In a cheerful tradition, we are proud to share some of the outstanding achievements of our students and alumni from the International and Comparative Education program. This week, we share the stories from Darren Rabinowitz(Ph.D. candidate), Ángela Sanchez Rojas (Ed.M. in International Education Development), and Hinako Miyazaki (Alumni, M.A. in International Education Development 2023).
Darren Rabinowitz has received the 2024 Dean’s Grant for Student research.
A third-year doctoral candidate, Darren Rabinowitz, has received the Dean’s Grant for Student Research, sponsored by the Office of the Vice Dean for Research. This grant, worth $2,000, will support Darren’s dissertation fieldwork research in South Africa and Norway. Darren shared with us a glimpse of his dissertation, which looks at the effects of environmental protection regulations in countries’ constitutions and their influence on students:
“The global climate crisis is one of the most pressing issues of our time and for future generations. In response, a global movement to address climate change has urged nations to adopt pro-environmental stances. While scholars have documented the rise of environmental provisions in constitutions (EPIC), little is known about their impact on students. As countries shifting away from their reliance on fossil fuels, Norway and South Africa present as interesting case studies to unveil if EPICs have any effect on the provision of environmental and climate change education within the country. This portion of my dissertation research employs qualitative methods in the form of document analysis of national education documents and in-depth interviews with policymakers, teachers, and college students to illustrate if EPICs make a difference as it comes to instilling pro-environmental dispositions into both countries' next generation of citizens”.
Undoubtedly, Darren’s project is a promising piece of groundbreaking research on a key topic as climate change education. Moreover, Darren has received the CIES Education in Conflict SIG student paper award for his article: "Peacebuilding Inc.: Neoliberal Influences on Rwanda’s Vulnerable Youth". Darren’s piece will be published in COMPARE later this year.
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Ángela Sanchez Rojas, received the International Fellowship of the American Association of University Women (AAUW)
Ángela was awarded the International Fellowship of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) to pursue the second year of her Ed. M in International Education Development. Created in 1917, the International Fellowships supports women pursuing full-time graduate or postdoctoral study in the United States who are not U.S. and have worked on the advancements in women's rights. Recipients are selected for academic achievement and demonstrated commitment to women and girls.
Ángela, from Bogotá, Colombia, is a public international lawyer passionate about social justice, peace, and human rights. She has dedicated her last 12 years to working at international and national courts in Colombia, such as the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the Constitutional Court of Colombia, and the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, among other experiences.
“Teachers College not only contributed to gaining the necessary knowledge related to peace education, human rights education, and education in transitional justice contexts, but it also allowed me to build skills as an education researcher. I developed my research skills not only through classes but having the opportunity to be part of a research project with Professor Garnett Russell. “
After finishing her EdM, Ángela would like to return to Colombia to continue contributing to the peacebuilding process. She would like to lead education strategies and push for policy transformations on issues related to peace and human rights education in Colombia. In the long term future, she is planning to establish a peace education NGO where teachers are at the center.
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Hinako Miyazaki, admitted to the Ph.D. in Education Policy at Michigan State University.
Starting Fall 2024, Hinako Miyazaki will start her Ph.D. in Education Policy at Michigan State University. Hinako will be working with Dr. Amita Chudgar, who has done extensive research internationally on educational access and outcomes. We talked with Hinako about her experience in our program and her future plans.
“The classes I took and research projects I was involved in at Teachers College shaped my research interests in the privatization of education and how it affects educational access and outcomes. During this time, my interest in these topics grew, leading me to pursue a doctoral degree to continue my research.
During my master’s in International Education Development at Teachers College, I took courses on quantitative methods, which led me to give paper presentations on the privatization of education at the CIES. I also appreciate the opportunity to work as a research assistant on the culturally responsive STEM curriculums project led by Professor Amy Stuart Wells. Through this experience, I learned how a project develops into actual research by working on the several phases involved. Furthermore, the project also allowed me to learn how schooling works in the United States. In my doctoral research, I would like to compare how education privatization shapes schooling access and outcomes from an equity perspective in the US and other societies.”
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Congratulations to Darren, Ángela, and Hinako for their achievements!
If you are a student or alumni and would like to share your good news, please get in touch with us at ice_info@tc.columbia.edu