Dr. Paula B. Major is a Full Professor of Education whose work centers on preparing culturally responsive teachers and improving instructional practices for diverse learners. Since joining the faculty in 2008 and earning tenure in 2013, she has developed a strong reputation for her leadership in Social Studies Education and Second Language Acquisition. Her scholarship is deeply rooted in supporting English Language Learners (ELLs) and understanding how teachers’ beliefs, experiences, and instructional choices shape student outcomes.
Dr. Major earned her Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Mississippi. Her dissertation—Elementary Teachers’ Perspectives Toward English Language Learners and the Use of Instruction—continues to inform her research agenda, which emphasizes teacher voice, classroom realities, and culturally responsive pedagogy. Through sustained partnerships with K–12 schools, she collaborates with educators to co-develop lessons, provide professional development, and implement effective strategies for multilingual learners.
In her work with teacher candidates, Dr. Major integrates field experiences, reflective practice, and community-centered learning to prepare future educators for today’s diverse classrooms. She is widely recognized for her mentorship, dedication to student success, and commitment to equitable instruction. Dr. Major’s ongoing scholarship and service reflect her belief that all students deserve inclusive and culturally affirming learning environments.
Degrees
- E.d.D., Curriculum & Instruction, University of Mississippi, 2006
- ESL Certification, University of Mississippi, 2006
- M.A.T., Elementary Education, Wayne State University, 2000
- B.A., Political Science (Spanish Minor), Howard University, 1995
Licenses & Certifications
-
- AA Elementary Education (K–3), Mississippi
- AA Elementary Education (4–8), Mississippi
- A English as a Second Language, Mississippi
- Elementary K–5 and K–8 Self-Contained, Michigan
University of Hawai`i–West Oʻahu
- Full Professor, 2021–Present
- Associate Professor, 2013–2021
- Assistant Professor, 2008–2013
Other Higher Education Experience
- Assistant Professor of Elementary Education, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa – American Samoa, Summer 2010
- Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Mississippi, 2006–2008
- Graduate Instructor, University of Mississippi, 2004–2006
- Graduate Assistant, University of Mississippi, 2002–2004
K–12 Teaching Experience
- English Teacher, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China, Summer 2005
- First Grade Teacher, International School of Monagas, Venezuela, 2000–2002
- Second Grade Teacher, Nichols School, Detroit, MI, 1999–2000
- First Grade Teacher, Stellwagen Elementary, Detroit, MI, 1997–1999
- Sixth Grade Teacher, Burbank Middle School, Detroit, MI, 1996–1997
- Educational Media & Technology
- Social Studies Methods I and Social Studies Methods II
- Early Field Experience
- Introduction to Teaching as a Career
- Student Teaching
- Block A and Block B Practicum
Courses developed:
- Diversity in American Education (WI)
- Teaching Culturally Linguistic Diverse Learners (WI)
- Block 3 Practicum w/ Seminar
- Block 1 Practicum w/ Seminar
Courses taught in the University of Hawai‘i System:
- ITE 322 442 Elementary Social Studies Methods (Taught in Am. Samoa)
- ITE 322 443 Elementary Social Studies Methods (Taught in Am. Samoa)
Major, P. & Graham-Tutt, C. (October 2020) The Contributions of Pili’Aina: Faculty Reflective Essays on a Community-Based Project in Hawai`i. Journal of Community Engagement and Special.
Mathis, P. & Boyd, N. (2011). Peanut butter and jelly is more than just a sandwich! Social Studies Research and Practice.
Boyd, N. & Mathis, P., Swift E. (2011). Our Friend Martin, more than a movie: Using culturally relevant video to initiate critical conversations about race in an urban classroom. Curriculum and Teaching Dialogue, Vol. 13, Number 1.
Mathis, P. & Boyd, N. (2009). Who is teaching Social Studies?: Pre-Service teachers’ reaction. Social Studies Research and Practice. Volume 4, Number 3, Winter 2009.
My engaged scholarship focuses on improving equitable and culturally responsive practices in Social Studies Education and Second Language Acquisition. Centered on supporting English Language Learners, my work builds on research examining teachers’ perspectives and collaborates directly with K–12 educators to strengthen instruction. I partner with teachers to design lessons, provide professional development, and connect research to classroom practice. In preparing teacher candidates, I emphasize reflection, cultural responsiveness, and community-based learning. Overall, my scholarship seeks to elevate the experiences of multilingual learners and the educators who serve them, promoting inclusive, research-informed practices that support student success.
