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- Detailed Information
Namulundah Florence
Professor
Secondary Education
Location: 3302f James Hall
Phone: 718.951.5000 x3772
Fax: 718.951.4816
Email:
Namulundah Florence's love of teaching is inseparable from her personal, academic and cultural pursuits within and beyond the academy. She teaches because she loves learning and strives for a better self and society. She holds students to high standards and works with them to meet and/or exceed stipulated expectations. Working with diverse students exposes her to multiple perspectives and challenges at undergraduate and graduate levels of teacher preparation, including: Social Foundations of Education at the Undergraduate and Graduate Level; Diversity and the Inclusive Classroom; Integrative and Multidisciplinary Teaching and Learning; and Seminar in Education Research Methods. These courses foster a commitment to ongoing reflection in both Florence and the teacher candidates. Her research focuses on how ongoing conceptions of self and society drive the education agenda--what is taught, how students learn and who succeeds. Democracy requires greater participation and engagement.
Education:
Ph.D., Fordham University - 1998 (Education, General)
Areas of Expertise:
Good teaching is always in search of better teaching. The courses Florence teaches (social foundations, research methods, inclusive learning environments, integrative & multidisciplinary teaching/learning) reiterate the importance of embracing reform, change and progress rather than mediocrity and stability. Students learn to base decisions on demonstrable data, question, document, analyze, evaluate and take action. The approach reflects my embrace of excellence on a personal and communal basis.
Books and Publications
Florence, N (2023). "To Have or Not to Have: An African Perspective on Childlessness," in Negotiating Identities in Contemporary Africa: Gender, Religion, and Ethno-Cultural Identities (pp.41-62), edited by Toyin Falola and Emmanuel M. Mbah. New York: Lexington Books. (Books and Publications: Book Chapter) 2023
Florence, N (2023). Chapter 1, "Sowing in the Wind: Girls' Education in Kenya's Bungoma County," in Negotiating Identities in Contemporary Africa: Gender, Religion, and Ethno-cultural Identities (pp.1-26), edited by Toyin Falola and Emmanuel M. Mbah. New York: Lexington Books. (Books and Publications: Book Chapter) 2023
Florence, N. (Spring/Summer 2022) "a bell tolls for bell hooks (1952-2021). Women's Studies Quarterly edited by Phillips, M.A., Harrison, R.L., and Jackson, N. Volume 50 (1&2), 359-365. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2022
Adapting to Cultural Pluralism in Urban Schools. New York: Routledge. (Books and Publications: Book (Authored)) 2021
Sowing in the Wind: Girls' Education in Kenya's Bungoma County. JENdA: A Journal of Culture and African Women Studies. ISSN: 1530-5686. Issue: 39(2021): 39-82 (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2021
Womanhood and Girlhood in Twenty-First Century Middle Class Kenya: Disrupting Patri-centered Frameworks Besi Brillian Muhonja. Lanham, Md.: Lexington Books, 2018 (ISBN 978-1-4958-3433-8; ISBN 978-1-4985-3434-5)
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 April 2021
Hypatia , Volume 36 , Issue 4 , Fall 2021 , E5
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/hyp.2021.2 (Books and Publications: Book Review) 2021
"Wangari Maathai the Educator: Straddling Tradition and Modernity." The Journal of Global Research and Education. https://jger.anahei.org/volume-list/volume-1/volume-1-issue-1/. JGER, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 48-68. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2017
"bell hooks," in Fifty-One Key Feminist Thinkers (103-108), edited by Marso, Lori. Routledge, Taylor & Francis. (Books and Publications: Book Chapter) 2016
"Shifting Goalposts: An Immigrant Teacher's Experience," in Unraveling Gender, Race and Diaspora (293-323) edited by Nnaemeka, Obioma G. and Springer, Thorington, J. Africa World Press. (Books and Publications: Book Chapter) 2016
Florence, N. "Female Role Models in Bukusu Folktales: Education at the Mother's Hearth" Cogent Education, Volume 3, Issue 1; 2016.
