Julie Spencer-Rodgers Awarded 2017-18 Learn by Doing Scholar Award
Associate professor of Psychology and Child Development Julie Spencer-Rodgers was awarded the 2017-18 Learn by Doing Scholar Award in the category of planned and in-progress research for “Building Intercultural Competence through Cultural Immersion Projects.” The award is one of only two granted each year and is accompanied by $1000 and formal recognition during Fall Conference 2018.
Julie Spencer-Rodgers
The long-term goal of her research is to disseminate the results of her study and teaching cross-cultural psychology course materials on various websites devoted to the teaching of intercultural competence and communication.
“I grew up in a bilingual, bicultural home, so I have always been interested in cultural differences and how culture affects our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors,” said Spencer-Rodgers. “We know that intercultural competence can be easily acquired via travel and cultural immersion; it is less evident whether it can be acquired in traditional, on-campus courses. This project suggests that it can.”
Spencer-Rodgers acknowledges that there is currently very little research on this topic, which is why she was inspired to conduct the study. She also seeks to see whether her teaching leads to real-world outcomes for her students beyond textbook knowledge.
The Learn by Doing Scholar Award was established in 2014 and is financially supported by the Library Dean’s Advisory Council with the purpose of acknowledging scholarly research which contributes to the understanding and practice of Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing motto.
View the full list of CLA faculty that were recognized with 2017-18 awards.