Ursula Thomas
Associate Chair-Cultural and Behavioral Sciences Online Cultural and Behavioral Sciences- Education
Master of Public Administration,
Department of Government & Sociology
Georgia College and State University (Magna Cum Laude)
Date of Completion: May 6, 2021Doctor of Education
Department of Early Childhood/Elementary Education
College of Education, The University of Alabama (Magna Cum Laude)
Dissertation research: TEACHER KNOWLEDGE, VIEWS OF DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE PRACTICE (2003)
Major: Early Childhood/Elementary Education
Minors: Literacy, Qualitative Research
Research interests: diversity, social justice, culturally relevant pedagogy, cultural mediation, multicultural education, gender issues in curriculum and teaching, service-learning, technology, leadership, curriculum/ instruction, teacher knowledge at the intersection of race, class and gender.
WIDA MASTER CADRE- Dual Language Learners, University of Wisconsin Madison
Credential Received: Summer 2015Teacher and Leader Keys Effectiveness System Georgia State Department of Education
Credential Received: Winter 2014Programs for Infants and Toddler Care
Early Care Endorsement, Sonoma State University
Certification Received: August 2010Educational Leadership Certification
Endorsement Received: May 2004Department of Human Resources, Early Learning Trainer
Certification Received: May 2004Master of Education, Early Childhood Education
Department of Elementary Education
College of Education, Auburn University of Montgomery (Cum Laude)
Degree Received: August 1996Bachelor of Science, Early Childhood/Elementary Education
Department of Elementary Education
College of Education, Alabama State University (Cum Laude)
Degree Received: May 1994
- Specializations
Social justice, cultural mediation, culturally relevant pedagogy, multicultural education, literacy, qualitative methodology, gender issues, technology, culturally and linguistically diverse populations
- Biography
- Recognitions and Awards
Perimeter College-Georgia State University Faculty Values Award 2016
Alabama Black Achievers Award-Entrepreneur Service Category of 2011
Reader’s Digest Dewitt Scholarship
Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society
Presidents List-University of Alabama
GAEYC Leadership for Equity Fellow
Deans’ List-Auburn University of Montgomery
Dean’s List-Alabama State University
TSPAT Scholarship (1995)
Cambridge Who’s Who Honors Membership (2008)
- Committees and Organizations
Education Liaison for Perimeter College and College of Education and Human Development
- Publications
Thomas, U. (2011). Culture or chaos in the village: The journey to cultural fluency. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield Education.
Thomas, U. and Drake, J. (2016). Critical Research on Sexism and Racism in STEM Fields. Hershey, PA: IGI Global Publications.
Thomas, U (2017). Advocacy in Academia and the Role of Teacher Preparation Programs.
Hershey, PA: IGI Global PublishingThomas, U. (2018). Navigating Micro-Aggressions Toward Women in Higher Education IGI Global Publishing. Hershey, PA.
Thomas, U. and Drake, J. (2019). Women’s Influence on Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity in STEM Fields. Hershey, PA: IGI Global Publications.
Thomas, U. (2020). Cases on Strategic Partnerships for Resilient Communities and Schools (pp. 1-280). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-3285-0
Peer-Reviewed Journals
Thomas-Fair, U. (2008). Perceptions of curriculum and inservice teachers: An action research project. Wisdom of Practice: An Online Journal of Action Research. Retrieved:www.vancouver.wsu.edu/
Thomas, U. C. (January 01, 2010). Disposition and Early Childhood Education Preservice Teachers: Where to Start? Current Issues in Education, 13, 2.)
Thomas, U. (2010). The Power of Protocols on Surfacing Culture in Children’s Literature. New Horizons for Learning, Fall, 2010. Retrieved from: http://education.jhu.edu/newhorizons/Journals/Fall2010/#AbstractsShealey.M, Hatton,P., McCray, E. & Thomas, U. (2014). “Sista Doctas” Taking a Seat at
the Table: Advocacy and Agency among Women of Color in Teacher Education NASPA Journal About Women in Higher EducationPeer-Reviewed/Refereed Book Chapters
Thomas, U. & Briggs, S. (2012). My Child Left Behind. In Grantham, T., Trotman-Scott, M., & Harman, D. (2012) (Eds.), Desegregated Schools, Segregated Minds. Waco,TX: Prufrock
Publishing.Thomas, U. (2014). The Effect of New Environments on Children’s Language Ability: A Case Study. Onchwari, G. (2014) (Editor.), Cross-Cultural Considerations in the Education of Young Immigrant Learners. Hershey, PA: IGI Global Publishing
Thomas, U. (2015). Teacher Education Field Experience: Increasing Utilization of Course Management Systems to Improve student Service Learning and Field Experiences. Keengwe, J. (2015) (Editor.),Models for Improving and Optimizing Online and Blended Learning in Higher Education. Hershey, PA: IGI Global Publishing
Thomas, U. (2015). iPad: Integrating Positive, Active, Digital Tools and Behaviors in Preservice
Teacher Education Courses. In Keengwe, J. (2015). Handbook of research on educational technology integration and active learning.Thomas, U. (2017). Disposition and Early Childhood Education Preservice Teachers: A Social Justice Stance in Keengwe, J. (2017)(Editor). Handbook of research on promoting cross-cultural competence and social justice in teacher education. Hershey, PA: IGI Global Publishing
Thomas, U. (2017). A Lighthouse on the Shore, the Challenge of Trying to Shine. In Brown, K. H., Alvarez, M. H. P., & Trotman, S. M. F. (2017). Faculty of color navigating higher education. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield Education.
Thomas, U., Hall, L., Good, T., Booker, A., & Carter, G. (2020). Fraternal Organizations and Mentoring: Valuable Compacts for Young Black Males. In U. Thomas (Ed.), Cases on Strategic Partnerships for Resilient Communities and Schools (pp. 1-280). Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Thomas, U. (2021). An Ecological Model of the Urban Learner: the Geography of a Predominantly Black Institution and Multi-Campus Spaces. In Arnold, N., Osanloo, A., & Guillaume, R. (In press). 2nd Edition of the Handbook of Urban Educational Leadership. SAGE Publications.
Thomas, U. and Wheel-Carter, K (2021). Claws and All: Women of Color and the Pitfalls of Dominant Culture Leadership (pages 341-357). In Management Association, I. (Ed.). (2021). Research Anthology on Challenges for Women in Leadership Roles. IGI Global. dx.doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-8592-4.ch020