It was not until I reflected profoundly on my career trajectory, professional experiences, and the impact of my work on students and faculty that I decided to apply to be a candidate for doctoral studies with the College of Education at the University of Houston. I want to pursue a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction: Learning, Design & Technology because I seek to understand the state of those three branches in education, especially at the community college level. I aim to contribute authentic and innovative ideas to the programs that I serve and positively impact the students and faculty I hope to work with throughout my career, utilizing doctoral studies to examine the field thoroughly and become an educator in community college.

I decided to focus on serving in academic libraries in community colleges after working in a joint-use library and assessing that I was happiest when I helped students and faculty achieve their goals utilizing information and technology resources to strengthen their learning experiences. Due to my professional progress with Houston Community College, I've had opportunities to become increasingly involved in learning initiatives that stress technology use and impact in the classroom and college. These opportunities have allowed me to work beyond a traditional librarian's role, and I would like to become a full-time instructor. As I've participated in diverse initiatives at the college level, I've become increasingly alarmed by the lack of rigor and how programs are planned, designed, and conducted without considering research in the areas they want to address. Continuously, I seek a better understanding of how our diverse students learn, how to create learning experiences that respond to our challenges, and how technology can transform, bolster and enhance students' success. Currently, I am collaborating in assessing how LinkedIn could be used as a tool to construct pathways in students' micro-credentialing. I need to convert my curiosity into inquiry and use my studies to become a researcher-instructor in the community college and library context. Libraries hold learning spaces that can lead to innovation at intersections of people and ideas. I also want to study the language of innovation in higher education as it is driving initiatives that are impacting community colleges profoundly. I believe libraries could transform themselves into learning arenas in ways that we have not imagined, and the transformation will require research to justify innovation.

I am interested in research that could explore the reality of equitable access to learning experiences that are guided by design, experiences that demonstrate empathy to the unique challenges that diverse urban students face in learning, and bridging the digital skill divide for urban students. I plan to conduct doctoral research in learning, design, and technology at the University of Houston, focusing on the urban student as an independent learner, best practices for metaliteracy, and critical information literacy instruction

I think the Curriculum and Instruction Department at the University of Houston is uniquely positioned to guide me successfully to work within the context of Houston because the program understands how diversity impacts education. It supports education as a tool in the pathway to personal achievement and social justice. I hope to contribute my unique perspective and experiences as an information professional in K-16 to collegial conversations. I've served in various roles that allowed me to view students and faculty from a neutral perspective that seeks to make both of them successful. I am seeking to obtain a doctoral degree, not only to enrich and strengthen my academic role. I want to be ready to maneuver into future opportunities that may require understanding how to use a research-driven approach to learning, design, and technology for students' success in a rapidly changing world.

Alexandra Alméstica, Ph. D. Student

University of Houston, College of Education

Department of Curriculum and Instruction: Learning, Design, & Technology

November 2021