Early Childhood Education Leader, Jie-Qi Chen, PhD, Shares Experiences from her Fulbright Specialist Project in Kenya

Last September, we shared the news that Dr. Jie-Qi Chen received a Fulbright Specialist Award, further extending Erikson’s impact internationally. The Fulbright Specialist Program, sponsored by the U.S. government, connects highly accomplished American academics and professionals with institutions abroad for short-term, project-based collaborations. These projects focus on areas such as curriculum development, faculty training, and institutional planning, while also fostering cross-cultural exchange. Dr. Chen completed her Fulbright project in Kenya earlier this year. Below is a brief interview where she reflects on her experience.

Q: Who did you work with during your Fulbright Specialist program?

My host institution for the Fulbright Specialist program was an educational charity organization named Stadi za Maisha, which means “Life Skills” in Swahili. I worked closely with the Stadi za Maisha team, the Fulbright program officer in Kenya, education faculty at Kenyatta University, and various school principals and teachers.

Q: What activities did you complete during your Fulbright Specialist grant?

During my Fulbright Specialist program, I focused on three key areas:

1. Introducing Multiple Intelligences (MI) Theory to Kenya’s Education System. I appeared on Good Morning Kenya, met with Department of Education officers, collaborated with Kenyatta University faculty, joined the East African Gifted Education Conference Planning Committee, and led mentorship sessions for educators at the American Resource Centers.
2. Offering Train-the-Trainer (TOT) Workshops for Educators. I led workshops on MI theory in early childhood assessment and curriculum for university faculty, mentor teachers, and center directors. I also brought 11 boxes of children’s books and math manipulatives from the U.S. Educators traveled up to 15 hours by bus to attend, and discussions were highly engaging.
3. Building Cross-Cultural Connections. I visited schools, spoke with teachers and principals, attended church services, explored cultural institutions, and spent time with Kenyan families in diverse neighborhoods, including slums, to better understand Kenyan society and connect with people’s daily life.

Q: What is the conceived impact of the experience on you as an educator and a scholar?

My Fulbright Specialist experience in Kenya was eye-opening, humbling, and deeply enriching. Seeing Kenya’s competency-based curriculum in action—emphasizing communication, critical thinking, citizenship, and creativity—was inspiring. Yet, the realities of large class sizes (often 80–100 children per teacher), limited instructional materials, and food insecurity present significant challenges. Despite these hardships, I was profoundly moved by the dedication of educators and the strength of community ties. In one rural school, a teacher with no textbooks created lessons, weaving local stories into math problems to keep students engaged.

Beyond the classroom, I was struck by patience, resilience, and resourcefulness embedded in daily life. A single mother in a slum made a concerted effort to ensure all her four children attend school, believing education would transform their future. I also witnessed a different relationship with time—one not dictated by the ticking of a clock but by the natural rhythm of life, where conversations and connections take precedence.

This experience has shifted my perspective as an educator and scholar. It has challenged me to think beyond traditional academic boundaries, deepened my understanding of global education, and reinforced the power of relationships in learning. The connections I built will extend far beyond my Fulbright tenure, continuing to shape my work and thinking in meaningful ways.

Jie-Qi Chen is a Barbara T. Bowman Professor of Early Childhood Education; Founding Executive Director of Early Teaching and Learning Academy; Founder of Early Math Collaborative at Erikson Institute in Chicago.