People News 2016

March 2016

We have yet another winning athlete to brag about. USA Softball announced its Female Athletes of the Year, and the UA Softball program swept the awards with Kellie Fox earning Female Athlete of the Year. Kellie graduated from our Literacy, Learning & Leadership program last year and is a member of the USA Softball team. Here's more on Kellie.

Associate Professor of Practice Crystal Soltero is one of the newest UA Faculty Fellows, serving the students of Posada San Pedro Hall. The program allows faculty to meet students where they are, whether that is a residence hall, a cultural center, a resource center, or a place they work."I love being able to serve as a resource for students' questions about Tucson and the UA," says Soltero. "Connecting students with all of the opportunities offered at the UA feels really good. But even more than that, I love being able to connect students with each other as a way to build a stronger residence hall community. We have a lot of fun together, and I know our activities have helped a lot of them get to know each other in a deeper way." Read more here.

Assistant Professor Sara Tolbert partners with teachers at Changemaker High School to improve science teaching to underserved students. Her work was featured in this article in the Desert Leaf.

February 2016

Three TLS graduates, Cathy Amanti (Ph.D. 2013), Shireen Keyl (Ph.D. 2014), and Erin Mackinney (Ph.D. 2014), along with Jose Aldemar Alvarez (SLAT Ph.D. 2014), published a book, Critical Views on Teaching and Learning English Around the Globe -- Qualitative Research Approaches. In addition to editing the book, they each have chapters based on their doctoral research. Writes Amanti, "We are all passionate about language rights and bringing to light the voices and experiences of students and teachers who are too often left out of scholarship." 

Professor Emeritus Kenneth Goodman's "In Defense of Good Teaching" Award went to Peggy Robertson, the national voice for United Opt Out, which seeks to end corporate education reform.

Alumna Monica Quiroz teaches math at Rio Rico High School (which also happens to be her alma mater), in addition to operating the scoreboard at all home games for volleyball, basketball, and wrestling. As if that weren't enough, she also sings the National Anthem before each game! Read more in the Nogales International here.

Literacy, Learning & Leadership student Austin Thomas, who interns at our Cooper Center for Environmental Learning and Borton Magnet School in its after-school gardening program, will be serving in the Peace Corps upon graduation.