Phitsamay Uy

Phitsamay Sychitkokhong Uy, Ed.D.

Associate Professor, Leadership in Schooling, Graduate Coordinator for Ed.D Programs, & Co-director of Center for Asian American Studies

College
Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Department
School of Education
Phone
978-934-4612
Office
Coburn Hall, Room 240E

Expertise

Southeast Asian American students' educational experiences; family and community engagement; teaching diverse populations; justice, equity, diversity, & inclusion trainer; professional development provider

Research Interests

  • Academic achievement of immigrant and refugee students, in particular Southeast Asian American students
  • Family and community engagement of Immigrant and refugee populations
  • AANAPISIs (Asian American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions)

Education

  • EDD: Educational experiences of Southeast Asian and immigrant students, (2011), Harvard University Graduate School of Education - Cambridge, MA
    Supporting Area: Communities and Schools
    Dissertation/Thesis Title: The Educational Experiences of Lao and Khmer High School Students: The Influence of Families, Friends, and Teachers on Academic Achievement
  • Other: Education. Administration, Planning, and Social Policy, (2003), Harvard University - Cambridge, MA
  • Other: Elementary Curriculum and Instruction, (1996), Boston College - Boston, MA
  • BS: Human Resource Management, (1995), Boston College - Boston, MA

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

  • Academic Excellence Award (2019), Service, Professional - New England College Personnel Association (NECPA)
  • Diversity Scholar Network (2019), Scholarship/Research - University of Michigan National Center for Institutional Diversity
  • Equity Award (2018), Scholarship/Research - Alliance of Rhode Island Southeast Asians for Education (ARISE)
  • Outstanding Mentoring of Undergraduate Students (2018), Service, University - University of Massachusetts Lowell Faculty Honors Committee
  • Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award (2018), Service, Community - University of Massachusetts Office of Multicultural Affairs
  • High Impact Teaching (2014) - University of Massachusetts Lowell Transformational Education 2nd Annual Symposium
  • University of Massachusetts Boston Asian American Student Success Program Grant (2012), Service, University - University of Massachusetts Boston
  • University of Massachusetts Lowell Healey Public Service Award (2012), Service, University - University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • University of Massachusetts Lowell Faculty Service Learning Grant (2011), Service, University - University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Harvard University's James N. Snitzler Scholarship (2010), Scholarship/Research - Harvard University
  • University of Massachusetts Boston's Institute for Asian American Studies Research Fellowship (2008), Scholarship/Research - University of Massachusetts Boston
  • Facing History Upstander Award (2007)
  • Harvard Graduate School of Education Dean's Summer Fellowship (2005) - Harvard University
  • Harvard University Presidential Fellowship (2005) - Harvard University

