Mª Lourdes Montero Mesa

I joined the USC in January 1984. Previously,I had worked in Madrid, where I lived for 12 years. I started my career at UCM in 1972 and also joined the UNED in 1974. Those were intense years. I devoted all my energy to teaching as an untenured lecturer dealing with the demandsof both face-to-face and distance teaching. My first research projects were related to this dual responsibility and ultimately resulted in my dissertation on “Training Needs for Lecturers”.

Coinciding with my first years at the USC, the mid-eighties witnessed a surge in teacher training as an area of knowledge and research. During this time, I presented my dissertation, supervised doctoral candidates, published my first two books and achieved tenured lecturer status,all of which attest to the advancement in the field.

Consolidation, production and projection are terms that define the nineties. This was a fruitful period as regards to the supervision of theses and projects exploring new lines of research, the increase in the number of publications, international projects, creation of the Stellae Group and our commitment to people and tasks.

The first decade of XXI century was characterized by a heavy workload. After gaining my chair, my academic life continues to develop in the field of lecturer training and professional development. This field represents the convergence of new lines of research and challenges in the Stellae Group.

This brief account of my career would be incomplete without referring to my management responsibilities. Management represents one of the fundamental tasks of a university lecturers. I have been the president of the Pedagogy Section since 1994, also Commissioner Dean at the Faculty of Educational Sciences in 1996 and Director of the Department of Didactics and School Organization from 1997 to October 2005.