Nat Hansuvadha
- Professor: Department of Liberal Studies
- Professor: Department of Advanced Studies in Education and Counseling
- Department Chair: Department of Liberal Studies
My early classroom experiences with students with disabilities have been foundational to my professional identity and career trajectory. I worked as a paraeducator for children and adults with extensive support needs and then an Education Specialist committed to empowering diverse learners and affirming their worth beyond disability labels.
When I pursued my Ph.D. studies, I was fueled by a conviction to effectively advocate for meaningful inclusion of students with disabilities, which eventually led me to CSULB. During my tenure here, I have primarily taught and advised students in the Master of Science in Special Education and co-designed the Urban Dual Credential Program. I am continuously evolving my teaching and leadership to more authentically learn from and with students and shaping their academic experience at CSULB more holistically.
In my current role as department chair, I lead one of the largest Liberal Studies departments in the state and work with a team of faculty and staff, who are committed to social justice and educational equity. I also currently direct three teacher training grants funded by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to diversify the teacher workforce, innovate curriculum, and prepare culturally responsive educators.
My commitment to creating more humanizing practices and policies for students and reducing systemic barriers is reflected in my scholarship and service. As past president of CCTE's California Association of Professors of Special Education (CAPSE) and as a consultant on the California CEEDAR team (Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform), I engage in research and scholarship accessible to school districts, community college partners, and fellow teacher educators. As the Summit lead for the Center to Close the Opportunity Gap (CCOG) annual educator conference, I bring together PK-12 teachers for networking and teacher-led professional 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 taught at the undergraduate and master's level:
EDSP 355A: Collaborative Partnerships and Strategies for Teaching All Students in Elementary Schools
UDCP 401: Positive Behavior Supports
EDSP 546: Critical Action Research in Special Education
EDSP 570: Community Inclusion: Introduction to Individuals with Disabilities
EDSP 695: Seminar in Special Education
My current projects aim to inform, innovate, and transform teacher education in California and reflect my research and scholarship foci:
- Inclusive teacher and school leadership preparation
- Teacher retention and attrition in special education
- Culturally responsive collaboration with families of children with disabilities
California Association in Inclusive Schooling (CAIS). As a consultant, I am preparing a state report regarding the status of access and inclusion for students with disabilities in California and the preparation of teachers for inclusive settings. March 15, 2025-December 31, 2025. Total budget: $8,000.
Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) PK-3 Early Childhood Specialist Credential Integrated Teacher Preparation Program Planning Grant, Principal Investigator. Funding dates, July 1, 2023-December 31, 2025. Total budget: $250,000.
Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) Education Specialist Credential Program Integrated Teacher Preparation Program Planning Grant, Principal Investigator. Funding dates, June 1, 2023-December 31, 2025. Total budget: $250,000.
Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) Integrated Teacher Preparation Program Implementation and Expansion Grant, Co-Principal Investigator. Funding dates, June 1, 2023-December 31, 2025. Total budget: $500,000.
Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform (CEEDAR) 3.0. (CFDA 84.325A). External Consultant State Team Member (2021-2025).
CEEDAR Center, funded through the Office of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education, builds upon the successful collaborative efforts over the past ten years as the CEEDAR 1.0 and 2.0 Center. Like the previous grants, the Center is designed to improve and align standards and the professional preparation of general and special education teachers and leaders working with students with disabilities. Additional emphasis will be placed on measuring the impact that changes have on the ability to attract, prepare, and retain teachers and leaders, especially those from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds and those with disabilities
Hansuvadha, N. (2025, accepted). Status of inclusion and access for students with disabilities in California and implications for teacher preparation. California Alliance for Inclusive Schooling (CAIS).
Soodjinda, D., Hansuvadha, N., & Grenot-Scheyer, M. (2025, accepted). Culturally Affirming Teacher Education in the United States. Oxford University Press.
Juarez, S., Bagwell, J., Flores, C., & Hansuvadha, N. (2025, under review). Inclusive Principal Leadership in California. Journal of School Leadership.
Rosenquist, W. & Hansuvadha, N. (2022). Building professional capacity among paraprofessionals through onboarding. Journal of Education Human Resources, 40(4), 437-476.
Hansuvadha. N., Nelson, J.P., Rice, K.,& Holdheide, L, (2024). CEC Spotlight Session: What if…? Imagining New Possibilities in Teacher and Leader Preparation. Council for Exceptional Children Conference. March 14, 2025. [Invited panelist].
Hansuvadha. N. (2024). Inclusive Leadership Preparation in California. Council for Exceptional Children Conference. March 15, 2025.
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).
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 1 and 2. The Monarch Center: Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education. www.monarchcenter.org
Hansuvadha, H. & Kristin, S. (2025). Building Impactful Special Education Teaching Pathways: Collaborative Partnerships Between CSUs and Community Colleges. Spring Policy Action Network (SPAN): California Council on Teacher Education Conference. March 15, 2025.
Rosenfeld, K., Fioretto, D., Hansuvadha, N. & Stout, K. (2025). California Community Colleges to California State Universities: Building Impactful Special Education Teaching Pathways: ACCCTEP Convening. November 8, 2024.
Rosenfeld, K., Hansuvadha, N., & Stout, K. (2025). Launching Special Education Futures: Cerritos College’s new Career Pathway Starting in Fall 2025. High School Counselors Conference. January 31, 2025.
Hansuvadha, N., Nelson, J.P., Rice, K. & Holdheide, L, (2024). CEC Spotlight Session: What if…? Imagining New Possibilities in Teacher and Leader Preparation. Council for Exceptional Children Conference. March 14, 2025. [Invited panelist].
Hansuvadha, N. (2024). Inclusive Leadership Preparation in California. Council for Exceptional Children Conference. March 15, 2025.
Hansuvadha, N. & Goings, J. (2024). Imagining New Possibilities in Teacher and Leader Preparation. Education Talk Radio Podcast, American Consortium for Equity in Education January 23, 2024.
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.
My contributions across the state reflect extensive leadership in shaping effective and equitable teacher preparation, enhancing community college partnerships and teacher pathways, and advocating for inclusive education policies and practices across various levels and organizations within California's education system.
California Community Colleges Academic Senate Faculty Discipline Review Group. September 2023-Current.
Long Beach City College Teacher Preparation Advisory Committee. April 2025-current.
CSU Center for Transformational Educator Preparation Programs, Advisory Board, October 2021-2023.
CSU Liberal Studies Chairs Council. Fall 2022-present.
CEEDAR (Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform) State Team Consultant, Fall 2018-present.
Educators Summit Lead, Center to Close the Opportunity Gap (CCOG). Fall 2020-present.
California Council on Teacher Education (CCTE) Board of Directors. Fall 2022-present.
California Association of Professors in Special Education (CAPSE/TED) President, . Summer 2022- 2024.
Inclusive Education SIG Chair, California Council on Teacher Education (CCTE). Summer 2022-2024.
Asian Pacific Islander Network (APIN) Chair, CSULB. 2012-2021.
Faculty Center Advisory Board, CSULB. Fall 2021-2024.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Faculty Co-Champion, College of Education, CSULB. Fall 2020-2024.
