Pitt Education Welcomes Mamudou Jallow as 2024-25 Fulbright Visiting Scholar
Jallow is acquiring curriculum development techniques to implement in his home country of The Gambia
Pitt Education is hosting Mamudou Jallow as a visiting scholar under the Fulbright African Research Scholar Program for the 2024-25 academic year.
Jallow, a native of The Gambia, a small West African country, joined the Department of Teaching, Learning and Leading over the summer. His Fulbright project, “Curriculum Development for Meeting Evolving Societal and Individual Learning Needs,” aims to acquire skills in curriculum development and use this knowledge to modernize and streamline curriculum processes at his home university.
“This opportunity is immense, and it will impact teaching and learning positively in my home country,” said Jallow, who heads the biology department at the University of The Gambia.
Jallow hit the ground running in Pittsburgh, joining Pitt’s discipline-based Science Education Research Center, the Biology Curriculum Committee, the Learning Research and Development Center (LRDC), the Department of Africana Studies, and the Pitt Global Hub.
He has even taught a few Wolof language classes to faculty, according to Pitt Education professor Cassie Quigley.
“Dr. Jallow has quickly become a part of our University community,” said Quigley, who sponsored Jallow and his Fulbright proposal. “This work highlights his interdisciplinary expertise and the breadth of his contributions.”
In addition to his academic involvement, Jallow is continually meeting a wide variety of scholars and doctoral students to learn about their work and how they engage with curriculum development.
“The social interaction is an integral part of my project because there is a component of the program that wants me to understand American culture and way of life,” said Jallow. “You can only accept people when you embrace their culture, norms, and values.”
Jallow’s presence also creates opportunities for the Pitt community to learn new international perspectives.Many other University departments and institutes, including University Center for International Studies, the Global Studies Center, the Biology Department and the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation, have welcomed Jallow.
“This recognition is a tremendous honor and brings prestige not only to him but also to the broader SOE and university community,” Quigley said. “His role as a Fulbright Scholar will no doubt inspire students and colleagues alike.”
She added: “I hope the university continues to celebrate and leverage this achievement by providing platforms for him to share his experiences and insights, further enriching the academic environment.”
