Faculty

SOE faculty have extensive experience and knowledge related to preparing candidates to work with diverse student populations, including minority students, English language learners, students from low-income backgrounds, and students with exceptionalities. Responses to a recent faculty survey (N = 30) revealed that 17 faculty members have public school experience teaching minority students, 23 have taught English language learners, and 22 have taught students with exceptionalities. The faculty also brings a wide array of scholarly work (Table 4.3.a-j)that focuses on diversity. Over the past 9 years, faculty presented 106 papers related to diversity, 65 at national and international professional meetings, and 41 at state, regional and local meetings. Topics addressed in these scholarly presentations include exceptionalities, bilingualism/second language learning, and sexual orientation. In addition, faculty published 51 articles and book chapters related to diversity between 2002 and 2011. The faculty also brings knowledge of a variety of foreign languages and cultures to their teaching and scholarship, including Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Russian, and Korean. Additionally, there are a number of efforts throughout the unit that address issues of diversity including (1) new programs that increase and enhance the experience of unit candidates, (2) efforts that support the recruitment of diverse candidates and (3) EnAct, a grant that provides professional development to faculty in support of post-secondary students with disabilities.