Maria Parrilla de Kokal

Maria Parrilla de Kokal, a visiting

lecturer in psychology, enables

students in her psychology practicum

classes to experience psychology as

a “living” social science. She teaches

them how to apply psychological

concepts as they tutor math and teach

social skills to ethnically diverse, low

SES children of all ages. Students

explore underlying societal issues, the

existing services that address the

issues, and effective tutoring and

motivation strategies for this

population. Students engage in

heavy reflection personally and with

peers and professor about how their

work and interactions with people

served has impacted them.

Weber State University

Civically Engaged Faculty

Utah Campus Compact

Students assess successes and

failures of the interventions and

present their research papers and

posters, when appropriate, to

professors, professionals, and other

students. Maria enthusiastically

promotes service-learning at every

opportunity among her peers.

Practicum is one of my favorite teaching experiences.

Through it, I get to watch our students "bring-to-life"

theoretical concepts learned in a classroom while providing

meaningful service." - Maria Parrilla de Kokal