Heather Macías

Dr. Heather Macías is an Associate Professor in the Teacher Education department at California State University, Long Beach, within the College of Education. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Education from UC Santa Barbara and an M.A.T. with a Single Subject Teaching Credential from the University of Southern California. Her research and teaching are centered on equity, culturally responsive pedagogy, and the educational experiences of marginalized students.

• Ph.D. Education, University of California, Santa Barbara
• M.A. Education, University of California, Santa Barbara
• M.A.T. Secondary Teaching/Single Subject Teaching Credential, University of Southern California
• B.A. Fine Arts, University of Southern California

Dr. Macías' research interests include content area literacy, teacher education, preservice and inservice teacher development, funds of knowledge, culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogy, multilingual education, secondary Ethnic Studies, and the experiences of queer and trans preservice teachers. She integrates Drag Pedagogy and Indigenous ontologies into her scholarly work, challenging deficit perspectives and advocating for asset-based frameworks in education.

Her recent publications and conference presentations reveal a strong trend toward using culturally responsive methods in STEM and AI education, emphasizing social justice, equity, and the integration of students' lived experiences. She explores how digital tools, project-based learning, and mixed reality simulations can support inclusive teaching practices.

• Fellowship, Institute for Teachers of Color Committed to Racial Justice (2024-2025)
• University Early Academic Career Excellence Award, CSULB (2023-2024)
• La Academia Liderazgo Fellowship, HACU (2022-2024)
• Emerging Research Fellowship, Branch Alliance (2021-2023)
• California Teacher Education Research Fellowship (2019-2020)

Dr. Macías has been actively involved in grant-funded research, serving as PI, Co-PI, evaluator, and consultant on projects related to STEM equity, AI for social good, and arts education. She mentors future educators and leads initiatives like the Dual Language Development program. Her service includes organizing the CSULB Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action and participating in national panels on ethnic studies and queer education. She is also affiliated with research centers and collaboratives focused on closing opportunity gaps in education.