Professor Lesley Bartlett

Email bartlett@exchange.tc.columbia.edu

Professor Lesley Bartlett is an assistant professor in the Department of International and Transcultural Studies at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her scholarly interests are in comparative and international education; anthropology of education; adult education; social theory; social studies of language, literacy, and cognition; multiliteracies; transnationalism; race and class formation; Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States. Her research includes ethnographic studies of communication, multilingual literacies, popular education, race and class inequality, and schooling across the Americas. Professor Bartlett's latest publications include: "To Seem and to Feel: Situated Identities and Literacy Practices." in Teachers College Record; "Dialogue, Knowledge, and Teacher-Student Relations: Freirean Pedagogy in Theory and Practice," in Comparative Education Review 49(3); and "Identity Work and Cultural Artifacts in Literacy Learning and Use: A Sociocultural Analysis" in Language and Education 19(1): 1-9. To read more about Professor Bartlett, click here to visit her website.

Marcelo De Stefano

Email marcelo888@hotmail.com

Marcelo De Stefano is from Argentina. He is the manager of school-based health centers at the NYC Department of Education. Previously, he worked as a teacher, trainer, administrator, lead researcher, grant writer, and independent consultant in education. In Argentina, he worked for five years for the State of Santa Fe and the National Ministry of Education developing and coordinating projects in education funded by the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank. He holds an Ed.D and Ed.M. in Educational Administration/Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University, an Ed.M in Educational Administration/International Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a Master of Architecture from Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Spain, and an Architectural degree from Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Argentina. His areas of interest include school effectiveness, leadership, and school building design.

Rosario Torres-Guevara

Email rt2012@columbia.edu

Rosario Torres-Guevara is from Mexico. She earned her BA in Applied Linguistics with a concentration in Didactics from the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon in Monterrey, Mexico. She earned her MA in TESOL (Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Teachers College, Columbia University, where she is currently completing her EdD in International Educational Development with a concentration in Bilingual and Bicultural Education. Her research interests are language policy in education, immigration and education, and bilingual and intercultural education. Rosario has been a teacher for 16 years. She has taught a variety of courses including English as a Second Language (ESL) and as a Foreign Language (EFL); ESL/EFL Teacher Training and Lesson Planning; Language Arts; Immigration and Education; and Bilingual Education in various schools of Mexico and of New York City, which include CUNY City College; SUNY Educational Opportunity Center; Teachers College, Columbia University; Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon; and the Mexican-North American Institute of Cultural Relations. She is currently a faculty member at BMCC, CUNY.

Milagros Nores

Email mn2058@columbia.edu

Milagros Nores is from Argentina. She holds a PhD and a PhM in Education and Economics from Teachers College, Columbia University, and an EdM in Educational Administration/Social Policy from Harvard University. She is currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Taubman Center in Public Policy, Brown University, where she teaches Education Policy in a Comparative Perspective, and Economics of Public Policy. Her research interests are poverty and education, analysis of education policy, analyses across education systems, and early childhood education. Her latest publications include "The High/Scope Perry Preschool Program: Cost-Benefit Analysis Using Data from the Age 40 Follow-Up" and "Socioeconomic segregation with (without) competitive education policies. A Comparative Analysis of Argentina and Chile." She has also consulted for the World Bank in education projects in Latin America.

Cesar Fernandez Geara

Email caf2115@columbia.edu

Cesar Fernandez Geara is from the Dominican Republic. He earned his BA in Psychology from the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo, in the Dom. Rep. There he worked as a TA for courses on Social Psychology and Methodology of Research. He is currently completing his MA in Psychology in Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Before moving to New York to pursue his Masters degree he worked in a public hospital in Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep., giving therapy and counseling to at-risk youth from disadvantaged communities. He also worked in the Educational Management Department at the National Judiciary School of the Dominican Republic, where part of his duties included the reformulation of the educational model implemented at the school and the evaluation of students and teachers. His current research interests are race and ethnicity in multicultural contexts and Latino studies. In a more clinical arena he is also interested in antisocial behavior in at-risk youths and anxiety disorders.

