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LIVING HER DREAM

Born in Brownville, Texas and one of six sisters in a migrant farm-working family, Dr. Angela Lopez Pedrana long dreamed of becoming a college professor. Her family never doubted her and to this day her father reminds her that she is living her dream.  

An assistant professor of education in the UHD College of Public Service, Pedrana explored a subject that was natural to her in her doctoral dissertation: how the experiences of second language learners are affected by their backgrounds when they become bilingual education teachers themselves.

Dr. Pedrana received an EdD in 2004 from the University of Houston.

Her work was awarded first place in the Seventh Dissertation Competition of the Bilingual Research Special Interest Group (SIG) of the American Educational Research Association (AERA).   She was honored at the organization's recent annual meeting in San Francisco.

The committee said her "dissertation examines an important problem.   It is clearly and insightfully written, shows a lot of creativity, applies an appropriate methodology, and achieves meaningful results.  We felt it showed a clear connection across the statement of the problem, the summary of the literature review, and the results and conclusions obtained."

"The link between personal practical knowledge about language and culture - teaching and learning - held by heritage language speakers who are teachers in bilingual education contexts, has simply not been made," she said.   "This clearly identifiable gap in the literature prompts me to examine this area and makes my inquiry particularly relevant and vital to the educational enterprise."

Pedrana, like many professors in the UHD urban teacher program, take their work to heart, often bringing to the classroom, their own personal experiences and victories.  

"It is an important mission - guiding and advising the future teachers of our society's children," said Dr. Beth Pelz, dean of the College of Public Service where Pedrana teaches.   "Dr. Pedrana has been able to take a very personal interest and apply it to the important development being examined in today's schools.   We are proud of her accomplishment and the credentials she brings to our university."

UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON-DOWNTOWN
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