Selected Publications

  • Uy, P. (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).
  • Uy, P., & Coston, F. (2020). From the Mekong & Delaware River to the Merrimack River: The Unintentional Road to the Doctorate. In Sablan, J. & Van Galen, J. (Eds.), Amplified Voices, Intersecting Identities: First-Generation PhDs Navigating Institutional Power.
  • Uy, P.S. (2016). Lao Families' Educational Engagement: How Lao Parents and Family Members Support their Children. Amerasia Journal,42(3) 69-89.
  • Uy, P.S. (2016). Underserved and Unseen: Southeast Americans in Higher Education. Information Age
  • Uy, P.S. (2016). Unpacking Racial Identities: The Salience of Ethnicity in Southeast Asian-American Youth’s Schooling Experience. Race Ethnicity and Education.
  • Uy, P.S., Kim, S.J., Khuon, C. (2016). College and Career Readiness of Southeast Asian American College Students in New England. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 1-23.
  • Wright, W.E., Uy, P.S., Sak-Humphry, C. (2015). Editor’s Introduction to the 10th Anniversary Volume of the Journal of Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement. Journal of Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement,10(1) 1.
  • Uy, P.S. (2015). Supporting Southeast Asian American Family and Community Engagement for Educational Success. Journal of Southeast Asian American Education & Advancement,10(2) 3.
  • Uy, P.S., Nichols, M., Pendakur, S. (2014). Conversation: Complicating the Complications. Peter Lang
  • Uy, P.S. (2014). Khmerican and Lao American Youth's Contested Ethnic Identities: Perspectives That Moves Teachers Beyond Race. Peter Lang
  • Uy, P.S. (2014). Laotian Americans. Sage Publications
  • Uy, P.S., Leung Rubin, C. (2012). Immigrant Education. Springer
  • Uy, P.S. (2011). Disaggregated Data and Community-Based Organizations-School Partnerships: Two Untried Policy Strategies Target the Achievement Gap of Asian American Students.
  • Uy, P.S. (2009). Asian American Dropouts: A Case Study of Vietnamese and Chinese High School Students in a New England Urban School District. AAPI Nexus: Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders Policy, Practice and Community,7(1) 83-104.
  • Warren, M., Hong, S., Rubin, C., Uy, P.S. (2009). Beyond the Bake Sale: A Community-Based Relational Approach to Parent Engagement in Schools. The Teachers College Record,111(9) 2209-2254.
  • Uy, P.S. (2008). How the American Community Survey Informs our Understanding of the Southeast Asian Community: One Teacher's Perspective. Journal of Southeast Asian American Education & Advancement,3.
  • Uy, P.S. (2006). Review of V. Louie's Compelled to Excel: Immigration, Education and Opportunity among Chinese Americans (76:1).

