Gayle Thieman

Gayle Thieman serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Curriculum in the College of Education at Portland State University, holding key roles including Secondary Graduate Teacher Education Program (GTEP) coordinator and cohort leader for pre-service teachers in the two-year licensure program. She additionally teaches and supervises administrative licensure candidates in the educational leadership program.

• Ed.D. from Portland State University
• M.A. from University of Alaska Fairbanks
• B.A. from Northwestern University

Her research centers on civic engagement, equity and diversity in teacher preparation, social studies disciplinary literacy, and teacher practice, with significant contributions to civic education, gender and race equity, and interdisciplinary teaching through curriculum development and workshops in U.S. history. This work emphasizes practical application of educational theory to foster inclusive classrooms and community-oriented pedagogy.

Dr. Thieman maintains an active leadership presence as past president of the National Council for Social Studies (NCSS), with ongoing involvement in NCSS and the Oregon Council for Social Studies. Her professional website showcases social studies teacher candidates' civic engagement projects and features a dedicated blog.

She mentors pre-service teachers in the GTEP program and supervises administrative licensure candidates, leveraging eight years of prior K-12 experience as a high school administrator in Washington and Alaska and social studies teacher across Alaska, Colorado, and Illinois. While specific grant details are unmentioned, her extensive workshop presentations and curriculum development reflect sustained engagement in educational research and practice.