The Future of Education
Debra A. Giambo
Institution: Florida Gulf Coast University
Country: United States
Debra A. Giambo, Ph.D., is a professor of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Literacy at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida, USA.
Debra graduated with a doctorate in Reading and Learning Disabilities, with a concentration in English learners, from the University of Miami in 1999, a Master’s in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the University at Albany in 1991, and a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics with a minor in Italian Studies in 1989. For the past 19 years, she has worked in the College of Education at Florida Gulf Coast University. Prior to that, she worked as a research assistant at the University of Miami and taught ESOL (prekindergarten through adult) in upstate New York, ESOL and mathematics in Florida, and all content areas in the Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico.
Debra has developed scholarly publications and professional presentations regarding effective education of English learners, multicultural education, advocacy, bilingualism, bilingual literacy, immigration issues, high-stakes testing of culturally and linguistically diverse students, heritage language maintenance, gifted bilingual students. Recently, she has worked to support the development of scholarly skill development for undergraduate students.
Debra has become an Honors College Faculty Fellow and an Honors College Executive Board member at Florida Gulf Coast University. As a Faculty Fellow, she has developed and implemented new courses for honors students, including Advocacy in Action and The Zuni Pueblo. In the advocacy course, students from all majors develop advocacy skills to become leaders in their fields of study. In the Zuni Pueblo course, students learn about the culture, religion, history, arts, and economy of the Zuni people on the Zuni reservation in New Mexico, develop a project for investigation connected with their major areas of study, provide service to the pueblo community over spring break, gather information to answer investigation questions, and complete their scholarly projects upon return from the service-learning trip.
Areas of expertise: English for Speakers of Other Languages, multicultural education, effective instruction for English learners, literacy, biliteracy and bilingualism in the US educational environment.
Debra graduated with a doctorate in Reading and Learning Disabilities, with a concentration in English learners, from the University of Miami in 1999, a Master’s in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the University at Albany in 1991, and a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics with a minor in Italian Studies in 1989. For the past 19 years, she has worked in the College of Education at Florida Gulf Coast University. Prior to that, she worked as a research assistant at the University of Miami and taught ESOL (prekindergarten through adult) in upstate New York, ESOL and mathematics in Florida, and all content areas in the Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico.
Debra has developed scholarly publications and professional presentations regarding effective education of English learners, multicultural education, advocacy, bilingualism, bilingual literacy, immigration issues, high-stakes testing of culturally and linguistically diverse students, heritage language maintenance, gifted bilingual students. Recently, she has worked to support the development of scholarly skill development for undergraduate students.
Debra has become an Honors College Faculty Fellow and an Honors College Executive Board member at Florida Gulf Coast University. As a Faculty Fellow, she has developed and implemented new courses for honors students, including Advocacy in Action and The Zuni Pueblo. In the advocacy course, students from all majors develop advocacy skills to become leaders in their fields of study. In the Zuni Pueblo course, students learn about the culture, religion, history, arts, and economy of the Zuni people on the Zuni reservation in New Mexico, develop a project for investigation connected with their major areas of study, provide service to the pueblo community over spring break, gather information to answer investigation questions, and complete their scholarly projects upon return from the service-learning trip.
Areas of expertise: English for Speakers of Other Languages, multicultural education, effective instruction for English learners, literacy, biliteracy and bilingualism in the US educational environment.
