Cora Brasfield Causey

Cora Brasfield Causey is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Education. With appointments since 2014, she specializes in early childhood education, focusing on logical reasoning development, literacy, mathematics, and science instruction. Her work bridges theory (particularly Piagetian frameworks) with classroom practice, including ESL contexts and international collaborations.

• Doctor of Philosophy in Early Childhood Education and Teaching (UAB, 2016)
• Master of Education in Early Childhood Education (UAB, 1992)
• Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Early Childhood Education (Birmingham-Southern College, 1990)

Her research explores curiosity and logical reasoning in young children, with fieldwork conducted both locally and internationally (e.g., Uganda, global media studies). She applies these insights to teacher education through undergraduate honors programs and graduate courses on Piaget, assessment, and curriculum design. Her peer-reviewed work spans journals like Thinking Skills and Creativity, WAESOL Educator, and Childhood Education, emphasizing inquiry-based learning and technology integration.

Key grants include funding for the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT) assessments, Birmingham Talks - The Overton Project, and UAB CCLC Literacy Development initiatives. She received the Distinguished Education Article Award (2015) and participated in Harvard's Critical Explorers Summer Workshop (2018). Her teaching portfolio covers courses such as EEC672 (Piaget & Perspectives Learning), EEC415 (Learning Environment Support), and ECE332 (Children's Literature), with recent offerings in Fall 2024.

• Peer Reviewer, NAEYC Accreditation & CAEP
• Founder/Director, UAB Undergraduate Honors Program
• Site Director, Urban Summer Enrichment Program
• Doctoral Committee Member, UAB