معرفی
Melissa J. Cuba is an Assistant Professor of Special Education at the University of Maine’s College of Education and Human Development, where she also serves as a multilingual scholar. Her work focuses on mitigating the overrepresentation of multilingual learners in special education and improving their educational outcomes through evidence-based practices. With 15 years of K-12 teaching experience, she brings expertise in supporting multilingual learners with and without disabilities and collaborating with school professionals.
Education:
- Ph.D. in Education (Curriculum, Culture & Change), Virginia Commonwealth University (2020)
- M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction (ESOL, Special Education, Spanish), George Mason University (2012)
- B.A. in World Politics, Philosophy & Spanish Literature, Catholic University of America (2002)
Research Interests: Special Education equity, multilingual learners’ inclusion, intersectionality in education, policy analysis, culturally responsive teaching, and technology integration in special education practices.
Publications: Her research highlights themes such as multilingual learner disproportionality, undocumented student support strategies, dual language programming, and academic vocabulary instruction for English learners with disabilities. Recent work emphasizes mixed-methods research to address systemic inequities in education.
Teaching: Melissa teaches courses such as Strategies for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students with Disabilities, Special Education Leadership, and Classroom-Based Prevention and Intervention. Her pedagogy reflects her commitment to equity and inclusive practices.
