By Tessa Chilton
Whether she knew at the time or not, Norma Nangju’s path to community-engaged research began in middle school and led her to earn a doctor of education in educational leadership and organizational development from the UofL College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). She will be honored this week with the Blake Haselton Community Change Agent award as part of Spring 2024 Commencement.
Raised in the Philippines and Indonesia, Nangju's passion for education was instilled by her parents. In middle school, she led an environmental club that addressed the social issues of Smokey Mountain, a trash heap in Manila that emitted harmful smoke. This, and her work addressing pollution as an undergraduate at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, set the stage for her future endeavors.
After moving to Louisville, Nangju continued her passion for service as an active member of the Muslim community. She played a pivotal role in opening the Nur Islamic School of Louisville and later the Islamic School of Louisville.
Nangju’s love for teaching led her to UofL, where she earned an education specialist degree in educational administration before pursuing a doctoral program. Throughout her studies, she continued her work in the community by helping to found HIRA Institute, a 3rd to college level seminary, where she is currently principal.
“As a leader, my strength is facilitating change by listening to people,” she said. “I don’t think I really knew what that was until [starting my degree] and learned more about [community-engaged] research.”
Looking ahead, Nangju aims to establish partnerships in Louisville to enhance housing, education, healthcare and civil rights for Muslims. She also plans to establish a college offering a bachelors in Islamic studies to fill a gap in the local educational landscape.
Beyond Louisville, Nangju hopes to apply her community research methods back home in the Philippines and Indonesia. Her story embodies the transformative power of community engagement and how one can drive change by understanding the needs of others.
About the College of Education and Human Development:
Founded in 1968, the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) is a vibrant community that prepares students for leadership in a variety of metropolitan settings including schools, public and private corporations, and governmental agencies.
CEHD embraces the University's mission to advance the intellectual, cultural, and economic development of our diverse communities and citizens. Our commitment to student success is unparalleled as we promote the highest levels of learning and social, emotional, and physical health and well-being for all children, individuals, and families.