2025 - 2026 GTE Fellows
Dr. Judith Collazo serves as an Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina – Aiken, where she also fulfills the role of Elementary Program and Accreditation Coordinator for the School of Education. She earned her PhD in Multilingual/ Multicultural Education and Educational Leadership from George Mason University in 2017.
Dr. Collazo's teaching portfolio includes courses in Children's Literature, Classroom Management, Classroom-based Assessment, Principles and Strategies for Teaching ML/ELLs, and Multicultural Education for Diverse Learners. Her research focuses on unconscious bias, equity, assessment, the science of reading, and culturally relevant pedagogy.
For the upcoming fellowship, Dr. Collazo will revise EDRD A218 - Children's Literature (Fall 2025) to incorporate multicultural literature from a global perspective and culturally relevant pedagogy. This required course serves pre-professional elementary and early childhood majors pursuing initial certification.
Dr. Collazo will be mentored by Dr. Kathy Short of the University of Arizona.
Dr. Tara Mathien is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Program Area Leader for Early Childhood Studies for the University of Florida’s College of Education. Dr. Mathien earned her Doctorate in Education in Curriculum and Instruction Leadership from Northern Illinois University. She works to foster interdisciplinary strategies and professional growth in the future educators she mentors and teaches. Mathien teaches in undergraduate and graduate level programs in the Early Childhood Studies department. She has served as a program advisor to global early childhood organizations, including in Nepal and Switzerland. Mathien has extensive experience developing early childhood studies curriculum, bolstered by COIL projects with global partners and the creation of a study abroad program. She currently serves as Chair of the Internationalizing Teacher Education TAG for AACTE. Her research initiatives include the use of AI and AR in virtual clinical experiences through Project ECHO, supporting early childhood workforce and preparation in Statewide systems, and the development and dissemination of effective practices for virtual exchange and international curriculum collaborations. These efforts have earned her being named Teaching Excellence Fellow and International Educator of the Year by the University of Florida College of Education for her work’s influence on education, curriculum, and practice.
Dr. Mathien will revise and teach EEC 4945: Internship in Early Childhood which will be taught in Spring 2026.
Dr. Mathien will be mentored by Dr. Shea Kerkhoff at the University of Missouri, St. Louis.
Dr. Rochonda L. Nenonene is an associate professor in the department of teacher education at the University of Dayton. She serves as First Year Experience Coordinator, and Founding Co-Program Director of the Urban Teacher Academy. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Dayton.
Dr. Nenonene currently is professor of record for the following undergraduate courses: EDT 109: The Personal Aspects of Teaching (Intro to the university course); EDT 110: The Professional Aspects of Teaching (Intro education survey course); EDT 222: Adolescent Development; and EDT 318: Urban Teacher Academy Jr. Seminar. Additionally, she teaches EDT 322: Perspectives on Education and Social Justice. At the doctoral level, she helped co-create and teaches EDU 952: Intercultural Proficiency and Leadership for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Areas of research interest include: urban teacher preparation, culturally responsive/sustaining pedagogy, social-emotional learning and dispositions of teacher candidates. Dr. Nenonene conducts professional development for school districts on culturally responsive/sustaining teaching, classroom management, social-emotional learning and issues relevant to equity and social justice.
Dr. Nenonene is a 2022-2023 Institute for Teachers of Color Fellow (ITOC) and 2019 University of Dayton Global Education Fellow. She currently serves as the President for the Global Community: Uniting for Equity (GCUE)
Dr. Nenonene will revise EDT 110/110L - Introduction to the Profession Class and Lab for redesign related to the GTE fellowship. This class is taken by all first-year students in all the licensure areas. As the faculty of record, after piloting the course revisions (Fall 2025), she will share the redesigned syllabus and course module with colleagues who also teach the course.
Dr. Nenonene will be mentored by Dr. David Schwarzer at Montclair State University.
Dr. Sandra Silva-Enos is an Assistant Professor of Secondary Education in the School of Education and Social Work at Providence College. She teaches undergraduate courses focused on methods, diversity, equity, and historical and current issues in education. She also supervises pre-service teachers during student teaching. Dr. Silva-Enos earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Connecticut. Her research focuses on creating equitable K–12
learning environments for multilingual students through the lenses of Sociocultural Competence, Human Rights, and Social Justice. She is currently exploring how Sociocultural Competence, the third goal of dual language programs, can be defined and applied in dual language classroom settings. Similar to intercultural competence, this concept encourages students to examine their own identities, appreciate the identities of others, and engage in collaborative, respectful dialogue across differences. In addition to her work with students, Dr. Silva-Enos explores how
teachers and pre-service teachers can develop sociocultural competence to engage more effectively with diverse families, communities, and colleagues while advancing equity in education. For the Longview Global Fellows program, she will transform EDU 301: Foundations of Education, a spring course that examines historical and current critical topics in education for students in advanced practicum.
Dr. Silva-Enos will be mentored by Dr. Mary Curran of Rutgers University.
Dr. Lei Wang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology at Auburn University-Montgomery, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in instructional technology and design. She earned her Ph.D. in Instructional Design, Development & Evaluation from Syracuse University in December 2023. She also holds master's degrees from both Syracuse University and Southwest University in China. With over two decades of teaching experience across K–12 and higher education in both China and the U.S., Dr. Wang brings a deep intercultural lens to her teaching and research.
Her research explores the integration of emerging technologies—such as generative AI, augmented and virtual reality, and digital storytelling—into teacher education and learning environments. Her award-winning dissertation on the Learning Resources Rubric (LRR) received first place in AERA Division H’s 2024 Outstanding Dissertation competition. She also serves as an editorial board member and reviewer for several international journals.
Dr. Wang will revise and teach INST 4703: Educational Technology in Spring 2026 for undergraduate teacher candidates. The course emphasizes globally-minded, culturally responsive technology integration in K–12 classrooms. She is eager to collaborate with mentors and peers in the GTE Fellows Program to enhance global competencies in teacher education.
Dr. Wang will be mentored by Dr. Allison Freed of the University of Central Arkansas.
Dr. Aimee Weathers earned her EdD from Rockhurst University and serves as an Assistant Professor in the College of Education and Professional Studies at Jacksonville State University. She coordinates the Early Childhood Block and teaches in both the undergraduate Early Childhood/Elementary Teacher Education Program and the Graduate Program for Early Childhood and Elementary Education.
Her research focuses on the use of generative AI in lesson planning to build preservice teachers’ confidence in teaching mathematics. She also has a strong interest in STEAM and STEM education and is a nationally certified STEM teacher.
Dr. Weathers is passionate about preparing teacher candidates to engage students with global perspectives and inclusive, culturally responsive practices. She values the role of global education in helping future educators create meaningful connections across cultures and communities.
She will revise and teach EED409: 21st Century Teaching and Learning II in both Fall 2025 and Spring 2026. This course is for preservice teachers earning an Early Childhood/Elementary (PK-6) degree.
Dr. Weathers will be mentored by Dr. Lauren Angelone of Xavier University, Ohio.