Dina Lopez

Email dal2117@columbia.edu

Dina Lopez was born in Guatemala and raised in Providence, Rhode Island. After receiving her BA in Community Health from Brown University, she spent three years working with community-based organizations in Providence around issues of health education, neighborhood improvement, adult literacy and immigrant rights. Dina moved to the New York area to pursue an MS in Adult Education at Fordham University. Pedagogically, Dina has been highly influenced by many people including Paulo Freire, Myles Horton, bell hooks, and the countless popular educators she has met through practice. Politically, she is inspired by grassroots movements for social justice, the women's movement, Zapatismo, the movement for immigrant rights, environmentalism and the movement for open source technology. Dina Lopez is currently a doctoral student in International Educational Development-with a concentration in Peace Education-at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research interests include popular education in Latin America and the U.S., critical pedagogy, participatory adult literacy, and the relationship between popular education and social change.

Tamara Vinacur

Email tvinacur@fibertel.com.ar

Tamara Vinacur is from Argentina. She came to the United States in 2006 after completing a BA in Educational Science at the Universidad de Buenos Aires and a Specialization Degree in Educational Management at the Universidad de San Andres in Argentina. She is currently pursuing an EdM on Measurement & Evaluation at Teachers College, Columbia University. Previously, she worked in the National Ministry of Education in Argentina for 4 years as a technical assistant to the Secretary and later on as a consultant to the area of Information and Quality Assessment, where her interest in Evaluation and Policy Analysis emerged. She also worked as a consultant to the IIEP/ UNESCO on the adaptation of the United Nations' Argentine Report on Human Development for high school teachers. She is the founder and director of a consulting firm called DIERESIS that offers advice to parents on their children school choices. Tamara's goal is to explore strategies to improve decision-making in relation to educational policies in developing countries. In particular, she is interested in studying mechanisms to promote a more efficient use of information in policy design in order to respond to some of the structural weaknesses of Argentina's educational system.

Candido Hernandez-Limon

Email ch2020@columbia.edu

Candido Hernandez-Limon is from Mexico. He earned his BA in Computer Science and his MA in Human Resources Development from the Autonomous University of Tamaulipas, Mexico. He is currently completing his EdD in Instructional Technology and Media. Candido's interests are technology in education policy, pedagogical film, and long distance learning. His doctoral research looks into the perceptions and attitudes of members in disadvantaged communities towards technology. Candido's motivation to pursue this research is his belief that community voices are essential to understand any given context and that this may offer ways to reduce the digital divide. He has been a teacher for 12 years and a filmmaker for 3 years. He has taught technology integration in the classroom; instructional design, and language computer programs in several schools of the U.S. and Mexico, such as Teikyo Post University, Loretto Heights University, CUNY City College, and the Autonomous University of Tamaulipas. He is currently a consultant for the Autonomous University of Tamaulipas and the DaVinci University.

Veronica Cabezas

Email vc2172@columbia.edu

Veronica Cabezas is from Chile. She earned her BA in Industrial Engineering and a Specialization Degree in Transport at the Catholic University of Chile, and an EdM in Leadership, Policy and Politics in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is currently completing her PhD in Economics and Education from Teachers College. Before coming to the US, she worked in Puente Alto Municipal Government in Santiago, Chile as a project analyst. Her work included public policy analysis and educational budget elaboration analysis. Veronica was also a consultant to NGOs and the public sector, including "Un Techo para Chile", "Fundacion Ayuda y Esperanza" and the Chilean Ministry of Economy. Veronica's motivation to pursue an educational PhD came from her research and work experience in family and child policy, where she became aware of the role of education in income distribution and the mismanagement of public policy programs. In NY, Veronica worked as a consultant to the UNDP/Evaluation Office for the re-classification of project evaluation outcomes and the elaboration of a report for future design and implementation of programs and evaluations. She is currently TA for Politics of Economic Development at SIPA and Research Assistant of Prof. Jonah Rockoff. Her current research interests are gender achievement gap, child and family policy, and the impact of school resources on student achievement.

Carmina Makar

Email cm2521@columbia.edu

Carmina Makar is from Mexico. She earned her BA in Communication Studies with concentration in Education in Mexico. She is currently pursuing an EdM in International Education Development at Teachers College, Columbia University. Before coming to New York, Carmina worked as an educational museum researcher and professor at ITESO University and Universidad de Guadalajara. She has worked as a consultant for UNESCO and UNDP as well as for community-based organizations in Mexico and New York. Carmina is currently engaged in a distance learning project for Universidad de Guadalajara, for which she designs and teaches online courses for the Education department. Her scholarly interests include popular communication, media reception, multiliteracies, technology and bilingual-bicultural issues in the context of community development. In addition, Carmina is interested in exploring how non formal education settings can influence policy design for school reform and curriculum development.

