DIANE   ELIZABETH   ALVAREZ

TEACHING AND RESEARCH INTERESTS:

EDUCATION

FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS

·     University of California All-Campus Consortium on Research for Diversity  Dissertation Fellowship, UCLA 2002-2003

·     Urban Schooling Dissertation Year Fellowship, UCLA 2002-2003

·     Graduate Opportunity Fellowship, UCLA 1997-2002

·     Research Academic Mentorship Fellowship, UCLA 1999-2000

·     Center for African-American Studies Graduate Fellowship, UCLA 1995-1997

Professional Teaching Experiences

University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL  

Assistant Professor, Holistic Educator

Tift College of Education, Mercer University, Macon, GA, Fall 2003 to May 2005

Graduate School of Education, California State University, Northridge, Spring 2002

California State University, Channel Islands, Fall 2001. 

Undergraduate and graduate course taught:   

·     Urban Education in American Society

Graduate Instructor, The Los Angeles Basin Initiative in collaboration with the Research Institute for Democracy, Education, and Access

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Summer 2000

Principal Investigators:  Jeannie Oakes, Co-Director and John Rogers, Co-Director.

Honors course taught: Los Angeles County high school students enrolled in UCLA college-prep program

·     Critical Media Literacy and Technology

University Field Supervisor & Teaching Assistant, Center X – Teacher Education Program

Graduate School of Education & Information Studies, UCLA, Fall 1998-99

Clinical Faculty Advisors:  Faye Peitzman and Francine Gelbwachs

Teaching Assistant: Supervised Graduate Student Teaching Internship

RESEARCH Experience

Researcher, “Race Riots in Paris?”

Paris, France, Fall 2005

I conducted qualitative research (ie. surveys, interviews, and field observations) with a small sample of youth and community members in Grigny & Clichy-sous-Bois where schools had been burnt down to further examine riots in Paris, France, between African and Arab Muslim youth verses French authorities.  The purpose of my research was to examine struggles for liberation, and observations by Northern African and Arab Muslim youth in relation to their ethnic-racial identity, culture, class and immigration status.

Researcher, Community Partnership, Inc. -- Macon-Bibb County's Family Connection Collaborative

Macon, GA, Spring 2004 to 2005

As the state designated Assessment, Planning, and Evaluation Team for the county, we began addressing the challenges of urban schooling contexts (K-12 grade levels) for approximately 2,500 students who participate with state and local, social service agencies.

Research Assistant, Gaining Early Awareness & Readiness for Undergraduate Programs

Center X and School-University Partnerships (K-16 Collaborative), UCLA, Fall 2000-2001 

Principal Investigator: Jennifer Obidah                      Clinical Faculty Advisor: Francine Gelbwachs

Helped initiate after-school program with comprehensive mentoring, counseling, and supportive services at a local middle school.  Assisted with infrastructure and organization of the program, as well as supervised twenty tutors. 

Research Assistant, University of California Regents’ Outreach Initiative

Center X and University Partnerships (K-16 Collaborative), UCLA, Fall 1999-2000 

Principal Investigators: Jeannie Oakes, Megan Franke, and Gene Tucker

Worked with vice chancellors, deans, professors and local, school district administrators to qualify more students for college admissions from local, public urban school districts.

Evaluator/Consultant, Assessment, Planning, Programming, and Intervention School Program 

Center X and Inglewood-University Partnerships (K-16 Collaborative), Summers 1999 & 2000 

Partnership Director:  Gene Tucker

Assisted the curriculum director, special projects administrators, and several teachers regarding the school district’s secondary level, honors program (5^th-11^th grade). In accordance with program objectives, I assessed 1) literacy & math learning, 2) equity issues, 3) curriculum development and instructional activities, as well as 4) professional development.

