PhD student Katelyn Alderfer received the Charles Imbesi Travel Fund to attend the Global Teacher Education Summit in Beijing, China, from October 11 to 17, 2017. The summit took place over four days and included discussion about teacher education with representatives from many different countries. Katelyn found that teachers abroad are having similar issues to those in the United States, such as tests not accurately representing students' education. The summit allowed Katelyn to gain a more globalized perspective on teaching, with discussions about topics like gender and diverse teaching methods.

Katelyn is studying for a PhD in Education Leadership at Drexel University. She has taught in Italy and the Mediterranean, as well as traveled throughout Europe and the Middle East. Through experiences like the Global Teacher Education Summit, Katelyn hopes to expand her views of higher education to create policy that advocates for teachers.

The Charles Imbesi Travel Fund helped support Katelyn’s travels to Beijing. The fund provides financial support to faculty and students traveling to China for educational purposes. To apply, faculty and students must submit an essay explaining their need for the fund, a description of their plans for using the fund, a transcript and two letters of recommendation.

If you have any questions about the fund or seek more information about how to apply, please contact Rebecca Clothey, PhD, at rac52@drexel.edu.