Bandung, September 9, 2025 – The Communication Science Program at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) welcomed Prof. Theresa Catalano from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, USA, as an Adjunct Professor for the year 2025. Prof. Catalano is an expert in second language education, applied linguistics, and critical discourse analysis, with research interests focusing on migration, social justice, and multimodal literacy.

Her visit began on Monday, September 8, 2025, with a public lecture titled “Introduction to Critical Media Studies” held at the FPIPS Auditorium, 6th floor, and attended by more than 300 students across different academic years. The enthusiasm of the participants inspired Prof. Catalano to emphasize the importance of critical media literacy in the digital era.

On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, she continued her activities with a workshop titled “The Importance of Interdisciplinary Research: Publishing in International Journals for Social Science and Humanities.” The session, which was attended by FPIPS faculty members, offered valuable insights into international publication strategies and the challenges faced by academics in the global research landscape.

Prof. Catalano’s visit was made possible through the Fulbright Specialist Program Award from the U.S. Government, which supported her academic collaboration with UPI’s Communication Science Program. The initiative reflects a commitment to SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, fostering cross-national academic cooperation in research, teaching, and joint publications between Indonesia and the United States.

During her stay, Prof. Catalano also taught courses in Media and Social Change and Introduction to Communication Studies. “I am delighted to teach UPI students who are active, curious, and highly engaged,” she remarked. Her presence is expected to strengthen the academic capacity of both lecturers and students while opening new opportunities for global research collaboration. (Contributor)