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Description
Oral history interview with Illinois State University alum Dr. Leah Nillas, Class of 2010. The interview was conducted by Milner Library Digitization Center student employee Ayushi Shukla during the summer of 2023.
Born and raised in the Philippines, Nillas excelled in mathematics as a student. After completing her bachelor’s degree, she began teaching high school mathematics for a short time before electing to pursue a master’s degree at the University of the Philippines. There she became involved in distance learning, a nascent field at the time. Her roles included developing and proofreading learning modules and serving as one of the first faculty members in the University of the Philippines’ Open University.
When pursuing a PhD in mathematics education, Nillas considered universities worldwide, initially favoring Japan or Germany in order to learn a new language. However, a prompt response from Illinois State University and an offer of graduate assistantship led her to Bloomington-Normal. Her transition to life in the United States was marked by significant cultural adjustments, including learning the American accent and navigating stereotypes. The aftermath of 9/11 added stress for international students like her, who faced heightened scrutiny and racial biases.
At ISU, Nillas found a supportive academic environment, particularly among international students in the Mathematics Department. Her coursework and dissertation focused on pre-service teacher understanding of algebra. She valued the opportunity to publish her first research paper from a class project, an experience that shaped her approach to undergraduate research. However, she regretted not engaging more deeply with broader multicultural organizations and conferences during her studies.
While completing her PhD, Nillas secured a tenure-track position at Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU), balancing full-time faculty responsibilities with her dissertation. Her research interests expanded to include technology in teaching and learning, classroom discourse, and cross-cultural mathematics education. Sabbaticals in countries like Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, and Spain allowed her to observe and compare mathematics instruction systems worldwide, exploring sociocultural factors influencing teaching practices.
Nillas has also played a role in addressing teacher shortages through IWU’s Teaching Titans Talent Scouts program, which recruits students to promote education majors among high school students. She described systemic challenges in teaching, including post-pandemic retirements, safety concerns, and political pressures on curricula, emphasizing the need for sustained efforts to address these issues.
Reflecting on her ISU experience, Nillas highlighted her involvement with the international student community and the mentorship of supportive faculty as pivotal. She expressed a desire for more inclusive and integrated multicultural student organizations and opportunities for international students to engage in conferences and research. Today, as a department chair and scholar, she continues to connect with ISU through conferences and collaborative research, appreciating the foundation it provided for her career and her evolving understanding of inclusivity and global education.
Interview Date
2023
Index
- Introduction; Dr. Nillas’ upbringing and education in the Philippines: 00:00-02:58
- Pursing master’s degree; serving as a graduate assistant in University of the Philippines’ Open University: 02:58-05:18
- Moodle pilot testing in Australia: 05:18-06:50
- Choosing ISU for PhD: 06:43-10:20
- Tutoring high school students in remote areas of the Philippines: 10:20-12:19
- Adjusting to life in the United States; navigating stereotypes and being seen as different: 12:19-16:23
- Circle of international student friends: 16:23-17:28; 24:42-26:51
- Educational Administration and Foundations class: 17:28-19:01
- Preference for multicultural organizations: 19:01-20:19
- Student jobs at ISU: 20:19-20:54
- Impact of 9/11 on international students: 20:54 - 24:42; 48:40-51:37
- Faculty position at IWU: 26:51-28:54
- Evolution of her teaching and research interests: 28:54-31:48
- Sabbaticals in various countries: 31:48-35:42
- Experiences observing self-study methodologies and classroom practices in Japan: 35:42-37:28
- IWU’s Teaching Titans Talent Scouts program to address teacher shortages: 37:28-42:58
- Ongoing connection with ISU through conferences and research collaborations: 42:58-44:21
- Reflecting on changes she would make to her ISU experience: 44:21-48:40
- Impact of ISU on Nillas’ career; concluding remarks: 51:37 - 52:38
Recommended Citation
Nillas, Leah, "Interview with Leah Nillas, Class of 2010" (2010). Alumni Oral Histories. 79.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/aoh/79