Dr. Haoua M. Hamza

Biography

Dr. Haoua M. Hamza is an associate professor in the Middle and Adolescence Education Department 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 global border-crossing. Her experiences constitute an asset in the areas of teaching, scholarship and service. She deeply believes in the Vincentian mission of 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 classroom managers among other practitioners. Dr. Hamza passionately conveys this notion in her instruction and works hard to facilitate an understanding of the interlocking foundations of classroom 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 both undergraduate and graduate courses, which include EDU 236 Human Development, Learning & Motivation EDU 536 Human Development through Lifespan, LAM 499 TESOL Seminar and EDU 530 Managing the Culturally Responsive Classroom.

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 publications include the following:

• 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.

Dr. Hamza facilitates a Workshop on managing global classrooms through which she models approaches to Global and intercultural pedagogy, locally and at international conferences.

Current Involvement

Dr. Hamza is currently a member of:

• NU Committee on Committees
• Middle States Ethics & Integrity Committee
• NU’s Gerontology and Sustainability Committees
• Niagara Reaches Out to the World Program
• College of Education Global Perspectives and Diversity Committee

In 2016, Dr. Hamza was the Co-Founder of the Alliance for Immigrant and Refugee Education (AIRE), an organization whose mission is to support multilingual students’ learning in the Greater Buffalo Area.

In 2015, her interest in gender and rural development in sub-Saharan Africa has informed her International Service activities. This has passionately led her to found a non-governmental organization (NGO), The Global Network for Niger, Inc. (GNN). Its mission is to empower women and children of Niger to build a sustainable future, with the major goals of supporting female literacy, health and education programs.

In 2013, Dr. Hamza was recognized as one of “100 Women of Niger” by the United Nations Fund for Population-Office of 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.