Catalina Ulrich - Fulbright Senior Scholar 2011-2012, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – was invited as a visiting professor to the University of West Alabama, Livingston. Catalina’s research focuses on education for diversity in U.S. secondary schools and teacher education programs. She is particularly interested in project-based learning, as a catalyst in building learning communities based on diversity and social justice in schools. Catalina’s host at UIUC is Professor Emeritus Robert Stake, Director of the Center for Instructional Research and Curriculum Evaluation CIRCE. 

Catalina had a lecture on The Culture and Community of Romania (on January 18) for more than 200 students, faculty and community members at University of West Alabama, a regional state university located in the heart of Alabama’s Black Belt. Next days she had presentations related to her research, visited many College of Education’ classes and had meeting with university’ faculty. “This visit gave me one more opportunity to reflect on the statement that equity that is not only right in principle, it is right in practice. Southern Alabama is different than Midwest Illinois. Schools are different, contexts are different, however many cross-cutting issues are common.” Talks concentrated on questions like How does the school incorporate a social justice agenda to enhance its educational provision for students (valuing developmental, gender, ethnic background, skills differences)? and Which are key elements of in-site teacher professional development program focusing on creating socially and culturally responsive environments?

“I visited different public and private schools: Holy Spirit School and The Capitol International School in Tuscaloosa, Campus School and Junior High public school in Livingston. During our stay my son (8 years old) went to school in Livingston. He very much enjoyed meeting new people, having new friends and experiencing different school activities. `They already started division in Alabama, we still do multiplication in Illinois … he told me after first day at Sumter Academy. The welcoming attitude of our hosts, beautiful landscape, new insights on educational matters and Birmingham’s heritage on human rights added value to our enrichment experience in US.”