Hi everyone!
It’s
time to meet our next liaison in our campus liaison spotlight series. Meet Musheera
Anis from the University of South Dakota!
Name:
Musheera Anis
Hometown:
Mansoura, Egypt
Current
University: University of South Dakota
Program:
PhD in Human Development and Educational Psychology
Advisor:
Professor Harry Freeman
Q. How did you decide to go to
graduate school?
A.
I have been working as a child
psychiatrist in Egypt for over 9 years when I realized that I want more out of
my career. In addition to my duties as a clinician, I also enjoyed teaching and
tutoring younger Psychiatrists and Psychologists. I felt the need to gain more experience in
teaching as well as improve my research skills. I was also aware of the need of
serious educational reform within the Egyptian school systems because of my
work with families and children. I wanted to gain knowledge that will help me
be part of that change. Looking into the different programs I chose the PhD
program in Human Development and Educational Psychology because it would
provide me with a strong research background and also help develop my teaching
skills. I also liked that the program was flexible enough that I can focus on
my individual interests and research.
Q. What did you do before going
to graduate school?
A.
I worked as a child psychiatrist
in Egypt. I was in charge of the only center for children with disabilities in
an area of a population of over 6 million people. I treated kids with ADHD and
Autism as well as provided support to their families. In addition, I was an
advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. I was also involved in
several projects that aimed at improving parenting skills within families and
introducing the latest research on parenting to the general public.
Q. What do you like best about your
program/school?
A.
The department is characterized
by a relatively small niche where faculty and students can form close academic
and personal relationships. It was my experience that professors are genuinely
invested in my growth as a teacher and as a scholar. My close working
relationship with my advisor and my collaboration with other professors is of
exceptional quality. Joining the program and coming to the US as an
international student with two kids, posed certain unique challenges on both
the academic and personal levels. For example, I had to live on my own for the
first time in my life. Back home, like most Egyptians I lived with my family
until I got married and then after marriage I relied on my husband in so many
things, little things that I did not really think about at the time, like
transportation or grocery shopping. I also had a nice lady who helped me 3
times a week doing all the house chores and a driver who took to work. I had to
learn how drive, how to take care of a house and 2 kids on my own, How to balance
a checkbook, and so much more. I was helped by the amazing faculty and graduate
students in the department of Educational Psychology. They helped me maneuver a
very different educational system as well as giving me the much needed moral
support. I was also encouraged to share my experiences and skills within the
university as well as the community. I believe that my experience here will
impact my life beyond the years of graduate school and that this quality
training will lead me to take steps forward to academic and professional
success.
Q. What are your current research
interests?
A.
Attachment Theory, PDD, Trisomy 21, and educational reform.
Q. What career do you want upon
graduation (Faculty or other)?
A.
I would like to continue in academia as a university professor. In addition, I
will continue to be involved in promoting and improving the lives of people
with special needs and their families.
Q. If you could change anything
about education, what would it be?
A.
I would put less emphasis on standardized testing and more energy and focus on
projects that impact lives and relate to the students environments.
Q. What is your favorite research
article and why?
A.
I do not have a particular article that I like but I enjoy reading about
Attachment Theory and I find it very fascinating. Reading some of the original
work by Bowlby and Ainsworth is always interesting.
Q. What was your proudest moment
or greatest accomplishment?
A.
Several of the educational psychologists that I trained in Egypt have opened up
more good rehabilitation and special needs centers. Knowing that I inspired
these people to continue within this field and that I contributed many children
and their families receiving the care that they very much need, keeps me
inspired in everything that I do.
Thank you for participating Musheera :-)
No comments:
Post a Comment