in a space where discussions centered around navigating the inner workings of their programs can ensue.
Registration for this event will be through HeySummit. Email Colleen Hill at ch08ms@email.arizona.edu if you are interested in attending or have any questions.
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Native SOAR hosts first virtual Family Gathering
Last month, Native SOAR (Student Outreach Access and Resiliency) hosted its first Family Gathering since the service-learning program transitioned into an online-only experience. Native SOAR shared a flyer on social media on January 15 and within days, middle and high school students from all over Arizona and New Mexico responded with requests for mentorship.
This semester, 15 undergraduates, with an array of majors (Physiology; Pharmaceutical Sciences; Biochemistry; Neuroscience and Cognitive Science; Family Studies & Human Development; Care, Health & Society; Psychology; General Studies Economy; Pre-business; Information and Science and eSociety; Criminal Justice; and Education) will be meeting with 25 middle and high school students and their families to offer mentorship and college-going support. Mentees are from communities right here in Tucson and as far away as Farmington, NM!
During the Family Gathering, mentors, mentees, and families introduced themselves and spent time in breakout rooms getting to know each other. Mentors will continue to meet weekly with their mentees until the end of the semester, establishing connections and community that support success for both mentor and mentee!
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College of Education faculty present at the 2021 International Congress for Educators
Last month, several faculty members of the college virtually attended the 2021 International Congress for Educators hosted by the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, one of our university partners in Peru.
Dean Bruce Johnson presented "Environmental Leaning: Engaging Learners in Exploring How to Live More Lightly on Earth." Taucia Gonzalez, assistant professor of special education, presented "Youth-participation in Building Inclusive Education." Associate Dean Iliana Reyes presented "Early Childhood Education: Challenges and Opportunities." Blaine Smith, associate professor of new literacies and bi/multilingual immigrant learners, presented "Digital and Multimodal Literacy for the Future." Jill Castek, associate professor in teaching, learning, and sociocultural studies, presented "The Future of Learning in the Digital World."
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A young child’s dialogic appropriation of programmable robots
Assistant Professor of Practice Sung Eun Jung, along with the University of Georgia Professor Kyunghwa Lee, recently published "A young child’s dialogic appropriation of programmable robots" in the British Journal of Educational Technology. In this article, while emphasizing the child’s agency and ecological contexts, Jung presents a young child’s capability to transform the predetermined features of programmable robots for his own interests and purposes, and also highlighted the child’s questioning of existential and ontological issues related to robots’ autonomy and humans’ control.
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Be sure to send in your news for the next College Insider! We're interested in workshops, publications, new faculty and staff, stellar students to feature, and awards. Click the link below to submit.
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Name: Sujey Benavides
Major: Literacy, Learning & Leadership
Minor: Spanish
Expected graduation: May 2021
Hometown: Arlington, Texas
What led you to the University of Arizona College of Education?
My husband enlisted in the Air Force while I was in community college. We received orders to Davis Monthan Air Force Base just in time for me to transfer to The University of Arizona for the Fall 2019 semester. Now we are both proud Wildcats!
What have you learned in the College of Education that's made a difference to you?
Every professor, advisor, director, etc. that I have been able to interact with at UArizona has been extremely kind and more than willing to help. When meeting, they always remember me by name and recall thoughts from our previous conversations. That support has been both comforting and motivating! Wherever I go after graduation, I will be sure to prioritize interpersonal relationship skills because the college showed me firsthand how meaningful that can be for students.
Tell us about something you're involved with in the College of Education and how it's impacted your life.
What are your post-graduation plans as of now?
I look forward to achieving a position in higher education that allows me to help students navigate their lives throughout their academic careers.
Do you have any advice for students just getting started in college?
Love feedback. Welcome feedback. Ask for feedback! You can learn something from every person and every situation you are around. One of my favorite sayings of all time is: “Luck is when opportunity meets preparation.” Grow from every experience you have so that you are prepared when that opportunity comes around.
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