Caran Crawford

M.A. English, Writing Theory Emphasis, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa
B.A. English, Writing Minor, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Academic Interests:
Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration in education. Gender. LGBT. Sociology of Ed. Comparative/International Education. History of Ed. Pre-service teacher training in Multicultural Education/Culturally Relevant Pedagogy.Using writing as a tool for informing and challenging education of pre-service teachers.

Sam Black

B.A. Criminal Justice Administration

Academic Interests:

I've come back to school after a long hiatus. I've been an MA student in Social Foundations since Spring of 2005. Between 1986 and 2005 I became an employee, husband and father. I now work in management for the Iowa Department of Correctional Services. In corrections are varied and I've had several opportunities in recent years to conduct interventions and teach formal curriculum material as a school resource officer. My academic interests lie in exploring ways to develop qualities of resiliency in students as a means increasing student educational attainment and decreasing crime.  To this point, I've found the Social Foundation program builds a strong background in its core areas while encouraging students to do the work necessary to expanding the body of existing knowledge.

Galen Reddin

B.A. Philosophy--Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA

M.A. Communications Studies--University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

Academic Interests:

My sensibilities are informed by experiences in the hospitality, entertainment, construction and factory environments. Shortly after entering my Prospectus phase, I engaged a year of service at Dine’ College on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. In Fall 2007 I again accepted teaching appointments in Iowa’s Rhetoric Department while continuing my prospectus work: investigating early learning-related experiences of academics from Working-Class backgrounds. I seek therapy through participation in two local bands, watching stupid movies, and pretending that my cats care about what I say to them.

Jacqueline Snider

M.A., Educational Psychology, The University of Iowa

M.L.S., Masters of Library Science, The University of Toronto (Canada) B.A., English Literature, The University of Toronto (Canada).

Academic Interest:         

I am interested in the role of libraries in education and work. This includes the use of online learning for library staff development. I also will examine the impact of public policies and legislation on library services, staff, and patrons.

Jane Tompkins

BA University of Iowa (English/Secondary Education).

MsED Educational Leadership--St. Ambrose University

Academic Interests:

Research for my dissertation will focus on either student entitlement and accountability, or teacher qualifications. The University of Iowa has given me the opportunity to be exposed to a diverse student body and an excellent faculty, inspiring me to "think outside the box" and "outside my comfort zone" in order to realize the ever-changing field of education. My professors have encourage me to research aspects of the educational field that both pertain to my own situation (private schools) and those outside (public schools, charter schools, reservation schools), in order to expose every opportunity and challenge that each area of education has to offer.

Laura Thudium Zieglowsky

M.F.A. Theatrical Design--University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

B.S.Ed. English/Speech/Drama--Truman State University, Kirksville, MO

Academic Interests:

Laura's interests are qualitative research, sociology of work, and the arts—theatre in particular. Her dissertation will focus on how educational theatre collaborators maintain or find their dignity challenged while working to produce theatrical plays. Laura worked as an academic and professional costume designer and makeup artist in a variety of theatre departments and professional companies, most recently holding the rank of Associate Professor at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. She is the author of a theatre textbook (Thudium, L., 1999. Stage Makeup. New York: Backstage Books, Inc.) and a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829.

Maria Alvarez

M.A. Education/Ethics--Stetson University, Florida

B.A. French Language and Literature--Stetson University, Florida

Academic Interests:

Maria contemplates the intricacies of her research interests, which are vast and varied, and include- in no particular order: critical theory and sociology of education- as it pertains to social justice; international/comparative education with a focus on Cuba and rural education programs; philosophy and the ethics of ambiguity- because she has yet to learn the meaning of life and wonders who invited her here anyway; and anthropology- particularly cultural politics, language, and semiotics;  especially the concept of language as a tool of domination. In the event that the muse of gainful employment eludes her upon graduation, she will either pursue a second PhD in Italian and History of the Modern Near East at another, equally prestigious research institution in the warm Caribbean- perhaps the University of Havana...or devote the rest of her life to counting turtle eggs on the island of Saba.

Kate Kauper
M.A. Curriculum and Instruction--University of Colorado, Colorado,

B.A. Anthropology--University of Colorado, Boulder, CO

Academic Interests:

Kate Kauper is a PhD student in Educational Policy and Leadership Studies. While teaching high school social studies, she became interested in how student activism affects academic achievement. She is working on the development and implementation of a human rights curriculum that incorporates a service learning component and connects marginalized student populations with community leaders. Kate is also interested in issues related to equity in educational opportunity, socio-cultural anthropology in education, and gender studies.

Ryan O'Connor

M.Ed, Curriculum and Instruction, Florida Atlantic University

BA, English, University of Iowa

Academic Interests:

International Education, Public Schools, and Theories of Knowledge.

Upon completion of my studies here at the University of Iowa, it is my intent to open an Independent, public high school with the International Baccalaureate Program as its governing philosophy.

Nicholas Peter Wysocki

M.A., Public Communication and Broadcasting, Western Illinois University

M.A., African American Studies, University of Iowa

Academic interests:

Multicultural / International Education, Racial Formation Theory, and Social Inequality

Erin Kaufman

B.A., Religion, Central College

Master of Theological Studies,

Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Academic interest:

gender and education

Fran Miller (R. Frances Duffy Miller)
PhD. candidate: Social Foundations of Education,
B.A. English Ed, Univ. Nebraska/Kearney
M.A. American Culture, Univ.Michigan/Ann Arbor
Additional study: Eberhart-Karl’s Universitat, Tubingen, Germany, Univ.Northern Iowa

Academic Interests: Impact of technology on foreign exchange experiences. Historical consciousness. Development of global citizenship. Black and White Press during Civil Rights Era. Experiences of foreign students in American schools. Applied ethnography. Lifelong commitment to international/cross-cultural understanding and experiential learning. Recent decade worked in the field with student teachers. 10 years+ secondary teaching, 14+ years college teaching.
Value of EPLS program: The inter-disciplinary nature of this program is its strength and appeal. Professors and other grad students encourage and challenge reflection and utilization of life/professional experiences.

Eric Reed

B.A., Boston College

Academic Interests:

Sociology, Sociology of Education, Social Inequality, Anti-Racist Education

Anne Omwango Kiche

Academic Interests:

Migration - women and children.

Jan Palmer

B.A., Sociology/Anthropology, Swarthmore College

M.Div., Theology and Ministry, McCormick Theological Seminary

Academic Interests:

Holistic models of education, alternative education, innovative educational program design to help empower disenfranchised persons particularly youth at risk, apprenticeship-based teacher-education, cultivation of communities of learning, interdisciplinary theme-based curricula, new paradigms of cognition and epistemology.