Nat Hansuvadha
- Full Professor: Department of Liberal Studies
- Full Professor: Department of Advanced Studies in Education and Counseling
- Department Chair: Department of Liberal Studies
My early classroom experiences with students with disabilities has been foundational to my professional identity and trajectory. Prior to teaching in public education, I worked as an instructional aide for children and adults with extensive support needs in Ventura County. Observing these highly committed teachers with compassion, care, and innovation inspired me to pursue teaching in special education. What resulted was a career as an Education Specialist for six years serving early childhood and elementary students with disabilities.
Fast forward, I pursued my master's degree and Ph.D. in education hoping to acquire a more extensive and critical set of knowledge and skills to effectively advocate for students and families with disabilities. Thankfully, my decision to work at Cal State Long Beach was one of the BEST decisions I have ever made. Teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students at "The Beach" has been such joyful, humbling, and purposeful work.
As a professor in the College of Education, I coordinated the Master of Science in Special Education program for many years and co-designed the Urban Dual Credential Program. Now in my current role as department chair, I lead one of the largest Liberal Studies departments in the state as well as an amazing team of exceptional faculty and advisors. I currently direct three grant projects through the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to innovate curriculum and attract, prepare, and graduate future culturally responsive teachers with a bachelor's degree in liberal studies.
My teaching, service, and research activities align with my commitment to create more humanizing spaces for our students so that fewer of us are hidden and more of us are known, especially our most marginalized students. For example, as president of the California Association of Professors of Special Education (CAPSE/TED) and as a consultant on the California CEEDAR team (Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform), I work alongside colleagues in the state to conduct research, support school districts, and enhance educational leadership and teacher preparation programs to increase the quality of inclusive education for students with disabilities. As the lead for the Center to Close the Opportunity Gap (CCOG) annual Educators Summit, I bring PK-12 teachers together for networking, professional development and centering the joy in teaching and learning.
I have taught and mentored undergraduate and graduate students at CSULB, chaired thesis and dissertation students, and advised students in education-related fields. As a facilitator and mentor, I seek to engage students in reflective and critical dialogue and meaning-making. I support students in making connections between theory and practice with emphasis on the personal and ethical implications of teaching all learners.
Below are courses I have primarily or recently taught at the undergraduate and master's level:
EDSP 355A: Collaborative Partnerships and Strategies for Teaching All Students in Elementary Schools
EDSP 546: Critical Action Research in Special Education
EDSP 570: Community Inclusion: Introduction to Individuals with Disabilities
EDSP 695: Seminar in Special Education
My areas of research include:
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Culturally responsive collaboration with culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) families of children with special needs
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Inclusive teacher and school leadership preparation
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Teacher retention and attrition in special education
Rosenquist, W. & Hansuvadha, N. (2022). Building professional capacity among paraprofessionals through onboarding. Journal of Education Human Resources, 40(4), 437-476.
Soodjinda, D., Hansuvadha, N., & Grenot-Scheyer, M. (2021). Culturally Relevant Teacher Education in the United States. Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1093/OBO/9780199756810-0130.
Pandya, J.Z., Hansuvadha, N., & Pagdilao, K.A.C. (2018). Digital literacies through an intersectional lens: The case of Javier. English Teaching: Critique & Practice, 17(4), pp. 387-399.
Reese, L., Richards-Tutor, C., Hansuvadha, N., Pavri, S., & Xu, S. (2018). Teachers for Inclusive, Diverse Urban Settings. Issues in Teacher Education, 27(1), 17-28.
Zacher Pandya, J., Hansuvadha, N., & Pagdilao, K. (2016). Multi-modal digital composition for children with autism: Lessons on process, product, and assessment. Language Arts, 93(6), 415-429.
Hansuvadha, N. & Slater, C. (2012). Culturally competent school leaders: The individual and the system. Educational Forum, 76(2), 174-189.
Hansuvadha, H. & Sramek, H. (March, 2011). Teaching collaboration through person-centered planning. Russian-American Education Forum, 3(1). http://www.rus-ameeduforum.com
Hansuvadha, N. (March, 2011). “What’s in a name: Critical episodes of an Asian-American teacher educator.” In Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children Knowledge, Skills and Dispositions for Culturally Competent and Inter-culturally Sensitive Leaders in Education Monograph.
Hansuvadha, N. (June, 2011). The power of one team’s journey towards collaboration: Part II. The Monarch Center: Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education. www.monarchcenter.org
Hansuvadha, N. (February, 2011). The power of one team’s journey towards collaboration: Part I. The Monarch Center: Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education. www.monarchcenter.org
Hansuvadha, N. (2009). Compromise in collaborating with families: Perspectives of beginning special education teachers. Journal of Early Childhood Education, 30, 346-362.
Hansuvadha, N., & Sramek, H. (2008). “Historical Foundations of SpecialEducation in the United States.” (Russian translation.) In With Hope for theFuture and Faith in Success: Special Education in Russia and the USA. Eds. Kitsul, Natalia, Tatyana Tsyrlina-Spady, Carol Zitzer-Comfort and Nat Hansuvadha. Publishing House of Regional Open Social Institute, Kursk, Russia, 198-209.
Kitsul, N., Tsyrlina-Spady,T., Zitzer-Comfort,C., & Hansuvadha, N. (2008). With Hope for the Future and Faith in Success: Special Education in Russia and the USA. (Eds.) Publishing House of Regional Open Social Institute, Kursk, Russia.
Bagwell, J., Flores, C., Juarez, S., & Hansuvadha, H. (2023). Inclusive Principal Leadership in California. Teacher Education Division (TED) Council for Exceptional Children Conference (November 1, 2023).