Published: 19 May 2016https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2016.1185238 (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2016
Florence, N. (2016). Guinea Bissau in Africa: An Encyclopedia of Culture and Society Co-edited by Toyin Falola and Daniel Jean-Jacques. Vol. II: 580-606. Denver, CO: ABC-CLIO. (Books and Publications: Book Chapter) 2016
Wangari Maathai: Visionary, Environmental Leader, Political Activist. New York: Lantern Books. (Books and Publications: Forthcoming Publications) 2014
"Bukusu (Kenya) Folktales: How Women Perpetuate Patriarchy." (Books and Publications: Article (Other)) 2013
"A Matter of Habit: Unraveling the Teaching/Learning Knot." Transnational Africa and Globalization. Eds. Mojúbàolú Olúfúnké Okome and Olufemi Vaughan. New York: Palgrave Publishers. 213-44. (Books and Publications: Book Chapter) 2012
"Bell Hooks." The Encyclopedia of Literary and Cultural Theory, Volume III. Ed. Michael Ryan. London: Wiley-Blackwell Publishers. 118-20. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2011
Immigrant Teachers, American Students: Cultural Differences, Cultural Disconnections. Palgrave Publishers. (Books and Publications: Book (Authored)) 2011
The Bukusu of Kenya: Folktales, Culture and Social Identities. Durham, N.C.: The Carolina Academic Press. (Books and Publications: Book (Authored)) 2011
"Reflections on Bell Hooks' Social Theory and Pedagogy: Practices of Freedom." The American Philosophical Association Newsletter on Philosophy and the Black Experience, 8.2, Spring: 11-20. Posted on the American Philosophical Association's (APA) website at: http://www.apaonline.org/publications/newsletters/index.aspx. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2009
"Students' Voices: Multiculturalism at the Crosssroads." The Chalkboard (newsletter of the School of Education, Brooklyn College) 8.2: Spring/Summer. (Books and Publications: Article (Other)) 2009
Multiculturalism 101: The Practical Guide Series. McGraw-Hill. (Books and Publications: Book (Authored)) 2009
"Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Fieldwork in Japanese Schools." The Chalkboard (newsletter of the School of Education, Brooklyn College) 7.1, Fall/Winter: 5-7. (Books and Publications: Article (Other)) 2007
"Olaudah Equiano (1745-1797)." Encyclopedia of the Middle Passage. Eds. Toyin Falola and Amanda Warnock. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Publishing. 159-61. (Books and Publications: Book Chapter) 2007
"Race and Special Education." The Praeger Handbook of Special Education. Ed. Alberto M. Bursztyn. Westport, Conn.: Praeger Publishing. 30-33. (Books and Publications: Book Chapter) 2007
"Dialogue to Truth in Bell Hooks and Jane Roland Martin." The International Handbook of the Religious, Moral and Spiritual Dimension in Education. (Books and Publications: Article (Peer-reviewed)) 2006
From Our Mothers' Hearths: Bukusu Folktales and Proverbs. New Jersey: Africa World Press. (Books and Publications: Book (Authored)) 2005
Bell Hooks' Engaged Pedagogy: A Transgressive Education for Critical Consciousness. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Publication Group. (Books and Publications: Book (Authored)) 1998
"Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom by Bell Hooks" book review. Journal of Religion & Education 24.1: 7-9. (Books and Publications: Article (Other)) 1997
Creative Work
From our Mothers' Hearths: Bukusu Folktales and Proverbs was reprinted in Kenya. The book's sequel, The Bukusu of Kenya: Folktales, Culture and Social Identities (2011), highlights the descriptive and prescriptive role played by folktales in oral cultures. The book was launched at the Bukusu Oral Literature Public Discussion at the YMCA, Nairobi, Kenya on Feb. 11. A number of professors at the Nairobi University in the Oral Literature, Ethnography as well as the anthropology departments, plan to adopt my books on Bukusu oral culture. 2012
In April, the Francis Luchiwa a Breakfast Presenter of the Kenyan Radio Citizen (Swahili Radio) and Sulwe Fm (Bukusu Radio) requested permission to use my works on the Bukusu of Kenya. The anchors plan to select proverbs and folktales for onward transmission in their programming while giving credit to me as the author. The invitation from Kenyan local radio talk shows to a public engagement of my books on Bukusu folktales and proverbs demonstrates the significance of these indigenous practices in cementing identity and providing a sense of belonging at a time when the community feels overwhelmed by imperialist media propaganda. The two books under discussion are From our Mothers' Hearths: Bukusu Folktales and Proverbs, which was reprinted in Kenya in February, and the book's sequel, The Bukusu of Kenya: Folktales, Culture and Social Identities (2011), which highlights the descriptive and prescriptive role played by folktales in oral cultures. 2012
