Peju Alfred is a PhD candidate in the Dual PhD/Dr. phil Transcultural German Studies Program (University of Arizona/Universität zu Köln). Her research projects have had the trajectory of exploring intercultural- and symbolic competences and reflections through multimodal texts. She places high value on how students’ voices and dialogue in the classroom can be used to explore issues of representation, identity, and mainstream discourse.
Her dissertation research considers what it means to bring a decolonial perspective in the teaching of culture and interculturality in colonial languages in the US. To this end, her dissertation project examines the effects of an intercultural curriculum design informed by certain perspectives on intercultural learning in a German language classroom. Connected to her broader research interests, she participates actively in projects and academic community discussions related to multiple perspective-taking practices; digital and multiliteracies pedagogical research and designs; intercultural research and approaches; critical theories and discussions in language teaching and learning; film theory and the symbolic dimensions of visual narrative elements.
An active academic and community server at the department, college and community levels, Peju is currently an Ambassador for Open Dialogue University of Arizona Fearless Inquiries Project and is serving as the Assistant Language Program Director in the Department of German Studies (Fall 24 – Spring 25). She also served on the College of Humanities Diversity (JEDI) Committee (2023) and is a recipient of a Max Kade Fellowship (2018).