Research Interests

Prof Fickel is an experienced academic, researcher and program evaluator in the area of teacher professional development and learning (PLD), with a focus on the development of culturally responsive practice, pedagogical innovation, and enhanced student learning. In particular, her scholarship focuses on the design and implementation of innovative, research-informed models of initial teacher education and professional development, and subsequent evaluation and examination of the practice that emerges. Prof Fickel has been both lead researcher and co-researcher on a range of collaborative projects reflective of this research stance. Currently she is Principal Investigator (PI) for a Teaching & Learning Research Initiative (TLRI) project entitled, Co-constructing a culturally and linguistically sustaining, Te Tiriti -based Ako framework for socio-emotional wellbeing in education. Previously, she was the external evaluator for a multi-year PLD project funded by the Ministry of Education, was Co-PI for programme research and evaluation of the Exemplary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Programme Initiative, and was a member of the Huakina Mai Project team. Prior to coming to UC, Prof Fickel worked in Alaska where she served as PI on four large scale, US government-funded projects focused on innovative educational programmes to expand teacher learning and practice, develop school-university collaborative models of teacher and leadership education, and implement research-informed strategies to assist schools in enhancing education outcomes for Alaska Native youth.