SHU Professor Aims to Tackle Global Education Crisis

Maureen Ruby, endowed chair and associate professor in the Farrington College of Education & Human Development (FCEHD), has taken a leadership role in addressing a global education crisis through her involvement with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Global Alliance on the Science of Learning.

UNESCO promotes peace and security through international cooperation in education, communication, culture, information and sciences. Ruby’s work is focused on improving literacy and educational outcomes through evidence-based practices founded on the science of learning.

Ruby’s journey began when she attended the International Mind, Brain and Education Society (IMBES) conference in Belgium last summer. This conference brought together a variety of different researchers and educators around the world to focus on core educational challenges, specifically the need for universal literacy in solving educational disparities.

“Being in the company of these really dedicated, passionate, and knowledgeable brokers and feeling a sense of global commitment collaborating on trying to find ways to remove the barriers to educational opportunities for all children was really inspiring and hopeful,” Ruby said.

She will continue to work hard alongside some of the best in the world to tackle this global education crisis.

“It’s an ongoing thing. It’s not a one-and-done. We’ll meet once a year, and we do other work in between. In addition to my work with UNESCO, I’m now collaborating with a researcher in Australia,” Ruby said.

She explained that the biggest takeaways from this experience were the importance of networking when getting your name out, knowing how to meet people and holding good relationships.

“I think that’s a part of the SHU mission and the SHU culture,” Ruby said.

Following her endowment, she was authorized to present with fellow Sacred Heart University professor, Kim Hellerich, at the conference in Belgium.

“Having the opportunity to co-present with Dr. Ruby was an amazing experience. Partnering with Dr. Ruby to include a thread of neuroscience within the advanced curriculum course of our Educational Leadership Preparation Program was a unique opportunity,” Hellerich said. “It was amazing to share our work with an international group of educators.”

“I am so blessed to have this support from the Isabelle Farrington estate. It has allowed me to take advantage of opportunities that we would not have had the funds for otherwise,” said Ruby, in a recent Sacred Heart press release.

After her trip to Belgium, Ruby continued on to Paris. Here, she claimed that one of her biggest takeaways surrounded hope for the future.

“I’m hoping that through the networking, we’ll be able to bring more global opportunities for research, and I have something in the works right now with a colleague I met,” Ruby said.

Ruby emphasized that possessing strong literacy skills paves the way for greater opportunities and overall success.

“Literacy skills are gateway skills to everything else in life. Literacy is even more of an important gateway skill now than it was before,” Ruby said.

Ruby’s work calls attention to the global impact of SHU’s faculty in hopes of inspiring and influencing future educational leaders.

“Her work not only highlights the global impact of our faculty, but also contributes significantly to the advancement of education worldwide,” FCEHD Dean Mel Horton told the university.

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