Dr Catherine Starrett Wright

Biography

Dr Catherine Wright has over 20 years experience of teaching, learning development, research and programme management at the University of Auckland, University of Waikato, Open University (UK) and Unitec. She has taught and researched in the areas of Geography, Environmental Policy and English as an Additional Language and developed and evaluated courses in academic literacies. She has undertaken research projects at universities, for the New Zealand government and at Unitec. A recent project evaluated the impact of a digital technologies programme in a cluster of schools in Northland. Catherine has worked at the University as lecturer, Programme Coordinator for General Education, Ethics Support Coordinator for the Human Ethics Programme Committee, Operations Manager for professional learning and development in the Faculty of Education and Social Work and, currently, as Academic Engagement Adviser in Libraries and Learning Services.

Research | Current

Effectiveness of initiatives to develop students' academic literacies.
Teaching and learning in the area of English as a second language.
Language policy.
Evaluation of a digital technologies' programme in a cluster of Northland schools.
Evaluation of professional learning development programmes run in schools by Team Solutions, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Auckland.
Pro bono research on achievement in literacy for a South Auckland primary school.

Distinctions/Honours

Senior Scholar Award, University of Auckland, Faculty of Arts, 2014 (Spanish).

Social Science Research Council, U.K., PhD scholarship.

Committees/Professional groups/Services

Ethics Advisor for the Faculty of Education.