He Paepae Aloha Grant, Taught ETEC 279 teacher candidates, (2022)
UHWO Budget Resource Committee Travel Grants: 2025 ($856) , 2020 ($1,415), 2017 ($850), 2012 ($506)
National Endowment for the Humanities Grant: 2018 ($1,000)
Mathis, P. & Alexander, E. (2011). $850 grant from Women’s Campus for Traveling Multicultural Book Bags.
Mathis, P. (2010). $1200 travel award from Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE).
Mathis, P. (2008). $390 travel grant from the University Research Council.
Love, F., Moore, J., Thompson, J., & Mathis, P. (2003). $185,000 Reading Institute: Integrating Literacy Skills in the Content Areas for Middle School Teachers.
Elementary Teachers Perspectives toward English Language Learners and the Use of Instruction. (2004)
- Fluent in Spanish for more than 18 years both writing and reading
- Incorporating technology into instruction (Blackboard Collaborate, Podcasts, Lamakū, Laulima, videos, etc.)
Teachers’ perceptions of English Language Learners profoundly shape the instructional practices they choose, and a deeper understanding of these perceptions is essential for improving culturally responsive teaching in elementary classrooms.
Integrating culturally relevant pedagogy into elementary social studies instruction enhances engagement, builds critical thinking, and supports equitable learning outcomes for multilingual learners.
Rooted and Rising: Black Women Educators in Hawaiʻi, Past and Present, HICE (2026)
Interviewed via Afro Aloha Network, Education in Hawai`i, on KHON2, Eps. 5. (2025)
Guest Speaker for Mayor Blangiardi celebrates Black History Month in Honolulu, 44:00 Mark to view. (2024)
"Using Video Podcasting to Support Student Reflections." Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education, Honolulu, HI. October 2011.
"To Thoroughly know something, Teach it to Others Hawaii Great Teachers Seminar 2010." UH West O‘ahu Center for Teaching & Learning Excellence, Honolulu, HI. April 2011.
"Be a Bloggie and Play Videos on Demand via Laulima!" UH West O‘ahu Center for Teaching & Learning Excellence, Honolulu, HI. February 2011.
Hawai‘i International Conference on Education. Honolulu, HI. January 2011.
- Topic One: Culturally Linguistic Diverse Learners Benefit from Trade Books (N. Boyd & T. Williams-Hayes).
- Topic Two: Using Technology to Enhance Teacher Education Course (N. Boyd & T. Williams-Hayes)
"Social Studies is Electrifying via The World Wide Web (Poster)." Hawai‘i International Conference on Education. Honolulu, HI. January 2009.
"It’s Our Responsibility to Create Centered-Cared Environments." Hawai‘i International Conference on Education. Honolulu, HI. January 2009.
"One on One Interview with Mississippi Teachers." Alabama Mississippi Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Mobile, AL. January 2008.
"Its’ in the Bag: Bring Multicultural Literature to Life for Students and their Parents (in place of T. Williams-Hayes)." National Association for Multicultural Education Conference. Baltimore, MD. November 2007.
"Mississippi Teachers Express Concerns for English Language Learners." Alabama Mississippi Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Mobile, AL. January 2007.
"Enhancing Community Encounters through Blackboard (N. Boyd)." Mississippi Blackboard Users Guide. Biloxi, MS. January 2007.
"Justice for English Language Learners (N. Boyd)." National Association for Multicultural Education Conference. Phoenix, AZ. October 2006.
"Let’s Talk: Academic and Conversational Language (N. Boyd)." International Reading Association Conference (IRA). Mobile, AL, January 2006.
"Differentiated Instruction for the Diverse Learner." Mississippi Department of Education Summer Conference (N. Boyd & S. Rowland). University, MS. June 2006.
"Class 5: English Summer Camp in Liuzhou, Guangxi, China." Faculty Brown Bag Luncheon, University of Mississippi. University, MS. October 2005.
"Woman to Woman: Mentoring Graduate Students." The Graduate School, University of Mississippi. University, MS. October 2005.
- Major, P. (2025) $856, travel grant from Budget Resource Committee, UH West O‘ahu
- Mathis, P. (2012) $506, travel grant from Budget Resource Committee, UH West O‘ahu
- Mathis, P. & Alexander, E. (2011). $850 grant from Women’s Campus for Traveling Multicultural Book Bags
- Mathis, P. (2010). $1200 travel award from Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE)
- Mathis, P. (2008) $390 travel grant from the University Research Council.
