Siciliano Named ILSSA Treasurer
Congratulations to learning sciences PhD student Lisa Siciliano, who has been newly elected to the treasurer position with the International Learning Sciences Student Associate (ILSSA). Siciliano will formally begin her term next week during the 2022 Annual Meeting of the International Society of Learning Sciences (ISLS), a professional interdisciplinary society dedicated to the investigation of learning to how learning may be facilitated. The ILSSA itself works to support and develop the intellectual, social, and professional development of graduate and undergraduate students in the field of learning sciences.
“I am excited to be working with the rest of the committee members to uplift student voice in the ISLS community,” said Siciliano. “And to provide support and experiences to help us all grow together.”
The role of the treasurer is to maintain the financial records and associated documentation, to prepare these records for the annual report, and to submit expense claims to the ISLS itself. Although one might think someone with an extensive background in the performing arts might be more interested in the communications manager position on the ILSSA, Siciliano said she was happy to perform whatever duties were needed for the benefit of the committee.
"I'm that rare artist that loves math, too," she quipped.
Siciliano joined the graduate program in learning sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) in 2018. She holds a master’s degree from Northwestern University in elementary education and a bachelor’s degree in theatre studies from Yale University. Her research and interests revolve around how theatre can be used within the general education classroom to support content learning and to encourage socio-emotional learning and teaching. She will be presenting her paper, “ 'It Appears to Be a Free-for-All:' Designing for Audience Agency in an Immersive Theatre Environment,” at ICLS on Thursday, June 9.
Siciliano’s involvement continues the commitment of learning sciences students from the UIC to engage with the ILSSA in leadership roles. Laura Zeller, who defended her PhD this spring, was the communications manager for the ILSSA last year.
"The involvement of our students in the committee makes me proud," said Alison Castro Superfine, co-director of the Learning Sciences Research Institute. "With these roles, they develop an obligation to the stewardship and the future of the field."