MJ Yang

Dr. Meng-Jung (MJ) Yang (they/them) is an Assistant Professor of Art Education at California State University, Long Beach. They hold a Ph.D. in Art Education from Northern Illinois University and an MFA from National Taiwan Normal University. Their expertise lies in K-12 art pedagogy, queer studies, and critical discourse in visual arts education. Their teaching and research are deeply interconnected, focusing on participatory action research, Universal Design for Learning, and culturally responsive pedagogy to foster inclusive and socially engaged learning environments.

As a queer immigrant, Dr. Yang is deeply invested in the representations created by and about marginalized communities. They believe that empathy is essential to building a future where all students can find their voice, create meaningful art, and advocate for their passions.

Dr. Yang’s teaching philosophy is grounded in the belief that art education should empower students to critically examine representation, identity, and social justice. In their courses, they encourage students to bridge theory and practice through hands-on projects, reflective writing, and collaborative learning. Their curriculum challenges pre-service teachers to explore how art functions as a tool for advocacy, community engagement, and identity formation, preparing them to create equitable and student-centered classrooms.

Their research extends these pedagogical commitments by examining the role of art in fostering empathy, reflexivity, and social change. Their scholarship has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as Studies in Art Education, Art Education, and the Journal of Cultural Research in Art Education, and they have presented their work at major conferences, including AERA, AERI, NAEA, and InSEA. Their studies explore topics such as reparative reading strategies in art education, LGBTQIA2S+ representation in visual culture, and neuroqueering in curriculum design, providing innovative frameworks for more inclusive teaching practices in K-12 and higher education settings.

By integrating their research into their courses, Dr. Yang ensures that students engage with current debates in art education while developing the skills to become critical, reflective, and socially conscious educators. Through their commitment to innovative pedagogy and interdisciplinary scholarship, they strive to cultivate learning experiences that empower future educators to challenge norms, foster diverse perspectives, and create transformative art education spaces.