- Love, F., Moore, J., Thompson, J., & Mathis, P. (2003). $185,000 Reading Institute: Integrating Literacy Skills in the Content Areas for Middle School Teachers
Lamakū
UH Employee Online Training - Harassment & Discrimination Prevention (Title IX)
Institute for Research & Engaged Scholarship (IRES)
Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
Studied Mandarin Chinese and lived there for three months.
Maturin, Venezuela
Studied Spanish and lived there for two years.
- 116 Elementary Education (K-3), Mississippi
- 117 Elementary Education (4-8), Mississippi
- 117 English as a Second Language, (K-12), Mississippi
- Elementary K-5, K-8 self contained, Michigan
- Holds an ESL certification
- National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME)
- Phi Delta Kappa (PDK)
- Kappa Delta Pi (KDP)
- International Reading Association (IRA)
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
Service to the University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu:
- 2025: Partnership with Presov University through the Erasmus Institute. Natália Rozmanová teacher candidate
- 2025-current: Sustainability Committee, member
- 2025, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020: TPRC chair (3x),
- 2022-2025: Ethics Committee Chair
- 2022: Search Committee Chair, Secondary Social Studies Position
- 2019-2022: UHWO Open Education Resource Committee, system wide committee member; UHWO Rep.
- 2019- 2024: Budget and Resource Committee, committee member
- 2017-Present: Program Review Committee, committee member
- 2015-2017: Faculty Senate Representative for Education Division
- Fall 2016: Budget and Resource Committee, co-chair
- 2016: Faculty Search Committee, Mathematics Methods, committee member
- 2015: Faculty Search Committee, Special Education, committee member
- Fall 2015: Faculty Personnel Committee for Education, chair
- Fall 2014: Faculty Personnel Committee for Education, chair
- 2013-2015: Faculty Senate Representative for Education Division
- Fall 2013: Faculty Personnel Committee for Education, chair
- 2013-2015: Distance Education Committee; co-chair
- 2013-2014: Instructor for Economics Search Committee, Elem. Ed representative
- 2010-2017: Distinguished Visiting Scholar Committee; selected representative by VCAA
- 2010-2015: Outstanding Teaching Laulima Innovation Award, chair
- 2008-Present: Academic Advisor to UH West O‘ahu students in Teacher Education Program
- 2009-2013: Distance Education Committee; Elem. Ed representative
- 2011-2012: National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), wrote report for social studies standards, and conceptual framework
- 2012: Educational Testing Service; Elem. Ed representative
- 2010-2011 & 2013-Present: Faculty Senate Representative for Education Division
- 2009-2011: WASC Steering Committee, responsible for Elem. Ed Report
- 2009-2010: UH West O‘ahu’s Assessment Committee, responsible for Elem. Ed Report
- 2010-2011: Curriculum Committee; Elem. Ed representative
- February 2010: Participated Career Fair at Nanakuli High and Intermediate School
- 2008-2010: Educational Effectiveness Committee, Chair
- 2009-1010: Hawai`i Food Bank; Campus Representative, raised $1,870 in cash, $370 in merchandise purchased for a total of $2,240. 265lbs of canned goods
- 2009: Added service learning component to EDEE 415 course; Read Aloud America
- January 30, 2009: Participated Career Fair at Moanalua High School’s Career Fair
- Served on three Faculty Search Committees; Dr. Laszlo, Dr. Biffle and Dr. Jones
Service to the University of Hawai‘i System
- 2019-2022: UH System Level Open Education Resource (OER), committee member
- 2012: Hawai‘i National Great Teacher Seminar, facilitator for 24th Annual
- 2009: 3rd Annual Winter Institute for Black Studies, planning committee member
- Summer 2010: taught ITE 322 for UH Mānoa in American Samoa
Service to Professional Associations
- 2012-2016: Editor for Social Studies Research and Practice (edited MS 06514, MS 06491)
- 2011-Present: Editor for National Teacher Education Journal (edited 4 journals)
- October 18-21, 2011: Convener for Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE) Conference
- Service to Neighborhood, City, County, or State Communities
- 2012-Present: Hawai‘i Chapter, The Links, Inc., active/financial member
- 2009-Present: Read Aloud America, member of book committee
- 2009-Present: Read Aloud America, volunteer reader & supervisor
- 2009-2011: Delta G.E.M.S, mentor teenage girls ages 14 to 17 years of age
- 2004-Present: Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. Hawai’i Alumnae Chapter, active/financial member
- November 4, 2008: Worked election polls at Naanunu Elementary School
- April 18-22 2009: Unit Review Team for Chaminade University’s Education Division, wrote elementary report for Hawaii Teacher State Board