Rita Sanchez

Email rds2133@columbia.edu

Rita del Carmen Sanchez Gonzalez was born in Monterrey, Mexico. She earned her BA in Industrial Engineering from the Technical Institute of Monterrey and an MS in Mathematics Education from the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon. For the past 7 and half years, she has been working as a math and physics high school teacher in the Universidad de Monterrey. She was also Head of the High School Math and Physics department for 3 years. She is currently in an absence leave from the Universidad de Monterrey to pursue her PhD in Mathematics Education at Teachers College. One of her area of interests is didactics of mathematics. Her other area of interests deals with alternate assessments in mathematics for students that have learning disabilities. Her goal is to open a Center for Research in Mathematics Education at the Universidad de Monterrey when she gets back home.

Paul Neira

Email prn2104@columbia.edu

Paul Neira is from Peru, where he did three years of Philosophy Studies. He earned his BA in Education at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP). While working as a teacher at this university in the area of social studies, he completed his Master of Arts in Sociology, with a concentration on public policy and organizational analysis. Paul worked as a curriculum consultant for different Peruvian schools, as well as a professor of the graduate studies program at the National University of Education. Prior to moving to NY, Paul worked as Assistant Researcher at Group for the Analysis of Development, a research center based in Lima, Peru. Paul earned a Fulbright Scholarship that allows him to currently pursue an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Teaching at Teachers College, Columbia University. Paul is currently involved in a project to develop the first Peruvian Educational Research Society (SIEP). His scholarly interests include curriculum policy, teachers? education, teachers' identity formation, teachers' evaluation educational policy, and evaluation of educational intervention programs.

Guillermo Marini

Email guillermo.marini@gmail.com

Guillermo Marini is from Argentina. He is a Philosophy and Education Ed.D. Candidate at Teachers College, Columbia University and teaches Philosophy and Education at SUNY New Paltz. He holds an Ed. M. in Arts in Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education and a BA in Philosophy from the Catholic University of Argentina. In Harvard, he worked at Project Zero as Research Assistant in the Interdisciplinary Studies Project. In Argentina, he taught Philosophy, Art History and Music at different high schools and colleges, and worked as Political Network Secretary at the Laity Federal Network. His areas of interest include the development of Proactive Professional Networks, the relationship between University and Society, Liberal Arts and Humanistic Education, the Philosophy of the Arts in Education and Interdisciplinary Studies.

Ivania de La Cruz

Email ivania.cruz@gmail.com

Ivania de la Cruz Orozco is from Mexico. She earned a B.A. on Political Science at CIDE and a Masters of Public Administration at the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University. She is currently enrolled in the Ed.D. on International Educational Development, with concentration in Latin American and Latino Education. Her research and scholarly interests are the Educational Reforms in Latin America; Decentralization of Education; and Educational Development of the Indigenous youth in Mexico. Ivania has worked as an external consultant for the Inter-American Development Bank and as a university professor in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Susana Martinez Restrepo

Email susanamare@gmail.com

Susana Martinez Restrepo is currently a PhD Student in the program of Comparative and International Education, with concentration in Economics and education, at Teachers College, Columbia University. Se earned her BA in Political Sciences at Sciences-Po Paris (Institute of Political Studies of Paris-France) where she also obtained her Master's degree in Comparative Politics, with concentration in Latin America. For her Master's dissertation she did an extensive research and fieldwork comparing higher education policies in Colombia and Venezuela. She has an extensive international experience that includes community projects of adult literacy in Colombia, sustainable development with Indigenous people in the Manu, Peru, and the teaching Spanish as a second Language in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Prior to joining the doctoral program, she worked for the Centre do Governance and Leadership, a Think Tank at the Prime Minister’s office of Singapore, doing comparative and international research on education and immigration policies. Her research and scholarly interests include economics and politics of education; improving equity and access of minorities to education, affirmative action, multiculturalism, race and discrimination.

