ALUMNI

SELECTED PROFILES

Cohort 2

Louise Gonsalvez

Masters of Education: Global Studies in Education, Cohort 2, UIUC 2007

I live in a small ski resort town in British Columbia and I work at a high school that is located in a nearby mining town. Living in a small town posed a challenge for me in regards to obtaining a masters degree. The minute I spotted the online University of Illinois GSE program I knew it was the program for me. I was interested in a program that challenged me to examine the limiting lens I was using to examine our changing world and to teach my students.

I have traveled to over one hundred countries and I have taken students on overseas trips but I found that such experiences didn't seem to have a legitimate space in educational thought, practices and curriculum. Now, I know they do, and I feel that global perspectives should be infused into all aspects of curriculum, instruction and school administration. The projects and assignments I completed have not rested on a shelf, nor have they been erased from my memory, as each course had me examine not only what was presented, but also what wasn't presented and what biases I brought into discussions and analysis.

The policy aspect of the program was the element that most greatly captured my attention. As a social justice activist, presenter and part of a team that wrote a new British Columbia Ministry of Education Social Justice 12 program, I have always wanted to make a difference in the world. When people asked why I was interested in policy, which I have to admit I previously thought of as quite boring, I told them that if I could be part of one policy change that significantly changed the lives of others, then doing my masters would be worth it a thousand times over. Since then I participated in trip to China where I heard oral testimonies of the World War 11 comfort women and lobbied for a national legislation for an apology and it passed in Canadian parliament in the fall. My final project for my GSE trip to South Africa focused on South African water policies that were denying people access to clean drinking water. In April of this year the High Court of Johannesburg demanded the water be turned back on for hundreds of thousands of families. In my local district we just implemented regulatory policy that protects gays and lesbian students, who were otherwise marginalized and often at risk, and we are awaiting a response to an implementation plan for integrating awareness into classroom teaching.

GSE doesn't limit the narrative to educational practices; it legitimizes a global perspective that makes a world of difference, and it provides an opportunity for creating a better world. I only wish that GSE would consider an online PHD! I would even consider establishing one that focuses on the intersection of global education, policy-making and social justice. Heh! (Canadian) – You have to put the plugs in when you can. LOL

Cohort 1

Donna Lansberry

Masters of Education: Global Studies in Education, Cohort 1, UIUC 2006

Current assignment:

DODDS, Osan American High School , South Korea , French/Spanish Teacher, Foreign Language/Social Studies Department Chair, District Foreign Language Festival Coordinator, 2005 – present

Participating in the online GSE Masters program was a wonderful experience for me that has helped me a great deal in my career. I began the program while teaching Foreign Languages near Seattle , WA . Then, I applied to teach for the Department of Defense Dependent schools Overseas (DODDS). I was offered a position in Korea while I was in the middle of the GSE program.

Through the amazing use of technology in this program, I was able to make the move and complete the program, even being in a completely different time zone and a day ahead. In spite of the distance, I felt a strong connection to the professors and students in the program. The group work was also a great experience as I made connections with other teachers around the world with whom I felt so much in common. We developed some close online friendships through this program.

I had never been to UIUC or met anyone from the program. I offered to have anyone come visit who might want to come to Korea . One of the members of my group, Linda Tabb, took me up on my offer and came to Korea . We had never met until we saw each other for the first time at the Seoul Airport , yet there was an instant friendship there that had been created through the program. We had a wonderful week together as she visited with me and my family and we explored Korea . It was so nice to meet a real person from the program.

I still hear from some of the members from the program and feel I could contact them anytime to share the latest personal and professional events in my life. I learned so much from the program. It helped me see education through a global perspective and also to see how we can take our local programs and create global classrooms.

I would strongly recommend this program to anyone who may be considering an online Masters program and is interested in truly helping students to become global citizens.