Assistant Project Researcher, National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards & Student Testing, University of California, Los Angeles, Spring 1997 to Fall 1999

Project Directors:  Pam Aschbacher and Lindsay Claire

Project:  Los Angeles Annenberg Metropolitan Project

Worked with professors, researchers, and local school administrators from several Los Angeles County school districts regarding the progress of various writing programs supported by external funding. Prepared reports regarding: curriculum & instruction, professional development, and teacher expectations in accordance to state-mandated writing skills. 

RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS

Alvarez (April, 2004). Visual Curriculum: Black and Latino identities in the context of schooling. Paper accepted at American Educational Research Association Conference, San Diego, CA.

Alvarez, D., Briandi, A., Henry, P., and Sessions, B. (February, 2003). The Nation’s First Public Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender High School in New York: Separate but equal - Can We Talk? Paper presented at Annual Georgia Collegiate Leadership conference. University of Georgia, Athens, GA.

Alvarez, D. (2002, November). Student profiling:  How might this social process by the school and state shape the lives of Black and Latino adolescents?  Paper presented at University of California ACCORD Conference, Lake Arrowhead, CA.

Alvarez, D. (2002, April). Visual Sociology: A research method for studying images and ethnic-racial identities constructed by Black and Latino High School Students. Paper presented at American Educational Research Association Conference, New Orleans, LA.

Alvarez, D. (2002, April). The Black Sapphire and Brown Topaz:  Identity formation among Black and Latina high school females. Paper presented at American Educational Research Association Conference, New Orleans, LA.

Alvarez, D. (2001, June). Visual Sociology as Theory? Paper presented at “Theory in Practice, Practice in Theory” Qualitative Research Conference, University of New York, Albany, NY.

Alvarez, D. (2000, April). Tension and Violence among Black and Latino High School Students:  How is it nurtured by the wall of silence and an ever-changing urban environment?  Paper presented at American Educational Research Association Conference, New Orleans, LA.

Alvarez, D. (2000, April). Identity Politics, Tension and Violence between Black and Latino High School Students, and Social Class Struggles in Once Predominantly Black Communities. Paper presented at American Educational Research Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA. 

RESEARCH MANUSCRIPTS IN PREPARATION

Alvarez, D. (July, 2006). Understanding the Race Riots in Paris According to African and Arab Youth. Paper to be submitted to Educational Leadership.

Alvarez, D. (August, 2005). Visual Sociology: Black and Latino Identity Formation within the Context of Schooling. Paper to be submitted to Harvard Educational Review.

Alvarez, D. (September, 2006). The Black Panther Party, Alternative Schooling and Culturally Responsive Education. Paper to be submitted to Harvard Educational Review.

Alvarez, D. (October, 2006). Another look at Visual Sociology Toward Understanding Race and Ethnicity. Paper to be submitted to Sociology of Education.

Alvarez, D. (November, 2006). Black and Latino Relations: Understanding Race Riots in High Schools. Paper to be submitted to Education and Urban Society.

Alvarez, D., Briandi, A., Henry, P., and Sessions, B. (December, 2006). The Nation’s First Public Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender High School in New York: Separate but Equal and What about their sense of Identity? Paper to be submitted to Teaching Tolerance.

Professional Committees

Institutional Review Board, summer 2005 to present

University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida

Elementary Education Committee, Fall 2005 to present

College of Education, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida

International, Multicultural, and Global Education (IMAGE), Fall 2005 to present

College of Education, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida

Secondary and K-12 Curriculum and Standards Committee, Fall 2005 to present

College of Education, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida

Professional Associations

Vice President of Latino/a Caucus, summer 2005 to present

University of Central Florida

American Educational Research Association (member since 1995)

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

Volunteer, United Cerebral Palsy of Central Florida Child Development Center

Orlando, Florida, summer 2006 to present

Graduate Curriculum and Standards Committee, Elected Representative

College of Education, University of Central Florida, spring 2006 to present

Undergraduate Curriculum and Standards Committee, Elected Representative

College of Education, University of Central Florida, spring 2006 to present

Curriculum and Instructor Specialization Exam Reviewer (for doctoral students)

