University Communications
University Reporter

Donaldo Macedo earns award

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	Campus Notes

Long before he became director of the Applied Linguistics Graduate Program(formerly the Bilingual/ESL Graduate Program), Professor Donaldo Macedo had a strong understanding of the challenges facing working class and bilingual students. Raised in an immigrant community in Dorchester, Macedo says that his scholarly work relies on his ongoing connection and service to local communities. This includes million-dollar grant writing, grassroots project development, and even individual mentoring. In July, he was awarded the President's Public Service Award for his dedication.

"Coming from the community and remaining tied to the community, I realize that people often just don't have the means, financially, to become educated," Macedo explained. "If I can work to create opportunities and improve teaching...then I do these things as a part of my commitment to UMass Boston and its mission."

Macedo's accomplishments reflect this energy. Since 1982, he has raised over $6 million in scholarships for an average of 70

Applied Linguistics graduate students each year. He has also raised millions to support bilingual programs in local schools. Brockton's

Director of Bilingual Education, Benjamin Silva, reported that in his city Macedo has helped raise close to $3.5 million over sixteen years to support programs for Spanish, Cape Verdean, and Haitian students.

Macedo is also known for his availability to students and parents. He explained, "As a teacher, you've got to engage students at the human level. When there's that connection, you can negotiate all kinds of difficulties."

If students benefit from this approach, so does his research. He has numerous publications to his credit, including his most recent work, Critical Education in the New Information Age (with Paulo Freire, Henry Giroux, and Paul Willis, 1999). He says, "I think there would be something missing in my writing if I did not have that communion with the community that I write about."

Reflecting on Macedo's seventeen years of experience, Dean of the Liberal Arts Faculty Neal Bruss referred to Macedo as "a public intellectual of international scope," and stated, "I can think of no member of the Liberal Arts faculty, or the University community, more deserving of the special recognition of President Bulger's award."

-- Anne Marie Kent