Education

Congratulations to Eastern McNair alum, Dr. Frank King, promoted to Associate Professor in Ethnic Studies at UW-Platteville, and also appointed to Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Special Assistant to the Chief Diversity Office

03/18/2021 by Dukich, Cynthia 1 Comment

Dr. Frank King graduated from Eastern with a BA in Secondary Social Studies Education/History, and earned his PhD from Washington State University in American Studies. As an EWU McNair scholar, he conducted his McNair research internship with faculty mentor, Dr. Scott Finnie, completing a paper titled "The Battle of Adowa and Its Connection to Pan-Afrocentricity." At WSU, he continued to explore Afrocentrism, with doctoral research focused on how Afrocentric concepts within Hip Hop culture can be used to engage, empower and liberate.

Click here to read his dissertation abstract: Campaign For Edutainment: Afrocentric Philosophy and Hip Hop Pedagogy as a Method For True Liberation

As Associate Professor and the Program Coordinator for Ethnic Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, he teaches intersections of race, class, gender, sexuality, and religion. With areas of specialization in Hip Hop Pedagogy, The Prison Industrial Complex, Afrocentric Philosophy, and African American History, he is currently working on several projects that look at the political economy of Hip Hop, Hip Hop as pedagogy, and Juvenile rehabilitation.

In addition to his faculty work, in his new appointment as Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as well as the Special Assistant to the Chief Diversity Office, Dr. King assists in building and developing support, community, and resources for faculty, staff and students to help in UW-Platteville’s call to action to ensure all students have substantial knowledge of issues revolving around diversity, equity, and inclusion.

As he works to develop programs to help increase cultural awareness on campus, he credits the EWU McNair program for giving him the support he needed to get him started on the path to where he is today. "Infinite gratitude," he says about McNair. And we say in return: "Infinite gratitude to you too Dr. Frank King!" We need academics like you, who continue to apply their research, teaching and talents to working towards a more just and equitable world!

Thank you!!!

EWU McNair Scholar Julianna Pruneda-Martinez Completes Summer Research Internship

11/18/2020 by Tennyson, Bryn Leave a Comment

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Julianna Pruneda-Martinez for completing her EWU McNair Summer Research Internship! Under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Winer in the EWU Department of Education, Julianna researched mathematics education through the review of two texts: Taking Action: Implementing Effective Mathematics Teaching practices in Grades K-5 by DeAnn Huinker and Victoria Bill and Making Number Talks Matter: Developing Mathematical Practices and Deepening Understanding, grades 3-10. This research has further encouraged Julianna to dig into what’s working and what’s not working in math education, especially for Latinx students.

Julianna is currently continuing her work towards her major in Math Education and building her resume and experience for both her teaching certificate and preparing for graduate school. We’re confident that Julianna will make great strides in the field of education. Many thanks to Dr. Michael Winer for his thoughtful mentorship. To learn more about Julianna and her research, check out her EWU McNair webpage.

Julianna Pruneda-Martinez Selected as an EWU McNair Scholar and Awarded Summer Research Internship

05/26/2020 by Jaeger, Corinne Leave a Comment

Photo of Julianna Pruneda-Martinez next to text congratulating her with red textured border.

Congratulations Eastern Washington University student Julianna Pruneda-Martinez! Julianna has been selected as an EWU McNair Scholar and awarded a summer research internship. McNair Scholars must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and are first generation college students and low-income and/or underrepresented students. They are selected for their promise as scholars and commitment towards attaining a PhD.

Julianna is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Math Education (K-8). She has been a College Assistant Migrant Program and Washington State Opportunity scholar. She also volunteered as a Peer Mentor for the Chicanx Peer Mentor Program at EWU. She has already completed fall and winter courses preparing to be a McNair Scholar and is currently enrolled in EWU McNair's Research Methods and Analytic Writing courses, on top of her regular classes. This will not only strengthen her skills for graduate school, but also set the groundwork for her 2020 EWU McNair Summer Research Internship under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Winer, Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education at Eastern. Her research interests are on Latinx students learning Mathematics.

We're so excited to have Julianna join us as a McNair Scholar!

EWU McNair Alumna Dr. Laura Zamudio-Orozco Joins EWU McNair Program

01/31/2020 by Jaeger, Corinne Leave a Comment

The EWU McNair Program welcomes Dr. Laura Zamudio-Orozco as our interim Academic Advisor! Dr. Zamudio-Orozco is an alumna of EWU’s McNair Scholar Program. She graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2014 with a BA in Mathematics Education (K-8). She worked as an educator at Adams Elementary in Spokane to get some on the ground experience before becoming a Ronald E. McNair Doctoral Fellow at Florida International University. From 2017 to 2019, Dr. Zamudio-Orozco was a full-time graduate research assistant at Florida International University educating preservice teachers how to teach elementary mathematics, including creating inclusive and culturally responsive curriculum. She attained her PhD in Teaching and Learning – Mathematics Education in December 2019.

Recently, EWU McNair’s Academic Advisor Najeda (Jade) Patolo became a part of the career advising team at EWU. We are so excited for Jade’s new role at Eastern! As we go through the formal job search process to find a new Academic Advisor, we are so fortunate to have Dr. Zamudio-Orozco joining us to support students who are working towards growing as scholars and getting accepted into Masters and PhD programs. Having gone through the process herself, we know Dr. Zamudio-Orozco will be an amazing asset to our team.