Tina Heafner

Dr. Tina Heafner is a Professor and Program Director (Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction) in the Department of Middle, Secondary, and K-12 Education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She directs the M.Ed. in Secondary Education and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction programs. Previously, she served as Past-President of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and Chair of NCSS’s College and University Faculty Assembly.

Education: Ph.D. in Curriculum and Teaching (UNC Greensboro, 2002), M.A. in Social Studies Education (Wake Forest University, 1999), B.A. in Social Studies Education (Wake Forest University, 1991).

Research focuses on social studies education, emphasizing online learning, disciplinary literacy, and curriculum policy. She examines K-12 social studies marginalization and instructional practices' impact on student outcomes. Her work integrates technology into teaching and explores primary source analysis.

Notable awards include SITE’s Outstanding Research Paper Award (2016), Cato College of Education Excellence in Teaching (2009), and Surry County Sports Hall of Fame induction (2014). She has authored/co-authored seven books and numerous peer-reviewed articles.

Community involvement includes leading the NCSS C3 Literacy Collaborative (2014–2016) and partnerships with Union County Public Schools. She develops workshops on disciplinary literacy and collaborates on outreach programs in Iredell, Rowan, and Stanly counties.