Jennifer A. Kozak is a 4th year PhD candidate at Western University’s Faculty of Education.

My research interests focus on International Service Learning (ISL) relationships between the global South and North. The push for internationalization and international experience in North American universities means that the popularity and academic recognition of ISL programs is increasing. Given my own personal experience with study abroad and ISL programs in Latin America, both as a student and as a facilitator, I am very interested in the impacts that these experiential learning programs have on all participants from both the global South and North. Currently, my research focuses specifically on the impact of cultural sensitivity and civic awareness as motivators in foreign-language acquisition for North American university students. As such, my doctoral thesis examines how social interactions during short term ISL transform student identity and investment in learning Spanish as a foreign language.

My Master’s research in Hispanic Studies, also at Western University, examined the use of music and dance in Cuban literature while my undergraduate work in Spanish and Latin American Studies at the University of Waterloo focused more broadly on Latin American literature, popular Hispanic culture, and testimonial literature. Therefore, I am competent in applied linguistics focusing on Spanish language acquisition, Hispanic literature, and cultural integration of diasporic Hispanic communities in host environments.

During my time at Western University, I coordinated a study abroad program for four years, designed and coordinated an international service learning program in 2011-2012, and designed and coordinated a cultural enrichment program for two years during 2010-2012. In addition to my role as a researcher and program designer, I also won several teaching awards during my graduate career that highlight my commitment to being an educator.

Marianne Larsen, PhD

Supervisor

Shelley Taylor, PhD

Supervisor