Expertise
Southeast Asian American, immigrant & refugee populations; Family & community engagement; Teaching diverse populations
Research Interests
My research interests focus on the educational experiences of immigrant and refugee students, especially Southeast Asian American students, and on how Asian American and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) can better support them. I also study the Lao American community and family engagement.Education
- M.Ed and Ed.D.: Harvard Graduate School of Education
- B.S. and M.Ed.: Boston College
Biosketch
As a Lao American K-21 educator, community advocate, and equity trainer, I use these three perspectives to bridge theory and practice in my teaching, research and service.
Selected Awards and Honors
- Manning Prize for Teaching Excellence (2024) - University of Massachusetts Lowell
- Academic Excellence Award (2019), Service, Professional - New England College Personnel Association (NECPA)
- Inducted into the University of Michigan National Center for Institutional Diversity Scholar Network (2019)
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award (2018) - University of Massachusetts Office of Multicultural Affairs
- Equity Award (2018) - Alliance of Rhode Island Southeast Asians for Education (ARISE)
- Outstanding Mentoring of Undergraduate Students (2018) - University of Massachusetts Lowell Faculty
Selected Publications
- Uy, P.S., Wu, M., Lieu, C., & Hoang, A. (2025). Asian American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) Do Build Social Capital: Strategies Supporting the Success of Southeast Asian American Students. Journal of College Student Development.
- Wright, W. E., Chap, V.,Uy, P.S., Sak-Humphry, C., Chhuon, V., & Thao Worra, B. (Eds.) (2025). Research and Reflection on Southeast Asian American Educational Advancement. Purdue Press.
- Mac, J., Lee, M.,Uy, P.S., & Yi, V. (2025). Weaving Collective Past, Present, and Future as Southeast Asian American Women in the Academy. In C. Leider & C. Dobbs’ Until Every Woman is Free: A Duoethnographic Exploration of Equity and Belonging in the Academy. Lexington Books, an imprint of Rowman and Littlefield.
- Zumpe. E.,Uy, P.S., Hakouz, A.* & Szczesiul, S. (2024), Developing Mindsets for Equity-focused Continuous Improvement: Tracing Shifts in an Ed.D. Program Using Critical Improvement Science. Frontiers in Education.
- Mancilla, G. &Uy, P.S.(2024). Two Researchers' Journeys Towards Healing and Safety doing Community-engaged Scholarship with Immigrant and Refugee Populations. Intercultural Education.
- Uy, P.S.(2023). Wesearch: A Lao Research Scholar’s Experience Learning About and With Her Southeast Asian American Community. In M. Gemignani, Y. Hernández-Albújar, & J. Sládková (Eds.), Migrant Scholars Researching Migration: Reflexivity, Subjectivity, and Biographical Research. Routledge.
- Tigert, J.,Uy, P.S., Armstrong, A., Coston, F. & Nader, E. (2023) “I’m here, I can help”: Supporting Southeast Asian American Community College Students, Journal of Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement: Vol. 18: Iss. 1, Article 5. DOI: 10.7771/2153-8999.1273 Available at: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jsaaea/vol18/iss1/5
- Uy, P.S.(2020). From the Mekong River to the Merrimack River: One Lao-American refugee journey through the academy. In Endo, R. (Ed.), Experiences of racialization in U.S. colleges and schools of education: Critical reflections on inclusion in the academy (Research in Educational Equality & Diversity Series). New York, NY/Abington, UK: Routledge.
Selected Presentations
- Uy, P.S., Tapley, C., & Cailler, N. (2025, July). Increasing Preservice Teachers Cultural Competence to Better Understand their Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students with Disabilities. Presented at the international Division of International Special Education Services in Nairobi, Kenya.
- Tapley, C., Uy, P.S. & Ragab, S. (2025, June). Leading, Advising and Engaging Fellows: A Transformative Strategy to Increase Classroom Engagement & Student Success. Presented at the international World Conference on Teaching & Education in Cambridge, England.
- Uy, P.S. (2025, April). The Lapdog Syndrome: Polyethnographies of Asian Women Navigating Power and Identity. Presented at the Association of Asian American Studies (AAAS) national conference in Boston, MA.
- Uy, P.S. (2025, April). 50 Years of Southeast Asian Refugee Resettlement: Research and Reflections on Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement. Presented at the American Educational Research Association annual conference in Denver, CO.
- Uy, P.S., & Neilson, P.S. (2024, May). APAHE’s Legacy in Creating a Community of Practice among AANAPISIs. Presented at the National Conference on Race & Ethnicity (NCORE) in Honolulu, HI.
- Uy, P.S. (2024, April). Asian American Studies from Cradle to Graduate Student. Presented at the Association of Asian American Studies (AAAS) national conference in Seattle, WA.
Selected Contracts, Fellowships, Grants and Sponsored Research
As Principal Investigator (PI) and co-PI:
2020-2025 Asian American Educators Mentorship Program (AAEMP). National Education Association, $180,000.
2024 - 2026 The Leading, Engaging and Advising Fellows (LEAF) Program: A Strategy for Improving Student Engagement and Faculty Pedagogy. Davis Educational Foundation, $483,324.
2019 Developing Teacher Associations (DTA) as a vehicle for empowerment, advocacy and professional development and using Restorative Justice Framework for developing collaborative learning spaces. FHI360, $141,474.
2023 Asian American Leadership, Education, Advocacy, and Data (UMASS AA LEAD). Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) Part A Cooperative Grant. U.S. Department of Education, $2,500,000.
2023 Special Education for English Language Learners (SPELL): A Professional
Development and Training Program for ASEAN Educators. U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Office of English Language Programs- FHI360, $165,296.
2024 - 2026 The Leading, Engaging and Advising Fellows (LEAF) Program: A Strategy for Improving Student Engagement and Faculty Pedagogy. Davis Educational Foundation, $483,324.
2019 Developing Teacher Associations (DTA) as a vehicle for empowerment, advocacy and professional development and using Restorative Justice Framework for developing collaborative learning spaces. FHI360, $141,474.
2023 Asian American Leadership, Education, Advocacy, and Data (UMASS AA LEAD). Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) Part A Cooperative Grant. U.S. Department of Education, $2,500,000.
2023 Special Education for English Language Learners (SPELL): A Professional
Development and Training Program for ASEAN Educators. U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Office of English Language Programs- FHI360, $165,296.
Research Currently in Progress
I am working on three projects currently:1. the impact of learning assistants on faculty's engagement strategies and pedagogy.
2. the impact of AANAPISI centers and staff on Southeast Asian American students' sense of belonging
3. Asian American educators mentorship program