'bell hooks: Construction of Social Identities." Brooklyn College ERIS (Empowering, Recruiting, Investing, Supporting) Center designed to support students of color through mentoring, academic enrichment and professional development. ERIS Center, Brooklyn College. March 10. 2011
"Disembodied Minds: Confusing Parts With the Whole," Beyond Academics -- 2011 CUNY Education Conference. May 6. 2010
"Bukusu Folktales and Proverbs: Sustained by Culture." Presented as guest of honor at the Abeingo Association (Kenya) Canada's Annual Fundraising Dinner. Dec. 5. 2009
"Cultural Pride." Presented to Akan- and Vietnamese/Chinese-speaking students. International Languages Program, Brookview Middle School, Toronto District Board. June 6. 2009
"Cultural Pride." Presented to Greek- and Spanish-speaking students. International Languages Program, Charles H. Best Middle School, Toronto District Board. June 6. 2009
"Cultural Pride." Presented to Kiswahili-speaking students. International Languages Program, Brookview Middle School, Toronto District Board. Dec. 5. 2009
"Shifting Goalposts: The Immigrant Teacher Experience." Faculty Day. Brooklyn College. May 28. 2008
Brooklyn College Freshman Common Reading on Interpreter of Maladies, by Jhumpa Lahiri. Aug. 20. 2008
"Poetry for Justice." Bushwick School of Social Justice. Brooklyn, N.Y., Nov. 30. 2004
"Goal Setting." The (Street) Children's Homes. Cebu, the Philippines, Jan. 14. 2003
"Peer Leadership." Nyack College. Nyack, N.Y., Dec. 9. 2003
"Individual Choices in Schooling." Monroe Community College. New Rochelle, N.Y., Feb. 6. 2002
"Peer Leadership." Nyack College. Nyack, N.Y., Feb. 10. 2002
"Youth Vision." St. Paul's University Church. May 26. 2002
Know How International training package, Rockefeller Foundation, May 25. 2002
"Blue Nile Rites of Passage for African Americans." Career Day. Thurgood Marshall Academy. March 10. 2001
"Blue Nile Rites of Passage for African Americans." Career Day. Thurgood Marshall Academy. March 25. 2000
Awards, Honors and Fellowships
ACUE Microcredential in Promoting Active Learning Online by the Association of College and University Educators.
This microcredential signifies my completion of an ACUE course requiring the implementation of evidence-based instructional approaches. The credential is co-issued by the American Council on Education and distinguishes faculty for their commitment to educational excellence and student success.
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(Awards and Honors) 2021
PSC-CUNY Award #67575-00 45, for "Girls In Schools: Education in Kenya's Bungoma District." $6,000; 2014-16. (Awards and Honors) 2014
PSC-CUNY Award #65497-00-43, for "Wangari Maathai (1940-2011): Visionary, Environmental Leader, Political Activist and Educator." $6,000; 2012-13. (Awards and Honors) 2013
Steward Travel Award, for research travel. (Grants and Fellowships) 2010
Steward Travel Award, for research travel. $250.
(Awards and Honors) 2010
Distinguished Author Series for the 19th International National Association for Multicultural Educators, Denver, for my Multiculturalism 101. (Awards and Honors) 2009
Guest of honor, Abeingo (Kenya-Canadian) Association. (Awards and Honors) 2009
PSC CUNY Award #62346-00, for research on "The Bukusu of Kenya: Folktales, Culture and Social Identities." Carolina Academic Press (2011). $3,000. (Grants and Fellowships) 2009
PSC-CUNY Award #62346-00, for "Women's Complicity in the Patriarchal Bias in Bukusu Folktales." $3,000. (Awards and Honors) 2009
Faculty Fellowship Publishing Program. (Grants and Fellowships) 2008
Faculty Fellowship Publishing Program. (Awards and Honors) 2008
Brooklyn Certificate for Voter Registration Drive. (Awards and Honors) 2006
Won a two-week tour of Japanese educational institutions, from The Japan Society, New York. (Awards and Honors) 2006
American Education Research Association (AERA) Critics Award, for bell hooks' Engaged Pedagogy: A Transgressive Education for Critical Consciousness. Bergin and Garvey, 1998.
