The Fulbright Program, a prestigious academic exchange program, recently selected Dr. Jessica L. W. Miranda, Director of Strategic Directions, Assessment, and Accreditation at the University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu, as a Fulbright Scholar.
The Fulbright Scholar Program is designed to expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and cooperation, according to its website.
From August 2024 to September 2025, Miranda will conduct a professional project, “Reframing Assessment as a Tool for Equity in the Higher Education Outcomes of Indigenous Students,” in collaboration with the State University of Londrina (Universidade Estadual de Londrina) in Brazil and Professor Dr. Wagner Roberto do Amaral. The project will include two two-month periods on-site at the university in Brazil.
Fulbright Scholars build their skills and connections, gain valuable international insights, and return home to share their experiences with their students and colleagues, according to the site. Scholars come from and go to all institution types and geographic regions across the United States and around the world.
“One of my goals is to deepen my own knowledge and skills in integrating indigenous knowledge, history, culture, and language into the pedagogical and assessment practices across an institution’s academic and support programs,” Miranda said.
She continued, “Engaging in the Fulbright Scholar Awards program and working with the Universidade Estadual de Londrina will support me achieving this goal and make a positive impact at the global level for centering equity within assessment.”
The following is the abstract for Miranda’s Fulbright project:
Hosted by the State University of Londrina (Universidade Estadual de Londrina) in Brazil, this project promotes the development of a global assessment framework to increase equity for indigenous students in higher education. It supports exchange of expertise, practical experience in the “Intercultural Cycle of Academic Initiation of Indigenous Students” course, and cross-cultural, collaborative development and piloting of the assessment framework. This framework will provide clear guidance on effective assessment practices for indigenous students. The project provides a significant means for reframing assessment as a tool for advancing equity and access to higher education for indigenous students.
In her role as UH West O‘ahu’s Director of Strategic Directions, Assessment, and Accreditation, which she has held since January 2023, Miranda serves as the university’s Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) Accreditation Liaison Officer; she develops and implements processes to measure UH West O‘ahu’s strategic impact; and she leads assessment efforts on campus to foster a culture of continuous improvement in academic, student life, and administrative programming.