Faculty

Dr. Raphael Heaggans

Assistant Professor of Education
College of Education

Email:  rch@niagara.edu
Phone:  (716) 286-8315
Office Location:  Academic Complex, 326A
Office Hours:  Tues 2:00-5:00PM, Wed 9:00-10:00AM and 1:00-2:00PM, Thurs 3:30-4:30PM or by Appointment

Current Research

Research Interests: Multicultural Education, Urban Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Teacher Education, Hip-Hop Literacy, Gang Intervention Current Projects (Research and Publications): Heaggans, R. C. (in press). The 21st Century Hip-Hop Minstrel Show: Are We continuing the Blackface tradition. University Press. Heaggans, R. C. (in press). "Driving the vehicle of culturally relevant teaching: The license needed for educating underrepresented students." Fusions: An approach to multicultural awareness and English to speakers of other languages (ESOL) learning. Heaggans, R. C. , Polka, W. (under revision). "The Diversity Merry-Go-Around in the Workplace: Planning to Avoid Shafting Underrepresented Groups at Every Gyration By Respecting Human and Cultural Differences." International Society for Educational Planning Journal. Heaggans, R. C. (under revision). "Beyond the PTO: Parents" input in transforming a monocultural curriculum. Journal of Educational Thought. Heaggans, R. C., Rinaldo, V. (under review). "What you see isn't always what you get: Getting to the root of ethnic minority suspensions. Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk. Polka, W., Heaggans, R. C. (in progress). "A confession of character through the views of Kiwanis Clubs: A Quest for diverse inclusivity.” Heaggans, R. (under review). “Standing on the agenda of African ancestors: Hip-hop music’s opposing revolution. Journal of Urban Youth Culture. Heaggans, R. C. (under review). "Impaling the monocultural windshield: Multicultural Education in all things curricular." Multicultural Education.

Current Involvement

Study Abroad Netherlands Coordinator. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Step II Officer Niagara Falls Housing Authority. Niagara University Commercial showcasing the College of Teacher Education . Honors Thesis Chairperson: Emily Kalinowski. Niagara University Representative at the Annual Catholic Collegium . Faculty reviewer for Education Scholarship.

Educational Background

Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 2003. SUPPORT AREAS: Multicultural Education and English Education. DISSERTATION: A Tolerance Initiative versus Multicultural Education: Portraits of Teachers in Action. Master of Science in Educational Leadership, Niagara University, Niagara University, NY, 2008. Master of Business Administration, Niagara University, Niagara University, NY (anticipated 2010). Master of Arts in English, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC, 1997. SUPPORT AREAS: Composition, American and British Literature; Bachelor of Arts in English, Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem, NC 1994.