(Awards and Honors) 1999
American Education Research Association Critics Award, for Bell Hooks' Engaged Pedagogy: A Transgressive Education for Critical Consciousness, Conn.: Bergin and Garvey (1998). (Awards and Honors) 1999
Choice Outstanding Academic Title Award, for bell hooks' Engaged Pedagogy: A Transgressive Education for Critical Consciousness. Bergin and Garvey, 1998.
(Awards and Honors) 1999
Choice Outstanding Academic Title Award, for Bell Hooks' Engaged Pedagogy: A Transgressive Education for Critical Consciousness, Conn.: Bergin and Garvey (1998).
(Awards and Honors) 1999
Elected to membership, Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. (Awards and Honors) 1992
Research Activities
Reviewer, Education in a Democracy: A Journal of the National Network for Educational Renewal 4, 2012-13. 2013
Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums
Parents' Association: "Challenges to parents of rural private school students." Chwele Academy, Bungoma County. Kenya (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2023
Teacher Professional Development: "Mobilizing rural teachers in Bungoma County." Chwele Academy. Bungoma County. Kenya (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2023
Invited Talk at the National Network of Educational Renewal (NNER) on, Adapting to Cultural Pluralism in Urban Schools. New York: Routledge. Online presentation on June 3, 2021. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2021
Invited Talk at the Urban Education Center - CUNY, The Graduate Center on, Adapting to Cultural Pluralism in Urban Schools. New York: Routledge. Online presentation on June 17, 2021. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2021
Cultural Transitions in Teaching. Department of Education, Murdoch University. November 10th, 2017. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2017
"Wangari Maathai: Visionary, Environmental Leader, Political Activist (1940-2011)," for the Robert L. Hess Scholar-in. Residence Program 2015-2016 (Rob Nixon); March 14-18, 2016.
(Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2016
"Story Telling as a Creative Approach to Comprehending the Genre of Stories." United Federation of Teachers-sponsored seminar run on the Brooklyn College campus for teachers of gifted and talented classes. March 25. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2014
"Story Telling as a Creative Approach to Comprehending the Genre of Stories." United Federation of Teachers-sponsored seminar run on the Brooklyn College campus for teachers of gifted and talented classes. March 12. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2013
"The Power of Narrative: Lessons We Ignore." Kappa-Delta Pi Eta Theta Chapter, the Brooklyn Reading Council's Young Authors Contest. Brooklyn, N.Y., Jan. 21. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2013
"The Power of Narrative: Lessons We Ignore." Kappa-Delta Pi Eta Theta Chapter at Brooklyn College. Brooklyn, N.Y., Nov. 15. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2012
"Wangari Maathai the Educator." Wangari Maathai (1940-2011): Visionary, Environmental Leader, Political Activist and Educator Symposium. 55th Conference of the African Studies Association. Philadelphia, Nov. 29 - Dec. 2. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2012
Chairwoman, "Singular Teleology and the Problem of Identity." Culture as a Site for Contest: Destroyed Past, Truncated Present, Dubious Future Colloquium. Brooklyn College, March 2-3. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Contributed Talk) 2012
Organized, fund raised and presented a paper, "Wangari Maathai the Educator," at the Wangari Maathai (1940-2011): Visionary, Environmental Leader, Political Activist and Educator Symposium. Brooklyn College, March 28. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2012
Organized, fund raised and presented a paper, "Wangari Maathai the Educator," at the Wangari Maathai (1940-2011): Visionary, Environmental Leader, Political Activist and Educator Symposium. The 55th Conference of the African Studies Association. Philadelphia, Nov. 29 - Dec. 2. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2012
"Bell Hooks: Construction of Social Identities." Brooklyn College ERIS (Empowering, Recruiting, Investing, Supporting) Center, designed to support students of color through mentoring, academic enrichment and professional development. March 10. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2011
"Searching for Role Models: Women in Bukusu (Kenya) Folktales." Brooklyn College Faculty Day. May 25. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2011
"Shifting Goalposts: An Immigrant Teacher Experience." AERA Conference. New Orleans, April 11. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2011
