News and Events at TCALL

Educational Doctoral Student Hopes To Help Adults With Learning Differences

Friday, November 17, 2006

Stacy Perry, an adult education doctoral candidate at Texas A&M and senior principal of human resources at Jefferson Wells International in Dallas, was honored as a Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy and Learning (TCALL) research fellow.

“Not only is it an honor on a personal level, but I am really excited to be able to work with the TCALL staff and learn more about the literacy issues in Texas and nationally,” Perry said. “The fellowship will allow for me to create resources that will be helpful to other educators and researchers working with literacy.”

Dominique Chlup, director of TCALL, said that committee members were very impressed with Perry ’s research interest in learning differences (LD) and the adult learner population. Her research will focus on the study of adult educators in Texas who work with corrections education. She will conduct a survey to determine what resources are needed for their adult LD learners. Once the survey is complete, information will become available on the TCALL Web site offering links to important information and other helpful resources.

Perry said that part of her passion for this project is because of her own LD. Since the third grade, her parents had always been told that she was slow or wasn’t trying hard enough in school. In high school, Perry did not take any college-bound classes. Even in college, she was told that she didn’t belong.

“I am personally aware that not everyone learns the same or is given the same set of educational opportunities,” Perry said. “I am looking forward to helping people who have really struggled in school and helping these students find their true potential and joy in learning.”

In its second year, the TCALL Research Fellows provides monetary support and guidance to doctoral students with an interest in adult learning and literacy. A major benefit of the program is that students don’t have to reside on the College Station campus to take advantage of the research and networking opportunities.

Published in Texas A&M University News & Information, Friday November 17, 2006
Writer: Jenna Kujawski, 979.845.7917, jkujawski@tamu.edu
Contact: Stacy Perry, Aggie.Stacy@gmail.com