Visiting Professor Focuses on English Education, Students of Color

Marcelle Haddix, assistant professor and director of the English Education program at Syracuse University, will share her research on the experiences of teacher candidates of color in English education on April 10 from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in Ketchum Hall 313.

Her presentation is the last in the 2013-2014 Secondary Education Brown Bag Lecture Series that is sponsored by the Buffalo State English Education Student Association. The talks are free and open to the public. Attendees are invited to bring lunch; light refreshments also will be served.

Haddix, who has worked as a secondary English language arts teacher, college administrator, composition instructor, and teacher educator, focuses on how to best prepare all teachers working in culturally and linguistically diverse settings. She also directs the “Writing Our Lives” project for urban youth.

“I think her research is on an important topic for everyone who is teaching future educators,” said James Cerone, assistant professor and program coordinator for English Education at Buffalo State, adding his department invited the educational community of Western New York, including faculty from other higher education institutions and teachers and administrators from local schools.

“Dr. Haddix’s expertise is especially relevant at Buffalo State, it being the only comprehensive college within the SUNY system located in an urban area. As educators, we have a responsibility to the community around us.”

Although Haddix’s talk is included within the secondary education series, Cerone said it should appeal to educators at all levels—from kindergarten through 12th grade.  

 “Many of our teacher candidates work with minority students in Buffalo schools or go on to teach students of color,” he said. “As a campus, we need to address the needs of these teacher candidates and work on attracting more students of color in English education.”

Other speakers in the brown bag series have included Adrienne Costello, associate professor of English; Jevon Hunter, assistant professor of elementary education and reading; and Theresa Harris-Tigg, associate professor of English education. In fall 2014, Julie Gorlewski, ’85, a professor of English education at SUNY New Paltz and editor of the national English Journal, will speak on campus.

All the presentations are videotaped and available on the English Education website.