Selected Presentations

  • Understanding & working with Southeast Asian American (SEA) families & communities - Annual meeting of American Educational Research Association Bilingual Education Research SIG, April 2021.
  • Examining the impact of teacher and student racial and ethnic identities in the classroom - Annual meeting of the National Association for Multicultural Education, November 2019 - Tucson, AZ
  • Advancing educator diversity to promote racially just schools - Annual meeting of the National Education Association's Conference on Racial and Social Justice, June 2019 - Houston, TX
  • Reimagining the future work in diasporic Southeast Asia: Innovative solutions to cultivating diverse talent in the 21st century in Laos - 6th International Lao Studies Conference, June 2019 - Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
  • Immigrant Youth and Educational Access - the annual meeting of Alumni of Color Conference, Harvard Graduate School of Education
  • Re-imagining the Lao American Diasporic Identity: Sharing Stories of Resilience - Annual Meeting of the Association of Asian American Studies, 2016 - Miami, FL.
  • Supporting Southeast Asian American Family and Community Engagement for Educational Success - Annual Meeting of the Association of Asian American Studies, 2016 - Miami, FL.
  • The Cambodian Genocide, 2016 - Fall River, MA
  • Southeast Asians Health - Race, Ethnicity & Health Class, March 2016 - Boston, MA
  • The State of Southeast Americans in the United States: 40 years After Resettlement & Community Development - Integrative Seminar in Peace & Conflict Studies, February 2016 - Lowell, MA
  • Southeast Asian American College Readiness - Second Conference on Enhancing Asian American Student Success: Linking Research & Practice, 2015 - Boston, MA
  • Update of Southeast Asians in the United States, November 2015 - Wellesley, MA
  • Update of Southeast Asians in the United States, November 2015 - Boston, MA
  • The State of Southeast Americans in the United States: 40 Years After Resettlement & Community Development, April 2015 - Wellesley, MA
  • "Khmerican" and Lao American Youths' Contested Ethnic Identities: Perspectives That Move Teachers Beyond Race - Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, April 2015 - Chicago, IL
  • Southeast Asian College and Career Readiness - Annual Meeting of the Association of Asian American Studies, April 2015 - Evanston, IL
  • State of Lao(tian) Amerricans: A Reflection on 40 Years of Resettlement and Community Development in the United States - Our Shared Journey: Lao American & Historical Contexts and Lao American Writer's Summit II , April 2015 - Minneapolis, MN
  • Parental and Familial Influences on Southeast Asian American College and Career Readiness - Second Symposium on Enhancing Asian American Student Success: Linking Research and Practice, January 2015 - Boston, MA
  • Update of Southeast Asians in the United States, November 2014 - Wellesley, MA
  • The States of Southeast Asian Communities in New England - National Meeting of the State of Southeast Asians in Diaspora, October 2014 - Minneapolis, MN
  • The States of Southeast Asian Communities in New England. - The 2014 States of Southeast Asian American Studies, October 2014 - Minneapolis, MN
  • Southeast Asians in Lowell - Urban Health Guest Speaking, October 2014 - Boston, MA
  • Complexities in Research with Southeast Asian Immigrant Communities: Reflections on Rebuilding Relationships, Threats to Safety, and the Outsider Within - National Meeting of What Went Wrong Conference, July 2014 - Minneapolis, MN
  • Update of Southeast Asians in the United States, April 2014 - Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA
  • Update of Southeast Asians in the United States, April 2014 - Boston, MA
  • How to Work with Southeast Asian Refugee & Immigrant Communities - Community Service course for the Sociology Department , March 2014 - Lowell, MA
  • Educational Experiences of Southeast Asian American Youth - Language, Literacy and Culture , March 2014 - Lowell, MA
  • The Educational Experiences of Lao and Khmer High School Students: The Influence of Families, Friends and Teachers on Academic Achievement - 4th International Lao Studies Conference, July 2013 - Madison, WI
  • Social Justice Allies: Fostering Dialogue and the Wellness for Asian American Students - Annual Meeting of the Asian American Psychological Association , July 2013 - Honolulu, HI
  • Refugee Communities, Culture & Context - Voices of Refugees Conference, May 2013 - Lowell, MA
  • Family and Community Engagement: Literacy Initiative - Philips Brooks House Association Training, May 2013 - Cambridge, MA
  • The Educational Experiences of Southeast Asians in America - Annual Meeting of Asian American Pacific Islander in Higher Education , April 2013 - San Francisco, CA
  • YOUTH Teen Center: A Youth-Driven and Youth-Directed Space For Exploration - Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, April 2013 - Chicago, IL
  • Providing The Missing Rung in The Ladder: Transition from High School to College and Career - Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, April 2013 - San Francisco, CA
  • Family and Community Engagement: Community Organizations & Parental Partnerships - Guest Lecture for ELL Graduate Certificate, April 2013 - Lawrence. MA
  • Culture and English Language Learners - Second Language Acquisition and Assessment class, March 2013 - Lawrence, MA
