Biography
Dr. Haoua M. Hamza is a Professor Emerito and Associate Professor in the Department of Foundations and Pedagogy in the College of Education. She earned her Ph. D. and M.Ed. degrees in Cultural Foundations of Education from Kent State University-Kent, Ohio and an M.A. in English from the National University of Niamey, Niger. Dr. Hamza’s multilingual and multicultural background predisposes her to practice intercultural pedagogy. Her experiences constitute an asset in the areas of teaching, scholarship and service. She believes in the Vincentian mission and in developing “leaders who will make a difference in their local communities and the larger world.”
Focus of Teaching
Teaching suggests a sense of leadership. The college of education prepares instructional leaders and culturally responsive classroom managers among other practitioners. Dr. Hamza passionately conveys this notion in her instruction and works hard to facilitate an understanding of an inclusive, multi-dimensional and integrated approach to pedagogy. Candidates are engaged in independent, collaborative and whole class learning, research and reflection activities, where they critically and creatively construct, enhance and expand their knowledge, skills and dispositions. Equity pedagogy is the hallmark of her practice informed by an educational philosophy that is inclusive and approaches that are constructivist and culturally responsive.
It is her hope that candidates exit her courses with an enhanced perspective on inter-culturally competent and developmentally appropriate practice. She teaches graduate courses, in Human Development, Learning & Motivation, TESOL and Culturally Responsive Classroom Management.
Current Research
Dr. Haoua M. Hamza’s research interests include girls’ schooling in Sub-Saharan Africa, NGOs’ approaches to sustainable development in Africa, immigrant & refugee education and a focus on global and intercultural pedagogy. She is continuously seeking research-based approaches to improve content and pedagogy in teaching education courses. Her scholarship (conference presentations) and publications include the following:
- Hamza, H. M. (2026). Conceptual Frameworks for Humanizing our Pedagogies: Transforming Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century College Classroom. (March 2nd-4th, 2026, INTED Conference,
Valencia, Spain). - Sarchet, L., Garland, D., Hamza, H., Jones, R., Nader, N., & Hartman J. (2025). Steps Toward Creating a More Accessible and Inclusive College Classroom. Faculty Focus/ Higher Ed Teaching & Learning
- Hamza, H. M. (2024). Preparing Pre-Service Teachers to Foster a Global Classroom in the Service of
Social Justice: A Case of Institutional Engagement with Inclusive Practice. (Paper Presented at the International Society for Educational Panning (ISEP) Conference 2024-Gqeberha, South Africa - Hamza, H. M. (2023). Valuing Diversity, Actualizing Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice in
Education: Pre-service Teachers’ Perspectives on Observed Approaches to Culturally Responsive Classroom Management at Field Placements. (July 9th-13th, 2023 Conference-at Harris Manchester College-University of Oxford, Oxford, England). - Hamza, H. M. (2020). Preparing Pre-Service Teachers with a Multi-Dimensional Approach to Managing a
Global Classroom. (Presented at ICERI Conference, November 2020-Virtual, Seville, Spain) - Hamza, H. M. (2016). Managing Global Classrooms: The Role of Teacher Philosophy, Dispositions and Technology in Pedagogy. New York: Linus Books.
- Hamza, H. M. & Hahn Leticia (2012). Practicing constructivist and culturally responsive methods through differentiated instruction. International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2(5), 75-82.
- Hamza, H. M., Belete, M. & Some, T. H. (2008). Educating the African newcomer student in Western New York: The case of SIFE and multilingual learner. In Mutua, N. K. & Sunal, C. (eds.) The Enterprise of Education. Greenwich, Connecticut: Information Age Publishing.
- Hamza, H. M. (2007). “Epilogue” In Mutua, N. K. & Sunal, C. (eds.) Research on education in Africa, the Caribbean and the Middle East: Crosscurrents and crosscutting themes. Greenwich, Connecticut: Information Age Publishing.
Workshops
Dr. Hamza facilitates Workshops on Intercultural Pedagogy locally and at international conferences.
Service
Dr. Hamza is currently a member of:
- NU Coordinator for the Inclusive Curriculum Faculty Discussion Groups (FDGs)
- NU Education and Scholarship Committee
- UN Women/Niger-Committee activities
- Middle States Ethics & Integrity Committee
- Committee on College Teaching and Learning (CCTL)
- Member GENED Committee-Chair SSI Sub-Committee
- College of Education Advocacy Committee
- Interim Chair TESOL Program
She was an International Women’s Day Honoree of The Links, Incorporated and The Levesque Institute for Civic Engagement in March 2023.
Dr. Hamza’s interest in gender and rural development in sub-Saharan Africa has informed her International Service. This passionately led her to found a non-governmental organization (NGO), The Global Network for Niger, Inc. (GNN) in 2015, which became SAHEL-Impact or Sustaining Africa’s Hope for Environmental Leadership (SAHEL-I.) in 2022. The organization’s mission is to support girls’ schooling, women’s health and leadership programs for climate action in the Sahel.
Dr. Hamza was the Co-Chair, Board Member and Education Committee member of Buffalo Immigrant Leadership Team (BILT), a community organization whose mission is to support multilingual students’ learning in the Greater Buffalo Area.
In 2013, Dr. Hamza was recognized as one of “100 Women of Niger” by the United Nations Fund for Population-Office of Niamey, Niger (UNFPA).
Educational Background
- 2001 Ph. D. Kent State University, College and Graduate School of Education Kent-Ohio. Title of dissertation: “Gender Disparity in Education: A Study of Secondary School Girls’ Access, Persistence, and Achievement in Niger.”
- 1995 Kent State University, Kent-OH, Master of Education, M.Ed.
- 1990 Universite Abdou Moumouni Dioffo de Niamey, Niger, M.A. in English. Title of thesis: Images of Independence in Ngugi Wa’ Thiong’o’s ‘A Grain of Wheat and Petals of Blood’
- 1986 Colchester English Study Center (CESC)-Essex, England-UK, First Certificate of English.
- 1985 Universite Abdoul Moumouni Dioffo de Niamey, Niger, B.A. in English.