Angye Rincon

Angye Rincon was born and raised in Santiago, Dominican Republic, where she earned her BA in Bussiness Administration at the Pontifical Catholic “Madre y Maestra” University (PUCMM). She holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Georgia State University (GSU) and Master of Science in Business Administration from San Diego State University. While studying for her MPA’s degree, she interned at The Carter Center in Atlanta and at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs in Washington, DC. At GSU, she was a Graduate Research Assistant at the Department of Public Administration and Urban Studies and in the Domestic Programs at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. In addition, she volunteered in the Program of Gender Equality for Local and State Governments at CIFAL-Atlanta. At Teachers College (TC), she is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in International Educational Development (IED) with a specialization in International Educational Policy. Before coming to TC, Angye worked in the Vice-rectory of International Relations, Research, and Innovation at PUCMM. Her research interests are education and economic development, minorities and achievement gaps, education policies and immigration, and educational equity and developing countries.

Javier Iturralde de Bracamonte

Email jli2109@columbia.edu

Javier received a degree in Art History from the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM), followed by a specialization in management and contemporary art by the Universite de Montreal. In 2007 he achieved the renowned fellowship from La Caixa Foundation in order to extend his studies in the United States, currently he is involved in the Arts Administration Program at Columbia University. He has experience in developing, managing and coordinating cultural projects, specifically in new media and latest expressions of art in the Latin American cultural scene. After working in several contemporary art galleries in Madrid, Paris and New York, he took an active part in the Organizing Committee of the International Art Festival in Montreal (ARTIVISTIC). Subsequently, he started to work in La Fabrica, as the Exhibition Coordinator in one of the firm's most ambitious and successful projects: PhotoEspana. Between 2006 and 2008 he was responsible for the Visual and Fine Arts Section of the Cultural Department of the Spanish Embassy in Buenos Aires. During this period of time, he initiated an ambitious project of cultural promotion and exchange all over the country. In addition, he developed a strategic change in the contents and line of work in this organization, through the implementation of emerging artists and curators' projects, bringing a more actual, fresh and dynamic turn.

Karla Chavez

Email karlachavezm@gmail.com

Karla Chavez was born and raised in Mexico City. She earned her B.A. in Clinical Psychology from Iberoamericana University, where she had the opportunity to do fieldwork practices with different populations including incarcerated women, women suffering from cancer, homeless youth, psychiatric inpatients, the Obsessive Compulsive Institute at McLean Hospital among others. Before coming to Teachers College she worked as a psychologist in a therapeutic community in Mexico City, where she helped psychiatric patients in the transition from an inpatient facility to a community living. Living in New York as well as volunteering at the New York State Psychiatric Institute in the Hispanic Treatment program has raised her interest in multiculturalism and cultural appropriateness for the psychotherapeutic practice and research, especially for the Latin American population.

Enery M. Lopez-Navarrete

Email enery.m.lopez@gmail.com

Enery was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She earned a Bachelors of Arts in Early Childhood Education from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. As a bilingual teacher she has had experience in public and privateeducational systems in Puerto Rico and in the state of Texas. Immigration movements intrigue her as well as the learning of multiple languages in the preschool scenario, conflict resolution skills and policies in the Early Childhood Bilingual field. At this moment she's pursuing a M.A in International Educational Development and Policy Studies at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Beatriz Albuquerqe

Email bda2109@columbia.edu

Beatriz Albuquerque was born in Oporto, Portugal. She finished her Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts with emphasis in Design of Communication and Graphical Art at Faculdade de Belas Artes da Universidade do Porto in 2003 and her Master of Fine Arts at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2006. In 2004 she joined the Independent Performance Group founded by Marina Abramovic and in 2005 she won the Distinction Prize from the Ambient Series in the PAC/edge Performance Festival in Chicago. She was awarded in 2009 the FLAD/Fulbright Grant (from Portugal) and she is currently (2009) taking the Doctor of Education in Art and Art Education at the Teachers College, Columbia University, New York.

Rita Kamani Renedo

Email RNK2107@columbia.edu

Rita Kamani Renedo was born in New York but her roots are in Chile and India. She is beginning her first year in the Masters program in Bilingual/Bicultural Education. She plans to be a teacher in abilingual school in New York and an advocate for bilingual and multicultural education for immigrant students, Latino/as and English language learners. Her research interests also include popular education in Latin America, bilingual education in international contexts, race, class, gender and identity development in education, and Freirian and critical pedagogy. Her undergraduate thesis focused on the relationship between political participation and popular literacy efforts in Nicaragua during and after the Sandinista Revolution. She currently teaches at a social justice-based after school program in the South Bronx.