My core values as an adult educator emerge from my strong belief in and commitment to social change, justice and equality—the central challenges faced by educators today. When reflecting on the changing role of education and educators, I recall the words of Dr. Phyllis Cunningham, spoken during her presentation on the ‘Political Economy of Education.’ She said, “The major goal education should have is transformation for ourselves personally and of our society,” My strong commitment to community service stems from my deep desire and continuous search for a productive role in society, and to contribute to the growth of learners preparing for future challenges.

I am an Eritrean-American, born and raised in Africa. Teaching and earning a doctoral degree has been my longtime passion and personal ambition since I came to this country eighteen years ago. Currently I am teaching several college credit courses at DePaul University and Truman College, mainly history, social science, sociology and international relations (political science) and what we call Learning Assessment Seminar. I have designed and developed a number of African history courses, courses on race and ethnic relations, and a travel course to East Africa. In 1998, I led DePaul faculty, administrators and students to Eritrea/Ethiopia and I have served as a contact and consultant for international joint programs with an African University.

My educational background includes a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from DePaul University with a focus on political history. I have completed many self-directed and guided independent learning projects on African and African-American history and educational-policy related issues and problems. The deliberate learning efforts I have done through the years accounted for large portions of the changes I made in most aspects of my social, educational and professional life.

For over a decade, I have combined my knowledge of adult learners, research, writing, teaching and advising while crossing national, cultural, institutional, and academic borders and help in building bridges and connecting higher educational institutions and communities. I believe this doctoral program will provide me with powerful transformational tools to learn more about a multitude of approaches to working with adult students and institutions of higher education.