Two Doctoral Students Selected as TCALL Fellows

August 12, 2008, Texas A&M News & Information

Human resource development doctoral student Diana Mena and adult education doctoral student Donna Mancuso were selected as Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy and Learning (TCALL) research fellows for the 2008-2009 academic year. Each will receive $25,000 in fellowship funding as one of the research initiatives of The Texas Adult Literacy Clearinghouse Project.

Mena, who holds a master’s in health human resources and a bachelor’s in sociology, has experience in community health awareness and education. Her research interest includes identifying and closing the literacy gap affecting displaced workers of Mexican-American descent. 

Mancuso has served as a TCALL graduate assistant since 2005 and is focusing her fellowship research on identifying avenues to expand the use of virtual learning opportunities for students in literacy and workforce education programs. She earned her master’s in human resource development and adult education and her bachelor’s in accounting.

Since 2005, the TCALL Research Fellowship has provided monetary support and guidance to doctoral students with an interest in adult literacy and learning. The TCALL Fellowship consists of a one-year award, which may be used to offset the cost of travel expenses to conferences, dissertation research, and tuition, fees, and maintenance while a student is enrolled at Texas A&M University. During their fellowship year, students have the opportunity to present their work at state, regional and national adult literacy conferences and to publish their research in peer-reviewed journals and other venues.