Alina Slapac

Alina Slapac is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educator Preparation and Leadership at the University of Missouri - St. Louis (UMSL). She also holds an Assistant Professor appointment in Education within the College of Education. Her roles include teaching graduate and undergraduate courses such as Teacher Action Research, TESOL Practicum, and Student Teaching Abroad. She has coordinated student teaching programs in South Korea (2009–2011) and currently serves as the Kappa Delta Pi (KDP) International Honor Society Counselor since 2010. Dr. Slapac has received multiple accolades, including the Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award and the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (2020).

• Education:
  • Bachelor’s in Romanian-English as a Foreign Language (Ovidius University, Romania)
  • Master’s in British Cultural Studies (University of Foreign Languages, Romania)
  • Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction (University of Northern Iowa)
• Research Focus: Cultural and linguistic competence in education, intercultural teacher education, immigrant students’ experiences, and global competency development through qualitative research methods.
• Grants & Leadership: Co-PI for the Quality Teachers for English Learners (QTEL) Grant (2015–2016), faculty steward for multiple courses, and coordinator of award-winning programs like the Martin Luther King Celebration Day children’s program.

Her research emphasizes culturally responsive teaching practices, classroom management in diverse settings, and international education collaborations. Dr. Slapac actively contributes to professional organizations like AERA, CIES, and KDP, and mentors faculty through the ACUE program.