Hansuvadha, N. & Stout, K. (2023). Seas the Day! Flexible Teacher Preparation Pathways for Special Education. Teacher Education Division (TED) Council for Exceptional Children Conference (November 1, 2023).
Hansuvadha, H. (2023). Integrating CSRP into Course Syllabi and Course Policies. CSULB Faculty Center. (February 2, 2023; February 25, 2023)
Hansuvadha, H. (2022). Asian Pacific Islander Network Mission, Vision and Initiatives. APIN Association Meeting. CSULB. April 20, 2022. [Invited speaker]
Hayashino, D., Ang, R., Hansuvadha, N., Miram, L., & Kim, B. (2022). AAPI Women and Wellness at the Beach. CSULB. March 14, 2022.
Hansuvadha, N. & Richards-Tutor, C. (2022). Urban Dual Credential Program and University Partnerships. CAIS Meeting, CCTE SPAN Conference. Sacramento, CA. March 7, 2022. [Invited speakers].
Hansuvadha, N., Toews, S., Stoltz, S., & Kemper, T. (2021). MTSS Teacher Educator Pathway Modules. Orange County Department of Education and CEEDAR.
Hansuvadha, N. (2021). Enhancing California Teacher Educators with MTSS Professional Development Online Modules. California Council on Teacher Education. San Diego, CA. October 20, 2021.
Hansuvadha, N. (2021). Anti-Asian Hate Resolution. CSULB Academic Senate. Unanimously passed March 25, 2021.
Hansuvadha, N. (2021). Conversation with Provost Jerskey. Invited College of Education panelist. CSULB. April 16, 2021.
Hansuvadha, N. (2021). Confronting Anti-Asian Hate. Invited presenter, ASEC Department Meetings, April 12, 2021.
Hansuvadha, N. & Leonard-Giesen (2020). Inclusive Practices in Higher Education. Invited presenters, CSULB College of Education. February 1, 2020.
Larsen, L., Graf, V., Shneider, N., Hansuvadha, N., & Flores, C. (2019). California Teacher Education Programs Prepare for Inclusive Practices: Opportunities and Challenges. Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children Conference. New Orleans, LA: November 7, 2019.
Hansuvadha, N. & Hagans, K. (2018). Building Capacity for Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). Invited presenters at Research to Practice Exchange. CSULB. May 4, 2018.
Hansuvadha, N. & Garcia, A. (2017). Exit opportunities for students with disabilities. Invited presenters at LAUSD School Psychological Services, Central and East District Team Meeting. July 22, 2016.
Hansuvadha, N. (2017). CEEDAR Project: Promoting Improved Outcomes for All Students. Brandman University, Irvine, CA. December 2017.
Hansuvadha, N. & Pavri, S. (2016). Teacher preparation for inclusive schools: A blended general & special education certification program. Accepted presentation at the California Council on Teacher Education Conference. San Jose, CA. April 2015.
Pavri, S. Richards-Tutor,C. & Hansuvadha, N. (2015). Development of a dual licensure program: Preparing candidates to teach all students in urban settings. Accepted presentation at the Teacher Education Conference. Tempe, AZ. November 2015.
Pavri, S., & Hansuvadha, N. (2015). What do administrators look for when hiring beginning special education teachers?: Impact of the changing and legal landscape. Accepted presentation at the Teacher Education Conference. Tempe, AZ. November 2015.
Zacher Pandya, J., Hansuvadha, N., & Pagdilao, K. (2015). Digital Video Composition with Children with Special Needs as Redistributive Social Justice: Javier’s Case. American Education Research Association (AERA). Chicago, IL.
Hansuvadha, N., Piker, N., Melton, L., Gradin, S., Codd, G., & Parsons, S. (2014). Early Learning Program Showcase. CSULB, Long Beach. August 22, 2014.
Hansuvadha, N., Piker, N., Melton, L., & Parsons, S. (2014). Preparing educators for transitional kindergarten. CSU Chancellor’s Office, Long Beach. CA. (April 20, 2014).
Hansuvadha, N., & Piker, R. (2014). Infusing Early Learning Foundations in Elementary Teacher Preparation. National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Education (NAECTE). Washington, D.C. (November 20, 2013).
Hansuvadha, N., & Piker, R. (2013). Early Learning Foundation Urban Teacher Fellowship Project; Preliminary Findings of a Constructivist Teacher Pathway. California Council of Teacher Education. San Diego, CA. (October, 2013).
Hansuvadha, N. (2012). Parent Rights & Participation in Special Education: Why It Matters. California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) Conference. Sacramento, CA. March 7-12, 2012).
CSU Center for Transformational Educator Preparation Programs, Advisory Board Member, October 2021-2023.
CSU Liberal Studies Council Member. Fall 2022-present.
CEEDAR (Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform) State Team Member, Fall 2018-present.
Educators Summit Lead, Center to Close the Opportunity Gap (CCOG). Fall 2020-present.
Board of Directors, California Council on Teacher Education (CCTE). Fall 2022-present.
President, California Association of Professors in Special Education (CAPSE/TED). Summer 2022- present.
President, Inclusive Education SIG, California Council on Teacher Education (CCTE). Fall 2022-present.
Advisory Board Member, Long Beach City College Teacher Preparation Advisory Committee, Spring 2023-present.
Advisory Board Member, Faculty Center, CSULB. Fall 2021-present.
Co-Faculty Champion, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI), College of Education, CSULB. Fall 2020-present.
