Center for African Studies Names Loogman Grant Winners
Two teams of Duquesne faculty members have been named recipients of the Center for African Studies’ 2016-2017 Rev. Alphons Loogman, C.S.Sp., Faculty Research Grants.
The competition winners include Dr. Rachel Ayieko and Dr. Gibbs Kanyongo from the School of Education and School of Law professors Tsegaye Beru and Dr. Kirk Junker.
Now in its third year, the Loogman grants support scholarly research that reflects the University’s strategic commitment to a closer relationship with the nations and peoples of Africa.
Ayieko, assistant professor in mathematics education, and Kanyongo, associate professor of educational statistics, won for their proposal The Influence of Teacher Quality on Sixth Grade Students’ Mathematics Competency.
This study, which will highlight the differences between teacher quality and students’ mathematics competency levels in Sub-Saharan Africa, aims to provide information for future policy and practice.
Ayieko and Kanyongo hope to support select teachers from a region with high needs to improve foundational mathematics learning—something they feel is essential for future success in critical thinking and mathematics-related careers in the 21st century.
Beru, professor and associate director of faculty research and outreach services in the law school’s Center for Legal Information, and Junker, international programs coordinator, were selected for their proposal Ethiopian Constitutional and Customary Law Research.
The duo intend to support the educational needs of two Ethiopian law schools—Addis Ababa University and Mekelle University—by promoting a faculty and student exchange program, and providing print and digital materials to their law libraries.
In addition, Junker, who is also director of the University of Cologne’s International Master of Environmental Science Program, plans to help establish an environmental and natural resource law network between Duquesne University and Mekelle.
The Loogman research grant is named in honor of a former University professor of Swahili who helped establish Duquesne as a noted center of African study during his tenure.