Overview
Rosemary Caffarella believes her role as an educator is to assist learners to critically examine and reflect on how they define knowledge, learning and education. How educators view these concepts, coupled with their own values and the context in which they find themselves have a direct effect on how they view other people, construct learning and teaching situations, and act as instructors, program planners, and leaders. Completing this process requires learners and educators to be intrigued by what is unknown to them, open to what they have never before considered as real knowledge and caring for people and the environment in which they live.
Research Focus
My major research focus is threefold, with major interconnections among the three areas. The first is adult learning, and more specifically "Non-Western" ways of Learning and knowing:, and the connections between intelligence and wisdom. Second, I continue my scholarship in planning programs for adult learners, with a new focus on planning thse types of programs across international borders. And third, I am actively involved in research on breast cancer education at the international level. In addition,I have a strong interst in how societal norms, political climate, and religion affect how we educate women and the general public about breast cancer; treatment of the disease; and suvivior issues.
Outreach and Extension Focus
My outreach focus is on breast cancer education within an international framework. The major country I have been working with for the past four years is Malaysia. More specifically, I serve as a CO-PI, with the other CO-PI from the Universiti of Putra Malaysia, on an ever expanding project in Malaysia, which emcompases both outreach and research. More recently I became a part of Global Breast Health Initiative for low and middle income countries, sponsored primarily by the Fred Hutichson Cancer Research Center and the Susan Komen Foundation.
Instruction Focus
My teaching focus mirrors closely my work in outreach and research. More specifically areas I teach include learning in adulthood; "Non-Western" ways of learning and knowing; planning programs for adult learners in national and international settings; and development in international settings.
Additional Links
Honors, Awards and Appointments
- College of Education Scholar of the Year Award, University of Nothern Colorado. - Spring 1999
- College of Education Achievement in Teaching Award, University of Nothern Colorado. - Spring 1995
- Cyril Houle Award for Oustanding Literature in Adult Education for Learning in Adulthood. A Comprehensive Guide 2nd Ed. (with Sharan Merriam). - November 2000
- M. Lucille Harrison Award for Lifetime Achievement in Education, University of Nothern Colorado. - May 1996
- Honorary Doctorate of Letters, College of Lifelong Learning, University of New Hampshire System. - June 2003
- Post Doctoral Fellow, Adult Learning, Montana State University (funded by Kellogg Foundation). - 1987-1988
- Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society - 1977-present
- Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society - 1968-Present
Selected Publications
- Merriam, S.B.; Caffarella, R.S.; & Baumgartner, L.M. (2007). Learning in Adulthood. (3rd Ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
- Caffarella, R.S. & Kamis, M. (In progress). Transnational Program Planning for Adults. To be submitted to Adult Education Quarterly or to the International Journal of Adult Education.
- Merriam, S. B., & Caffarella, R.S. (2005, Translated into Chinese and Japanese). Learning in Adulthood. New York: John Wiley.
- Caffarella, R.S., & Merriam, S.B. (2004). Reprint and translation: Perspectives on Adult Learning: Framing Our Research. Journal for the Study of Adult Education and Learning, Broj 1-2, 31-39.
- Berger, N., Caffarella, R.S., & O'Donnell, J.M. (2003). Learning Plans. Galbreath, M. (Ed). Adult Learning Methods. A Guide for Effective Instruction. (3rd Ed.) Melbourne, Fl: Kreiger.
- Caffarella, R.S. (2002) Planning programs for adults: A comprehensive guide (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
- Caffarella, R.S., & Barnett, B.G. (2000). Teaching doctoral students to become scholarly writers; The importance of giving and receiving critiques. Studies in Higher Education, 25(1), 39-52.
- Caffarella, R.S. (2000). Goals of self-learning. In G. Straka (Ed.). Conceptions of self-directed learning. Theoretical and conceptual considerations. Munster, Germany: Waxmann Press.
- Caffarella, R.S., & Merriam, S.B. (2000). Linking the individual learner to the context of adult learning. In E. Hayes and R.W. Wilson (Eds.), Handbook of Adult Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
- Clark, M.C., & Caffarella, R.S. (1999). An update on adult development: New ways of thinking about the life course. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
- Clark, M. C., & Caffarella, R.S. (1999). Theorizing adult development. In M.C. Clark and R.S. Caffarella (Eds.). An Update on adult development: New ways of thinking about the life course. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
- Caffarella, R.S., Clark, M.C., & Ingram, P.B. (1999). Women in leadership: Living with the constraints of the glass ceiling. Initiaves, 59(1), 65-76.
- Clark, M.C., Caffarella, R.S., and Ingram, P.B. (1998). Leadership at the glass celing: Women`s experience of mid-management roles. Initiatives, 58(4), 59-70.
- Caffarella, R.S., and Olson, S.K. (1993) Psychosocial development of women: A critical review of the literature. Adult Education Quarterly, 43(3), 125-151.
- Caffarella, R. S. (1993). The continuing journey of our professional lives: The impact of significant life events. Adult Learning, 4(3), 27 & 30.
- Caffarella, R. S., & O`Donnell, J. M. (1991). Judging the quality of work-related self-directed learning. Adult Education Quarterly, 42, 17-29.
- Caffarella, R. S., Armour, R. A., Fuhrmann, B., & Wergin, J. (1989). Mid-career faculty: Refocusing the perspective. Review of Higher Education, 12, 403-410.
- Caffarella, R. S., & O`Donnell, J. M. (1987). Self-directed learning: A critical paradigm revisited. Adult Education Quarterly, 37, 199-211.
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