Teresa J. Kennedy is a Professor of Bilingual/ELL/STEM Education at the University of Texas at Tyler, and also directs the International Division of

NASA’s GLOBE Program at UT-Tyler for the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) in Boulder, Colorado (2009-present).  As Director of the International Division of GLOBE, Dr. Kennedy is a member of the GLOBE management team and is responsible for ensuring that the development and ongoing support of GLOBE's 111 partner countries are fully integrated with GLOBE education and science activities; also serving as the U.S. Country Coordinator for GLOBE leading activities for over 130 U.S. GLOBE Partners. In addition, she is the Director of the International GLOBE Help Desk and the GLOBE North America Regional Office located at the University of Texas at Tyler. Prior to this position, she was the Deputy Director of GLOBE (2006-2009), the Director of International / U.S. Partnerships and Outreach for the GLOBE Program (2003-2006), and the Deputy Chief Educator and Assistant Director of U.S. Partnerships (2002-2003) at the former GLOBE headquarters office in Washington D.C.  She also served as the Co-Director of the University of Idaho GLOBE Partnership and continues serving as a national as well as international trainer for the GLOBE Program Office (1996-present).

Dr. Kennedy has a Ph.D. in Education, with a concentration on bilingual science education, content-based foreign language, ESL/ELL education, and also has a M.A. degree in the Spanish language. She holds an active K-12 teaching certificate in Idaho, certified to teach all subjects at the elementary level, as well as holds secondary teaching certification in Science (Earth Science and Natural Science), Social Studies, Spanish, English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education.  Her K-12 teaching experience includes 8 years at the secondary level, 7 years at the elementary/middle school level, and over 15 years teaching in higher education. She has visited 65 countries around the world (see list below) through her work and educational experiences, and has published over 30 journal articles and 6 book chapters.

While an Associate Professor at the University of Idaho (1996-2003), she created and led the bilingual / foreign language teacher education program in the College of Education and directed a content-based FLES Program focusing on Earth and space science, math and social studies for the Moscow School District (Idaho) for 5 years and continues to teach online courses.  While at the UI, she also worked for several NASA Education Programs from 1996-2003, serving as the NASA Broker Facilitator for the State of Idaho (2001-2003), as the Director of the NASA Idaho Regional Educator Resource Center (1997-2003), and as a member of the NASA Idaho Space Grant Consortium (1996-2003). 

Dr. Kennedy received the Outstanding Dissertation Award from Phi Delta Kappa International in the District 1 Doctoral Dissertation Competition (Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Saskatchewan, & Washington) in 1998 for her doctoral research entitled “FLES: The cognitive and attitudinal effects of content-related foreign language instruction in the elementary school."

Dr. Kennedy was added to the Honor Roll of Inspirational Teachers at the University of Idaho in 2003, and received the Alumni Award for Excellence as an Influential Faculty Member at the University of Idaho in 1999.  She was the recipient of the 2002 ACTFL/FDP-Houghton Mifflin Award for Excellence in Foreign Language Instruction Using Technology with IALLT (International Association for Language Learning Technology) at the University Level.  She was also the recipient of the 2002 Pacific Northwest Post-Secondary Teacher of the Year Award from the Pacific Northwest Council on Foreign Languages (PNCFL).  Early in her teaching career, she received the Outstanding Middle School ESL-Bilingual/Foreign Language Teaching Award (Beaverton School District, Oregon, 1988).  

Dr. Kennedy’s research interests include online teaching and learning, content-based second language teaching and learning focusing on science and social studies, as well as brain research in relation to second language acquisition and bilingualism. Her Web site, Language Study and the Brain can be accessed at the following URL: <http://www.flbrain.org>.  She has published research articles in journals such as Foreign Language Annuals; TESOL; Hispania; Brain and Language; The International Reading Association; The Reading Teacher; The Journal of Interactive Online Learning; Teaching Children Mathematics; Children, Youth and Environment; NWATE Journal of Education Practices; ERIC; many NASA publications; and journals for several international organizations.

