Research Spotlight: Dr. Alma D. Rodriguez
Q & A with Dr. Alma D. Rodriguez, Dean of the College of Education and P-16 Integration
What are your research interests and research achievements?
As a teacher educator, my research has focused on teacher preparation from three interconnected dimensions: 1) issues of language and how those impact teaching and learning; 2) the use of culturally and linguistically relevant approaches to teacher preparation with the goal of impacting teacher candidates’ practice; and 3) the improvement of teacher preparation programs with an emphasis on meeting the needs of Latinx emergent bilingual students, teachers, and communities. I have examined issues of language mostly in bilingual and ESL teacher preparation.
How does your work align with UTRGV’s and CEP’s strategic plans?
My research is aligned to UTRGV and the CEP strategic plans by enhancing educational opportunities for teacher candidates in the Rio Grande Valley. My research explores curricular innovations that leverage and respond to our teacher candidates’ assets and strengths. Moreover, improving teacher preparation results in better prepared novice teachers who can, in turn, also provide better educational opportunities to P-12 students.
What are your current projects?
Recently, I have been exploring the integration of translanguaging pedagogies in a Hispanic serving institution in general, and in teacher preparation in particular. Given the importance of providing quality preparation to all teacher candidates, I have also studied the transformation of clinical experiences for Latinx teacher candidates. It is my goal to continue to research ways to improve teacher preparation to graduate teachers who are student-ready on day one and well-equipped to effectively meet the needs of diverse learners in today’s schools.