SIT graduate takes her ideas into classrooms around the world

October 9th, 2024   |   Alumni, Careers, SIT Graduate Institute

By Abby Henson

Adeline De Angelis is now Dr. De Angelis to many. This past August, she was awarded her EdD in global education at SIT’s graduate commencement in Vermont. She and seven fellow students made up SIT’s first cohort of doctoral students.

We caught up with Adeline before the ceremony to ask her about SIT, the global education program, and her plans for the future. Here’s what she had to say.  

What drew you to SIT’s EdD in Global Education program?

I was familiar with the SIT Graduate Institute's work through my previous work in teacher professional development as a teacher trainer with the SIT Certificate in TESOL program. I was particularly attracted to SIT’s unique emphasis on experiential learning and reflective practice.

I was also drawn to the EdD’s structure, which is hybrid with residencies in Vermont. It allowed me to continue working in the position that I had in Ecuador at the time.

I ultimately chose the EdD in global education program at SIT because it bridged my work as a practitioner in teacher professional development in Ecuador with my interest in scholarly work in comparative international education.

Can you share an experience that was most impactful during the program?

One of the moments that stands out to me was when I published a paper I originally wrote for my coursework about an issue that was pressing on my mind in my work in English language teaching. I was excited about publishing it because it was the first paper I had ever published. With my professor’s guidance, I wrote both an internationally-focused version for a global journal and a locally-focused version in Spanish, which was published in a local education journal.

"I ultimately chose the EdD in global education program at SIT because it bridged my work as a practitioner in teacher professional development in Ecuador with my interest in scholarly work in comparative international education."

I had the opportunity to share my ideas with the world, and they started getting read. I have since heard that my paper has been assigned in several teacher education programs at universities in Ecuador. It made me realize how theoretical work can impact the real world.

What did you think of the residency in Vermont as part of the program?

The residency gave my cohort a chance to connect with each other and our professors in a way that formed a foundation to continue working with them throughout the rest of the year.

What are your future career plans?

This August, I started a new position at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, as a teaching faculty member in the secondary education master’s and teacher certification program.

My studies in SIT’s global education doctoral program gave me credentials and, most importantly, the vision to identify my future direction. I wanted to take my experience in teacher education in Ecuador to prepare teachers to work with multilingual learners in the United States. SIT’s EdD program allowed me to reach that goal. I'm very excited to be in my new role.

Who would you recommend this program to?

This program is a really good fit for professionals working in the education field around the world who want to combine the practical and the scholarly and make a bridge between those worlds.

SIT is a great place to study if you are engaged in education in global contexts or want to study the global perspective of education in whatever field you are in.

SIT is also a great fit for someone who is committed to making a difference in the world through their work.

Anything else you want to add?

The EdD program is incredibly well-designed. It breaks down the components of doing a dissertation into manageable pieces. The course work is incredibly coherent in a way that builds well into your large doctoral research project. And the SIT faculty were incredibly supportive of me throughout this program, helping me pursue both my academic and professional goals.