News

Anchin Center Hosts Webinar Celebrating Dr. Vanessa E. Vega's Book Launch

September 24, 2024
Tampa, Florida

On September 24, 2024, educators from across the country gathered online to celebrate the launch of Dr. Vanessa E. Vega’s thought-provoking new book, Latina Teachers in the Deep South. Hosted by the David C. Anchin Center for the Advancement of Teaching, this webinar provided an opportunity to explore the critical themes and innovative strategies outlined in Dr. Vega’s work.

In her presentation, Dr. Vega delved into the research underpinning her book, emphasizing the importance of humanizing teaching strategies in the face of restrictive education laws across the United States. She highlighted how these laws often seek to limit students' counternarratives and curtail teachers' autonomy. To counteract these challenges, Dr. Vega proposed centering testimonio as both pedagogy and a liberatory writing genre.

The webinar offered participants a wealth of practical resources to implement in their classrooms. Dr. Vega shared sample writing prompts, mentor text suggestions, and recommendations for facilitating the creation and sharing of student-generated testimonios. These tools are designed to empower secondary and higher education students to reflect on their lived experiences, articulate calls to action, and bear witness to the complexities of their identities.

Dr. Vega’s work is deeply rooted in her lived experiences and professional journey. As a Visiting Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida and a former National Board Certified Teacher, Dr. Vega blends creative and academic writing to advocate for humanizing epistemologies and center the voices of Latina educators. Her career includes teaching English Language Arts to middle and high school students in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

The Anchin Center is honored to have hosted this event, which underscored the vital role of culturally responsive and liberatory teaching practices. Events like these reflect the Center’s commitment to fostering innovative and inclusive professional learning opportunities for educators. Stay tuned for more programs designed to inspire and empower teachers.