Vicky Giouroukakis, Ph.D. is a widely recognized expert in the field of education and research.
Vicky has a varied background in literacy development, diversity, standards, assessment, and teacher education. She started her career as a high school English teacher in New York City and then transitioned to the position of teacher educator at Molloy University. Vicky is a Professor in the School of Education and Human Services where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in adolescent literacy, English methods, general strategies of teaching, and TESOL. She will soon assume the role of Director of Graduate and Postgraduate Programs where she will oversee numerous education programs and faculty.
As a researcher and an educator of teachers, Vicky strongly believes that her teacher candidates have the greatest opportunities for success by utilizing the best research-based instructional practices. Her goal is to help her students develop a solid foundation in content and pedagogy by giving them a robust theoretical foundation that will inform their own practice.
“I believe that teaching is fascinating because it is a life-long process, a never-ending journey of discovery and learning. It is fluid and always changing depending on various factors—students and their diverse backgrounds, personalities, experiences, and needs; the curriculum; the learning environment; the historical, social, and political context; the state and local policies, and so forth—which makes it exciting. As an educator, you are transforming lives and contributing to the future of society which is deeply fulfilling.”
—VICKY GIOUROUKAKIS
Vicky's approach in how she leads her classroom is both conscious and deliberate in order to provide her students with a model of how they ought to be teaching—what some educators call, "the hidden curriculum." Preparing teacher candidates to be effective educators is her ultimate objective.
Vicky cares for all her students and wants to see them succeed to the greatest of their ability. Her passion for teaching is apparent when she exhibits hard work and professionalism as the pivotal example of what an educator truly can and should be.
As a first-generation American of Greek immigrant parents, Vicky's culture and personal journey are central to who she is as a person and an educator, which also sparked a deep interest in the area of English as a second language. Her core cultural values are visible in her extensive volunteer work at the Manhasset School District and the Greek Language Institute of the Archangel Michael Church (AMC). She has served as President/Co-president of the AMC Greek Language Institute, a Greek-American Afternoon School, since 2019. Since 2019, she has also served as Co-president of The Tower Foundation of Manhasset, a charity that fundraises to support meaningful initiatives that enhance the educational experience of Manhasset students. In honor of her mother, Dina Menexas, Vicky founded and still coordinates to this day the Cooking Club at AMC which provides Greek cooking lessons to raise money for those in need.
My Newest Book!
Although there are thousands of media sources that relate the trials and tribulations of immigrants coming to this country to pursue the American dream, there are few that document the experiences of children of immigrants who typically straddle two worlds, the world of their parents and the country in which they are born.
Growing Up in an Immigrant Household and Community: Essays by Descendants of Immigrants is a collection of essays that aim to give a voice to descendants of immigrants (individuals born in the United States to immigrant parents or grandparents) by sharing their stories of what it was like growing up in an immigrant household and community and how these experiences influenced the development of their identity.
The contributing authors, from all walks of life, come together to tell their intriguing and poignant stories of adversity, good times, and lessons learned from being raised by immigrant parents and grandparents.
