Our Team
Dr. Joyanne De Four-Babb
Research Director
Dr. Joyanne De Four-Babb, was appointed as the Research Director in March 2024, having served as the Interim Research Director at the Research Office between January 2023 and March 2024 . Prior to that, she served for four years as an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education and Arts at the University of Belize. She was the coordinator of the Field Experience and Research Methods in Education courses. Joyanne is currently the co-Chair of the Caribbean and African Studies in Education, Special Interest Group (86) of the American Educational Research Association (2020—2023) and has previously served that organisation in the capacity of Program Chair (2015-2016; 2019–2020). Dr. De Four-Babb is a doctoral Commonwealth Scholar and received her doctorate from the University of Waikato, Hamilton New Zealand.
Dr. De Four-Babb’s research focuses on the development of identity (being and becoming) among various populations, such as women faculty, teachers, business leaders, and women priests. Her other work has also focused on peer mentoring among women faculty, spirituality, practical experiences of learning to teach, and comparative collaboration as an emerging research method. She has presented her research at major conferences including the American Educational Research Association, Academy of Management, British Academy of Management, Biennial Narrative Research in Progress Conference, University of the West Indies Biennial Conference in Education, Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) Conference AQR/DPR Conference. She has also served as a peer-reviewer for the AERA Narrative SIG and CASE SIG, and for journals such as Gender and Education, Studies in Continuing Education, the Caribbean Educational Research Journal, and Journal of Educational Administration and History.
Joyanne’s publications include multiple book chapters, and peer-reviewed articles in journals including Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning Professing Education, The Journal for the Study of Spirituality, The Journal of Educational Research, Caribbean Curriculum, Power and Education, and The Journal of Pan African Studies.
Ms. Mary Bellini
Research Clerk 1
Mary Bellini was appointed Research Clerk 1 in the Research Office on September 18, 2023. Previously, she worked as the Vice President’s Office Secretary. She held different positions at the University of Belize. Mary started off as a Computer Lab Monitor in 2008. She later became the Copy Clerk in 2013, Library Clerk in 2014, and Secretary for the Vice President’s Office in 2015. Additionally, Mary has substituted for personnel in the Admissions Department, President’s Office, and Quality Assurance Office. She holds an Associate Degree in English and is now pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in English (Literature). She is a member of the UBEU Technical Team and continues to contribute to and support the project Strengthening Human Rights Advocacy among Youth in Belize. Mary is also a member of the Belmopan Alzheimer's Chapter, which assists individuals and families who are affected by Alzheimer's disease through community participation and awareness initiatives.
