University of Illinois professor to deliver 2025 Finkelstein Lecture, Feb. 19
KINGSTON, R.I. – Jan. 24, 2025 – Gholnecsar (Gholdy) Muhammad, professor of literacy, language, and culture at the University of Illinois/Chicago, will be the featured speaker for the University of Rhode Island College of Education’s annual Finkelstein Lecture Series, on Wednesday, February 19, at 7 p.m., in Edwards Auditorium.
The event is free and open to the public.
Muhammad studies Black historical excellence within educational communities to reframe curriculum and instruction to meet the needs of today’s classroom.
In her talk, Cultivating Genius and Joy in Education through Culturally and Historically Responsive Pedagogies, she will discuss her approach for accelerating the growth of all students, especially youth of color, who have been traditionally underserved in learning standards, policies, and school practices, and present her equity framework, the HILL education model, to help educators develop students’ histories, identities, literacies, and liberation that will inform learning goals, lesson plans, and the teaching texts.
Muhammad’s HILL model has been adopted in school districts across the United States. In 2022 and 2023, she was named in the top 1 percent of Edu-Scholar Public Influencers, Rankings, which recognizes the 200 university-based scholars who had the biggest influence on educational practice and policy.
“Dr. Muhammad’s work on culturally and historically responsive pedagogies is essential content for teachers and leaders in today’s schools,” said Danielle Dennis, dean of the College of Education. “The centering of joy in her work aligns with our College ethos and offers our students and the broader educational community practices to support all learners, and particularly students of color.”
The author of the best-selling book Cultivating Genius: An Equity Model for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy, Muhammad works with teachers, educational and community leaders, parents and youth across the United States and South Africa to determine best practices in culturally and historically responsive and equitable instruction.
Muhammad’s scholarship articles have appeared in leading academic journals and books, including Research in the Teaching of English, Urban Education, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, Language Arts and Written Communication.
She has been recognized as the National Council of Teachers of English Outstanding Elementary Educator in English Language Arts (2021), Janet Emig Award (2016) and Promising New Researcher Award (2014); the American Educational Research Association’s Division K Early Career Award (2020); GSU Urban Education Award (2017); and has led a federal grant with the United States Department of Education to study culturally and historically responsive literacy in STEM classrooms.
URI established the Finkelstein Lecture Series in 1973 to honor the late Robert Finkelstein, a noted Rhode Island industrialist and staunch believer in state and federal support of elementary and secondary education, with the goal to provide a series of lectures by well-known persons recognized for their commitment to K-12 public school systems.
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