Professor
School of Education
Academic Credentials
English as a Second Language Endorsement, University of Phoenix 2002; Ed. D. in Education Administration and Supervision, Arizona State University 2002; M.Ed. Math & Science, Chaminade University, Honolulu, 1997; B.S. Elementary Education, Chaminade University, Honolulu, 1994; B.ED. Elementary Education, University of London, 1972
Bio
Dr. Usha Rajdev teaches Science Technology Engineering and Math using a hands-on teaching approach. She was fortunate to be selected by the NASA’s Goddard Space Center to send an experiment on the space shuttle Atlantis in 1999.
After growing up in Uganda, Marymount University School of Education professor Dr. Usha Rajdev has often returned to her former country to use her knowledge and experiences to develop sustainable STEM programs and initiatives at the local level. Dr. Rajdev is now getting a boost from the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program to continue the collaboration with Ndejje University and four Ugandan secondary schools, focusing on implementing a project-based learning curriculum: teaching the life cycle of mosquitoes and the spread of malaria diseases, clearing stagnant water in and around marsh lands surrounding the schools and neighborhoods, thus minimizing absenteeism in their institutions. Students will participate in engineering and design of mosquito traps to further mitigate mosquito-borne diseases (STEM Across the Globe). Absenteeism due to malaria illness data will be monitored by each institution and be reported to Ndejje University for mathematical models.
Past achievements include: In 2012 she earned Faculty of the Year Service Award, Virginia Project Learning Tree Outstanding Educator Award, and the National Project Learning Tree Outstanding Educator Award. Dr. Rajdev and Fort Belvoir Elementary School, earned the Association of Teacher Educators in Virginia 2014 School/University Partnership Award and the STEM Leadership Award by the International Association of STEM Leaders. She was a recipient of the Fulbright Specialist Project in 2013. Dr. Rajdev is a counselor for Marymount University’s Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society and spearheads the STEM initiative in KDP’s International Committee. She’s a faculty advisor for the National Science Teaching Association Student Chapter and for Marymount University’s Global STEM Certificate.
Teaching Areas
Math and Science methodologies
Research Interests
Service Learning: Implementing sustainable STEM programs within the institutions in the African Diaspora to minimize absenteeism due to mosquito borne diseases, and also bring awareness to the local communities.
Publications
Articles Ethics and Corporal Punishment within the Schools across the Globe, 2nd Quarter 2012 issue of the Journal of International Education Research (Volume 8, Number 20 http://www.cluteinstitute.com/ojs/index.php/JIER/article/view/6836 ‘Educators Across The Globe Collaborate And Exchange Ideas’. Journal of International Education Research (JIER), North America, 7, May. 2011. Available at: http://journals.cluteonline.com/index.php/JIER/article/view/4245. ‘Mending the Errors of Their Ways’ New Teacher Advocate, Insights (fall 2010 Volume 18, No.1 page 8), Kappa Delta Pi Publication ‘Project Learning Tree Activities Energize the Teaching and Learning in Gandhi’s Home Town’ (fall 2010 e-article page 2 of 32) http://plt.org/Branch/Summer%202010/Summer2010.pdf
