Julia Mahfouz is an assistant professor in the Leadership for Educational Organizations program, School of Education and Human Development at the University of Colorado-Denver. She has a Ph.D. from the Pennsylvania State University in Educational Leadership with minors in Comparative International Education and Curriculum & Instruction. Her research agenda has been shaped by her educational work as an international educator in the capacity of a high school teacher, department chair, principal (K-12), and curriculum director.
Her research explores the social, emotional, and cultural dynamics of urban and rural educational settings and their effects on school climate and school improvement utilizing qualitative and mixed methodologies. Her work seeks to deepen our understanding of social-emotional learning (SEL) through lenses of intervention implementation, school improvement efforts, and preparation of school leaders to create spaces equitable for all where all could flourish utilizing policy as a lever for change and as a powerful context that shapes education at multiple levels of the system. Her research has been published in journals such as Journal of Educational Administration, Educational Management Administration and Leadership, International Journal of Leadership in Education, Education and Urban Society, Mindfulness, College Student Affairs Journal, and in practitioner outlets such as The Learning Professional and Education Canada.
In 2019, she received the Don Willower Award of Excellence for her significant scholarly achievement in Educational Leadership. She is currently (2021-2022) the outgoing program chair of Social Emotional Learning Special Interest Group (SIG), Secretary/treasurer of International Studies SIG, and program chair of Leadership for School Improvement SIG under the American Educational Research Association (AERA).
She is happiest when she is in nature. As part of attempting to maintain a vibrant well-balanced lifestyle, she makes sure to find time to what she loves doing such as meditation, traveling, reading, spending time with family, and outdoor activities. She loves sampling new restaurants, coffee shops, and activities; and she is always willing to expand her comfort zone to try something new. As a typical Lebanese, she speaks Arabic and French.
Listen in as we discuss the hidden substantial job-related stress that principals experience which can compromise their personal well-being as well as their leadership. And how the personal and professional development of principals is a key element in creating a caring school in which adults and children feel welcomed, cared for, and challenged, yet the social and emotional development and well-being of principals have received little attention.
GUEST INFO —
Website - https://juliamahfouz.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/juliamahfouz
Twitter - https://twitter.com/juliamahfouz?lang=en
Book - Target publication is July 2021 - Supporting leaders for school improvement through self-care and wellbeing - https://www.infoagepub.com/products/Supporting-Leaders-for-School-Improvement-Through-Self-Care-and-Wellbeing
LET’S GET SOCIAL —
Linked in - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tia-navelene-barnes-ab262576/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/drtianbarnes
Website - https://www.drtiabarnes.com/
MORE ABOUT DR. BARNES —
Dr. Tia N. Barnes is an education researcher with a passion for improving social/emotional outcomes for culturally diverse students and those with emotional and behavioral disorders. Her research focuses on the social-emotional well-being of minoritized populations. To study this she focuses on the areas of social-emotional learning, culturally responsive pedagogy, and special education. Her research has been published in Prevention Science, International Journal of Educational Research, Aggression and Violent Behavior, Infant and Child Development, Journal of School Violence, and Developmental Review.