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Dana Gathers
Assistant Professor of Education
Bio
Dana A. Gathers, PhD's teaching, scholarship, and community service are anchored in the inspiring words of scholar-activist Paulo Freire – "Whoever teaches learns in the act of teaching, and whoever learns teaches in the act of learning." It was in the community of Brownsville, Brooklyn where she learned to love teaching. In a community of often marginalized Black and Brown families, she learned that it is the intricate work of educators’ mindset and methods that supports the achievement of Black and Brown students. More specifically the achievement of Black and Brown students labeled with a disability.
Dr. Gathers integrates both facets of the teaching and learning paradigm by developing an asset-based mindset of teacher candidates toward minoritized student groups and unearthing the instructional methods for supporting the academic achievement of minoritized student groups. Her work within the classroom extends to her research endeavors and interests that include developing teacher candidates' culturally responsive/sustaining teacher dispositions, growing teacher candidates' culturally responsive teaching self-efficacy beliefs, and integrating community-based learning experiences as an integral fieldwork component of courses.
Dr. Gathers values the brilliance that is present, and often-times overlooked within minorized communities and is an advocate for college and community partnerships. She has thriving community collaborations with Marist College Liberty Partnerships Program and Poughkeepsie Public Library District, within both community-based learning experiences teacher candidates serve as tutors and mentors to K-12 students within the City of Poughkeepsie. Dr. Gathers situates mindset, methods, and community as the cornerstone of her educational beliefs and practices.
Education
PhD in Language, Literacy and Learning, Division of Curriculum and Teaching, Fordham University, NY.
Dissertation: Supporting the Reading Comprehension of Black Students Labeled with a Learning Disability
MSED in Elementary Special Education, CUNY Brooklyn College, NY
Thesis: Creating a Collaborative Learning Environment in the Special Education Classroom
BA, Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Research Interests / Areas of Focus
Dr. Gathers’ research interests include the preparation of teacher candidates’ culturally affirming mindsets and methods when engaging with minoritized communities, families, students, and schools. She explores the effectiveness of teacher-candidates’ authentic interactions with students and families through community based learning experiences. The lens through which her research is situated highlights the brilliance, knowledge, and lived experiences of Black communities, families, and students.
Selected Publications
Gathers, D. A., & Fields, C. W. (2022). Culturally Relevant Pedagogy: Analysis of cultural dispositions in teacher education. In Dispositional Development and Assessment in Teacher Preparation Programs (pp. 120-135). IGI Global.
Wright Fields, C. & Gathers, D. A. (2023, April). To be seen and valued: Strategies to affirm and support Arab American students’ cultural identities. Ed Prep Matters. American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE).
Selected Presentations
Gathers, D.A. (2024). Nurturing the academic writer in you [Virtual Conference Presentation]. Virgina Tech Faculty Women of Color in the Academy Conference. Accepted/not yet presented.
Gathers, D.A. (2024). Tell the Story: Experiencing the Joy in Academic Writing [Conference Presentation]. Harvard Graduate School of Education Alumni of Color Conference. Cambridge, MA.
Wollman, R. & Gathers, D.A. (2023). Aloha: Reflecting on a learning abroad experience [Conference Presentation]. Westchester Undergraduate Research Conference. Harrison, NY.
Purington, S. & Gathers, D.A. (2022). Supporting inquiry-based math learning spaces with secondary teacher-candidates [Conference Presentation]. NYSATE/NYACTE Fall Conference. Saratoga Springs, NY.
Fredrick, E., Stone, M., Lynn, V. & Gathers, D.A. (2022). A MCSJR: Transitions within community-based research [Conference Presentation]. Teachers College Winter Roundtable Conference, virtual.
Gathers, D.A. & Wright Fields, C. (2021). Transformative encounters: Shaping teacher-candidate’s cultural competence [Conference Presentation]. NYSATE/NYACTE Fall Conference, virtual.
Awards and Honors
Outstanding Community Partner Award, 2022, Marist College Liberty Partnerships Program