Dr. Kennedy is presently serving on the following National / International Committees:

Past accomplishments include:

• World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Public Weather Services Expert Group on Education (2006-2007), producing the WMO publication Public Weather Services Strategy for Developing Public Education and Outreach (WMO/TD No. 1354).

• Subcommittee on International Education and Foreign Language Studies, a subcommittee of the Research and Policy Committee of the Committee for Economic Development (CED) (2004-2006), producing the report Education for Global Leadership: The Importance of International Studies and Foreign Language Education for U.S. Economic and National Security.  For more information see <http://www.ced.org/issues/education/elementary-and-secondary-education>.

• Editor of Learning Languages, the professional journal of the National Network for Early Language Learning (NNELL), completed seven issues of the journal (2002-2005).  Also served on the NNELL National Advocacy and Political Action Committee (2001-2005) and as the Pacific Northwest NNELL Representative (2001-2004) and the NNELL Representative for the State of Idaho (1996-2003).

• President, Pacific Northwest Council for Languages (PNCFL) (2003-2004).

• American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese Service Learning Consultant Corps (AATSP), created  the first AATSP Service Learning Web site and served as Web master (2002-2004).

• NASA Office of Earth Sciences Award of Appreciation (2003).

• Conducted programmatic evaluations for the U.S. State Department of Education, the Idaho State Department of Education as well as the Idaho State Board of Education, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the University of Idaho College of Education, and NASA while serving as the Director for the Center for Evaluation, Research and Public Service (CERPS) in the College of Education at the University of Idaho (1997-2003).

• Board of the National Association of District Supervisors of Foreign Language (NADSFL), created the first NADSFL Web site, serving as their Web master and Newsletter Editor (2000-2003). 

• Diversity and Human Rights Advisory Board, University of Idaho (2001-2003).

• NOAA Teacher at Sea Scholar on board the Ocean Seeker Ka'imimoana, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (May, 2001). Conducted research on phytoplankton blooms along the California coast and the effectiveness of a new echosounder, recording digital tracking data of the ocean floor across the Pacific (from San Diego, California, to Honolulu, Hawaii) with scientists from NASA, NOAA and Knudsen Engineering (Canada).

• Highlighted Presentation: “Internet en las escuelas de Estados Unidos y una perspectiva del programa GLOBE.” Congreso de EducaRed Foro de la Escuela Virtual, Ministerio de la Educación, Madrid, España (2001) <http://www.educared.net/congresoi/htm/congreso-i/portada.htm>.

• President, International Phi Delta Kappa Chapter for the University of Idaho (PDK) (1999-2000; 2001-2002).

• University Advisor, Association of Latin-Americans and Iberians (ALI) (2001-2003).

• President, Idaho Association of Teachers of Language and Culture (IATLC) (2000-2001).  Served on the Idaho Department of Education Committees creating the Idaho State Foreign Language Standards and the English as a New Language (ENL)/Bilingual Standards documents (2000-2002).  Also created the first IATLC Web site and served as their Web master (2000-2003).

• Foreign Language Standards Review Committee, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) (2000).

• Chair, Idaho's Most State Standards for English as a New Language (ENL) / Bilingual Education Standards and Committee Member for Idaho's Most State Foreign Language Standards (2000).

• NASA Space Grant Fellow, Idaho Space Grant Consortium (1997-1998).

• Project NOVA Scholarship Recipient (NASA's Opportunities for Visionary Academics) (1997-1998).

• National NOVA Fellow (NASA's Opportunities for Visionary Academics) (1996-1997).

• Fulbright-Hays Grant Scholarship Recipient, attended the Universidad Technológica Equinoccial, Quito, Ecuador (1993).

• Universidad de Valencia, Spain (1982-1983).

Dr. Kennedy is a current member of AATSP, ACTFL, CCFLT, COTESOL, NADSFL, NNELL, NSTA, PDK, and PNCFL.  She has presented scholarly papers and/or conducted educational workshops and meetings in the following locations around the world.

--Presented educational programs in 43 U.S. states, 1 U.S. territory and the District of Columbia

Contact Information

Teresa J. Kennedy, Ph.D.