Fernanda Soares Transitions from Staff to Faculty
The Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child’s (GC-DWC) Fernanda Soares has recently transitioned from a research staff position to an assistant research professor role.
Soares is a researcher, evaluator, and technical advisor in the education and youth sectors with over 12 years of experience working in low-resource, crisis, and conflict settings. She has been the Principal Investigator (PI) on single and multi-country studies of teacher in-service and pre-service professional development, teacher wellbeing, student learning, and youth development that build evidence to address USAID’s education learning agendas in collaboration with the Pulte Institute for Global Development. She has employed a variety of methodological approaches to conduct formative studies, impact assessments, implementation science research, and development of measurement tools, demonstrating success in translating research into practice, working to reduce the adverse effects of poverty.
Soares holds an equivalent of a J.D. from UFMG School of Law in Belo Horizonte, Brazil; a Master of Arts in International Development with a concentration in Program Development from the American University School of International Service in Washington, D.C.; and a Ph.D. in Public Policy Analysis from the United Nations University and Maastricht School of Economic and Social Research in the Netherlands. During her time with the GC-DWC, she has excelled in leading key aspects of a large-scale research study, and co-taught a course where students gained experience in research methods and took part in research design and implementation in the Global South.
Soares’ transition from staff to faculty—supported by Chrissy Trinter, acting director for the Institute for Educational Initiatives (IEI), and further approved by University of Notre Dame provost, John McGreevy—enhances her capacity to shape practice and policy agenda, and further develops her already notable and influential body of work in scholarship and practice.
“The GC-DWC is lucky to have Fernanda on our team as an integral part in our larger pursuit to create pathways out of adversity for vulnerable children around the globe. We look forward to watching her live out this new faculty role,” said Neil Boothby, professor and director of the GC-DWC.
