Josie Prado is the recipient of the Clara Woodis McDonald Scholarship for 2011-2012. She received her BA in German literature and language from Agnes Scott College and her MA-TESOL degree from the University of Alabama. Engaging with language and culture has been a life-long pursuit for Josie. She has lived, studied and worked in Switzerland, Germany, and Ecuador. She discovered her love for teaching while working at the United Nations Headquarters as a German speaking tour guide. As an English as a Second Language Specialist in the K-12 setting, Josie combined her passion for language and culture with educational issues. Currently, in the College of Education, Josie teaches an introduction course to secondary education, a diversity seminar, and supervises foreign language methods students and student interns. Her dissertation research focuses on the ways adolescent English Learners experience multilingualism. Research interests include issues surrounding language use, power and identity, culturally responsive teaching, and diversity preparation in teacher education programs. Josie hopes to work in a college of education preparing teachers to work effectively with culturally and linguistically diverse students. She is originally from Florence, Alabama, and now lives in Tuscaloosa with her two adolescent children and their dog and cat.
The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state’s flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides an inclusive, forward-thinking environment and nearly 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus. A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. As the state’s largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.