Graduates: Codou Diaw, Ph.D.

Dr. Diaw on SisterMentors:

When I joined SisterMentors in September 2002, it was in anticipation of the dreadful isolation of dissertation writing. I was looking for a supportive environment that would allow me to complete my dissertation in a reasonable timeframe. SisterMentors filled that need beyond my expectations… By December 2003, I defended my dissertation...
For me, the relevance of SisterMentors goes beyond the dissertation. Given that my research focuses on girls' and women's education, the most fulfilling part of belonging to SisterMentors is the opportunity to work with middle school girls of color from disadvantaged backgrounds.

I am grateful and honored to be part of such an endeavor. What a rewarding experience!. . . more

Bio

Dr. Codou Diaw received her doctorate in December 2003 from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County ("UMBC") in the Education department's interdisciplinary program in Language, Literacy and Culture. She has a Master's degree in Intercultural Communication from UMBC and a Bachelor's degree in English from the Université Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar, Senegal.

Dr. Diaw's dissertation is entitled, "Gender and Educational Policies in Senegal: Impact and Prospects for Girls' Education and Women's Literacy." Her research interests are in gender theory and education policy, girls' education and women's literacy in Sub-Saharan Africa, political economy of education, cultural considerations in education policy and program design, language policy and teaching. She plans to work in education policy-making and advocacy to promote gender responsive education in Sub-Saharan Africa. She also expects to continue teaching at a university. Dr. Diaw is Senegalese. She has over eleven years of teaching experience in Africa and the US. She is a certified interpreter/translator with experience in both countries. More recently, Dr. Diaw has worked at the UNESCO office in Senegal on education issues.