@ Our Centers
UI&U Florida Center Helps Husband and Wife Become Top Educators
When new learners attend their entry colloquium at the Florida Center, there is a good chance they are watching a UI&U graduate living the university’s mission of community outreach.
Husband and wife alumni Jorge and Theresa Diaz, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from UI&U, as well as education specialist certificates. Now, both are employed as teachers in the Miami-Dade school system. And the Cuban-born Jorge volunteers his time and skills to UI&U, by running technology for new learner colloquiums.
“Jorge and Theresa are the consummate Americans,” said Dr. Beryl Watnick, director of the center’s master of education and educational specialist programs. “They never hesitate to give back. They are immensely supportive of each other and to their community.”
Today, Jorge teaches English I, honors, AP and SAT prep classes at Miami Jackson Senior High School in Miami, and Theresa is the ESOL Department Head and Reading Coach at G.W. Carver Elementary School in Coconut Grove. “We are often our own best resources,” says Dr. Watnick about UI&U. “And the Diaz family emulates this beautifully.”
Jorge and Theresa were kind enough to send the following passage about their Union experience.
“So many adults have a desire to obtain their degrees in order to achieve professional growth within their jobs or change their career paths. Unfortunately in today’s society, because of the burgeoning need for maintaining households, children, and even elderly parents, there is not always the time to attend classes and complete the necessary course work to see the realization of such a desire. These were some of the reasons my husband and I gave for not going to back to college. But, five years ago, after Jorge finished his fourth knee surgery, we honestly confronted our feelings about our lack of academic credentials and the impact this made on our future. Upon making our decision, we began our search for an institution that would fit two adults approaching their 40th birthdays, who had to continue working fulltime, and serve as caregivers to children and elderly parents. Our needs were straightforward. The institution that we were searching for would need to have a program designed specifically with the adult in mind. There was no time to sit for hours on end in a classroom just to take test after test. We desired an institution that would be honest in their counseling of our choices and have faculty and staff that were personable, attentive and above all, good at heart. All of our needs were met at Union Institute & University. Over the last six years Jorge and I have taken ourselves from bachelor’s degrees through master’s degrees and Educational Specialist certificates, with hope of continuing on through Union’s doctoral program. The reason for our continuing matriculation is simple. From the first step into the UI&U offices in North Miami Beach, we felt like we had found a new extended family, not only for our higher educational goals but for meeting and bonding with professors, staff and other learners who all believe as we do. Adults need to believe that they can achieve their own educational goals and they need to be supported by faculty who nurture these academic dreams. Over the years we both have come to love and respect each person who has impacted our higher education experience. Union Institute & University offers not only fantastic programs, they offer individualized support and caring to each of their students.” |