College of Education, University of Central Florida, Spring 2006

Search Committee, Palm Bay Instructor, College of Education

University of Central Florida, Spring 2006

Manuscript Reviewer, Journal of Negro Education

Howard University, Washington, D.C, Fall 2005 to present

Elementary Education Advisor (30 undergraduate students)

College of Education, University of Central Florida, spring 2006 to present

Chair, Master’s Thesis Committee, Holistic Educator (7 graduate students)

Tift College of Education, Mercer University, Macon, GA, Spring 2005

Discussant, Action Research SIG: Multiple Perspectives on Learning in Social Context. American Educational Research Assoc. Annual Conference, Montreal, Canada, April 2005

Discussant, Action Research SIG: Action Research in the K-12 Setting. American Educational Research Association Annual Conference, Montreal, Canada, April 2005

Discussant, Action Research SIG: Identity Constructions in the Urban Classroom Context: Learning from Student Perspectives. American Educational Research Association Annual Conference, Montreal, Canada, April 2005

Discussant, Action Research SIG: Race, Class, and Gender. American Educational Research Association Annual Conference, Montreal, Canada, April 2005

Proposal Reviewer, Division G: Social Context of Education, American Educational Research Association Annual Conference, Fall 2004

Undergraduate Academic Advisor, Holistic Child

Tift College of Education, Mercer University, Macon, GA, Fall 2004 to 2005

Graduate Academic Advisor, Holistic Educator

Tift College of Education, Mercer University, Macon, GA, Fall 2003 to 2005

Field Supervisor, Holistic Child and Secondary Education Program

Tift College of Education, Mercer University, Macon, GA, Fall 2003

Proposal Reviewer, Research on Women in Education Special Interest Group, the American Educational Research Association Annual Conference, Fall 2001

Proposal Reviewer, Division G: Social Context of Education, American Educational Research Association Annual Conference, Fall 2001

INVITED ADDRESSES

Morris, M.; Hathaway, A.; Lockhart, C.; Alvarez, D.; Spaid, R.; Maples, L. and Garvin, C. (November, 2003). Holistic Educator and Action Research. Overview of graduate program presented at Southeastern Regional Association of Teacher Educators Annual Conference. Savannah, GA

Morris, M.; Hathaway, A.; Lockhart, C.; Alvarez, D.; Spaid, R.; Maples, L. and Garvin, C. (October, 2003). Holistic Educator and Action Research. Overview of graduate program presented at Georgia Independent School Association Annual Conference. Stratum, GA

UNIVERSITY/SCHOOL ORGANIZATION PLANNING

Servicing Learning and Writing Committee, Mercer University

Macon, GA, Summer 2004 to 2005

Graduate Curriculum Committee, Tift College of Education

Mercer University, Macon, GA, Fall 2003 to 2005

Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, Tift College of Education

Mercer University, Macon, GA, Fall 2003 to 2005

Administration Committee and Curriculum Committee, Chime Elementary Institute Charter School for Children with Special Needs. Los Angeles, CA, Fall 2002 to Spring 2003

UNIVERSITY APPOINTMENTS

Media Board, Mercer University, Macon, GA, Fall 2003 to 2005

Overseeing the operations of Mercer student media (-newspaper, yearbook, cultural arts literature, and radio station). Responsible for selecting editors-in-chief, station managers, and faculty advisors, as well as establishing all major operational policy guidelines.

Athletic Academic Advisory Council, Mercer University, Macon, GA, Fall 2003 to 2005

Assisting student athletes regarding their academic preparation and NCAA guidelines.

PUBLIC SCHOOL EXPERIENCE

Language Arts Instructor, Upward Bound High School Summer Institute

Long Beach City College and Claremont University

Claremont, CA, Summer 1997

Language Arts Teacher and Academic Team Leader, Dorseyville Middle School

Fox Chapel Area School District

Pittsburgh, PA, 1993-1995

English Teacher, Hampton Middle School

Hampton Township School District

Allison Park, PA, 1991-1993