The Multicultural Education Institute

Regina Lopez, instructor, and April Haulman, Ph.D., professor, help to manage
and plan the Multicultural Education Institute, which is sponsored each
year by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at UCO. 

The work of MEI is important in today's world where we face challenges such as racism, bigotry, prejudice, hate crimes, etc.

For more than 30 years, the Multicultural Education Institute at the University of Central Oklahoma has united educators in the Oklahoma City metro area to share the latest strategies and practices that help improve educating our increasingly diverse communities. We are proud to recognize the Institute as one of the 2016 winners of the Oklahoma Human Rights award.

MEI is committed to the recognition of excellence in multicultural education. Each year the Multicultural Awards Committee selects a recipient for the Teacher of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Paraprofessional of the Year Awards as well as teacher incentive grant award winners. MEI also offers professional development in multicultural and multilingual education to educators from across the state of Oklahoma.

The MEI brings together current and future teachers, paraprofessionals, bilingual professionals and community members from the Oklahoma City metro area who work in education to discuss practices and strategies aimed at helping improve educating the increasingly diverse population. (Source: “32nd Annual Multicultural Education Institute,” The Vista - February 23, 2015)

“Teachers often receive the blame for underachieving schools that they do not deserve,” said April Haulman, Ph.D., of the English as a second language master’s program. “We wanted to honor the role they play in creating a better society and focus on that.”

The MEI conference is sponsored each year by the College of Education and Professional Studies at the UCO. For many years, MEI has been directed by Dr. Regina Lopez and Professor April Haulman.

You're invited to attend the presentation of the 2016 Human Rights Awards on Saturday, December 10th, in the House Chamber of the Oklahoma State Capitol. The program will begin at 10am. It will be emcee'd by former State Representative Seneca Scott. There is no charge to attend. Following the awards program, you are invited to enjoy a Free Speech Forum in the Senate Assembly Room from 12 Noon to 2pm.

Every year, the Oklahoma Human Rights Awards are co-sponsored by the Oklahoma City chapter of the United Nations Association and the Oklahoma Universal Human Rights Alliance.

Previous winners of the award include educators, physicians, students, and community volunteers from many different communities and all walks of life. They are united by their enduring commitment to the values and principles expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

For more information about the awards program, please contact Wilfredo Santosrivera, 405-631-3027.