"Globalizing Teaching and Learning: Perspectives of African-born Teacher Educators and Students in Urban Settings" panel presentation. American Teacher Educator's 90th Annual Meetings. Chicago, Feb. 15. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2010
"A Matter of Habit: Unraveling the Teaching/Learning knot." 33rd National Council for Black Studies. Atlanta, March 20. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2009
"Shifting Goalposts: The Immigrant Teacher Experience." It Takes a University: Bridging Practice and Research in Urban Education. CUNY Graduate Center. New York, April 24. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2009
"Gender in Bukusu Folktales." Educating Women: A Conference on the Status of Research on the Education of Girls and Women. Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, the University of Illinois, Chicago. May 22. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2008
"A Window in Time: An Immigrant Teacher Experience." The 28th Ethnography in Education Research Forum. University of Pennsylvania. Feb. 24. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2007
"Globalization and Youth." Presented for seniors, Ville St. John Academy. Manila, the Philippines, Jan. 9. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2003
"The Teaching/Learning Process." Immaculate Conception School. Virac, the Philippines, Jan. 3-4. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2003
"The Teaching/Learning Process." St. Columban's School. Zambales, the Philippines, Jan. 10-11. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2003
"Management Development." Cooperative Insurance. Kenya, May 16-17. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2002
"Presentation Skills." Presented for senior management, Cooperative Bank of Kenya. June 10-11. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2002
"Presentation Skills." Presented for senior management, Cooperative Bank of Kenya. June 6-7. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2002
"Supervisory Management." Nairobi Hospital. Nairobi, Kenya, June 12-14. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Conference Presentation) 2002
Professional Leadership
Liaison, UFS / Faculty Council, spring. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2012
Founding chair, Secondary Education Department. (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2011
Liaison, Council of Policy Council, 2011-present. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2011
Member, Core Curriculum Committee, 2011-12. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2011
Elected, Faculty Council Ad Hoc Committee on Aligning Faculty Workload With College Goals, 2010-11. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2010
Elected, University Faculty Senate, CUNY, 2010-15. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2010
Advisory board member, Unitas Therapeutic Community, Inc. (Professional Leadership: Public Service) 2009
Divisional delegate, 2009-11. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2009
Re-elected chair, Brooklyn College Graduate Curriculum Committee, 2009-11. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2009
Status of the Faculty Committee, CUNY, 2009-13. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2009
Chair, Sub-Group (professional development and support) Working Group 5 for Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 2007-09. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2007
Co-chair, Brooklyn College Committee Scholarship for Graduate Students, 2007-10. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2007
Elected faculty member, Review of Programs Committee of Faculty Council, 2007-08. (Professional Leadership: Committee Service) 2007
Secretary to the board, Unitas Therapeutic Community, Inc., 2007-09. (Professional Leadership: Public Service) 2007
Pedagogical Achievements
In this unprecedented year of the COVID-19, my students in these two courses:
a) SEED 7500X: Perspective on Education: Teaching Children and Adolescents in Cultural Context
b) WGST 4410W Senior Research Seminar
Our class took advantage of the online learning to create memorable mapping projects primarily created in Storymaps ARCGIS. Below is the link to the galleries of this wonderful student projects.
https://libguides.brooklyn.cuny.edu/nflorencegallery
2021
Other Professional Activities
Editorial Advisory Board (EAB) of the Journal of Global Education and Research (JGER) 2017
Guest lecturer in Dr. John Elias' M.A. and doctoral seminars, Fordham University: Adult Education Program, M.A.; Social Theory, doctoral seminar; Philosophy of Education, doctoral seminar; History of Education, M.A. and doctoral seminar; and Religion, Culture and Society, M.A. 1996-98. 1996
Guest lecturer in Dr. Robert Starratt's doctoral seminar, Fordham University, Tarrytown, N.Y., spring. 1996