Professor Virginia Diaz-Mendoza Receives Fulbright Award

Dr. Virginia Diaz-Mendoza, assistant professor in the Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK) Department, received a Fulbright Specialist Program Award to support completion of a project at Enseña Ecuador Foundation that aims to exchange knowledge and establish partnerships benefiting participants, institutions and communities in the U.S. and overseas through training activities designed to increase awareness about the importance of the mental health and wellbeing of educators. Recipients of Fulbright Specialist Awards are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, demonstrated leadership in their field and their potential to foster long-term cooperation between institutions in the U.S. and abroad. 

Diaz-Mendoza is a licensed mental health counselor and her research is focused on educational equity, leadership development, organizational effectiveness and the implementation of restorative practices. Aligned with these interests, she completed a two year evaluation of the implementation of restorative justice as an alternative to punitive discipline in New York City public schools. Findings support the use of evidence-based restorative justice practices for mediating conflict, healing harms and improving school climate and culture.

Working collaboratively with SEEK counselors, Diaz-Mendoza is responsible for implementing evidence-based trauma informed advisement services. She is actively involved in developing policies and practices that promote educational access, mental health wellness and academic success for historically marginalized student groups. More recently, Diaz-Mendoza has been involved in expanding the Education and Justice curricular offerings in the SEEK Department and providing professional development opportunities focused on liberatory pedagogical practices for SEEK educators. A proud CUNY alum, Diaz-Mendoza earned a PhD from the Graduate Center, an MPA from John Jay College, an MA from City College and a BA from Lehman College.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government designed to build lasting connections between the United States and other countries. Since its establishment in 1946, the Fulbright Program has given more than 400,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists and scientists the opportunity to study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. Fulbright alumni have achieved distinction in many fields, including 60 who have been awarded the Nobel Prize, 88 who have received Pulitzer Prizes and 39 who have served as a head of state or government. Please click here for more information about the Fulbright Program.