  • Educational Experiences of Southeast Asian American Youth - Contemporary Issues in Education: Immigrant Children in American Schools , March 2013 - Ames, IA
  • Assessing Southeast Asian American College and Career Readiness - Symposium on Enhancing Asian American Student Success: Linking Research and Practice , January 2013 - Boston, MA
  • Building Community-based Alliances between Teachers, Families, and Communities - National Conference of National Association of Multicultural Education , November 2012 - Philadelphia, PA
  • Culture and Educational Experiences of Southeast Asian High School Students - National Leadership Conference of Southeast Americans Restoring Community Hope (SEARCH), November 2012 - Providence, RI
  • An Outcomes-Driven Research Doctorate in Education: The UMass Lowell Leadership in Schooling Ed. D. - The Advancing a Massachusetts Culture of Assessment (AMCOA) Regional Conference on Assessment in Higher Education, October 2012 - Lowell, MA.
  • Southeast Asian Family and Community Engagement: Authentic Approaches through Community-based Organizations - The Asian American and Pacific Islander Educational Research Coalition (ARC) Summit, October 2012 - Honolulu, HI
  • Higher Educational Experiences of Southeast Asians in America - SEARAC Leadership Advocacy Training, July 2012 - Washington, D.C.
  • Asian American Women Scholars-Activists Unite! - The 10th Annual Asian Sisters Participating in Reaching for Excellence (ASPIRE) Conference, 2011 - Boston, MA
  • Southeast Asian Family Conference: Bridging Research with Practice - The Inaugural Boat People SOS Conference, 2011 - Philadelphia, PA
  • Educational Experiences of Female Southeast Asian American Youth - ASPIRE Conference, November 2011 - Boston, MA
  • Educational Experiences of Southeast Asian American Youth, September 2011
  • Legacies of War: Challenging the Master Narrative of the Vietnam War - The Annual Meeting of Association of Asian American Studies, May 2011 - New Orleans, LA
  • Untold Stories: Factors That Lao and Khmer High School Students Consider When Deciding to Stay in or Leave School - The annual meeting of American Educational Research Association, 2010 - Denver, CO
  • The State of Southeast Asians in America - 40th Anniversary Diversity Dinner, November 2010 - Mankaton, MN
  • Cross-cultural Comparison of Dominican, Laotian, and Khmer Students: The Influence of Parents, Peers, and Teachers on Academic Achievement - The Second Conference of the Asian Americans in New England Research Initiative, October 2010 - Storrs, CT
  • Untold Stories: Factors Lao & Khmer High School Students Consider When Deciding to Stay or Leave School - Southeast Asian Communities in Lowell & the Diaspora Seminar and Discussion, May 2009 - Lowell, MA
  • Untold Stories: Factors That Lao and Khmer High School Students Consider When Deciding to Stay in or Leave School - The University of Massachusetts Boston Institute of Asian American Studies Research Fellow Talk, April 2009 - Boston, MA
  • High-Quality Science Instruction and Teacher Qualifications: A Comparative Case Study of Their Relationship in One Urban School District - The annual meeting of National Science Teacher Association, 2008
  • Asian American Dropouts - The Annual Meeting of American Educational Research Association, 2007 - Boston, MA
  • Beyond the Bake Sale: A Community-based, Relational Approach to Parent Engagement in Schools - The Annual Meeting of American Educational Research Association, 2007
  • Immigrant Youth and Educational Access - the annual meeting of Alumni of Color Conference, 2005 - Harvard Graduate School of Education
  • Communities and Schools: A New View of Urban Educational Reform - the annual meeting of American Educational Research Association, 2005
  • Moving Beyond Images of Model Minority and Gangster Thugs: Youth Empowerment and Racial Identity for Asian Pacific American Student - the annual meeting of American Educational Research Association, 2004
  • What Does Real Access Mean ? Limited Access to Higher Education - the New Young Americans Conference, 2004 - Suffolk Law University
  • CAPAY: Engaging API Youth in their Communities and Schools - the Student Research Conference and International Forum, 2004 - Harvard Graduate School of Education
  • Southeast Asians in America - the Boston Asian Student Intercollegiate Conference, 2003 - Boston, MA
  • The State of Southeast Asians in America - the Convocation Speaker at the Southeast Asian Awareness Week, 2002 - Brown University
  • Asian Literacy & Technology Integration - the annual meeting of the California Association of Bilingual Education, 1999
  • Community Engagement and Advocacy - the annual meeting of the National Association for the Advancement of Cambodians, Laotians, & Vietnamese (NAFEA), 1999

Selected Contracts, Fellowships, Grants and Sponsored Research

  • Asian American Educator Mentorship Program (2019-2021), Grant - National Education Association
    Uy, P.S. (Principal)
  • Developing Teacher Associations (DTA) as a vehicle for empowerment, advocacy and professional development and using Restorative Justice Framework for developing collaborative learning spaces. (2019), Grant - U.S. State Department of Defense
    Uy, P.S. (Principal)
  • Southeast Asian Digital Archive (2017), Grant - National Endowment for the Humanities
    Kim, S.J. (Principal), Uy, P.S., Chigas, G., Sampas, A.
  • UMass Lowell Southeast Asian Digital Archive (2017), Grant - UMASS Creative Economy Initiatives Fund
    Kim, S.J. (Principal), Uy, P.S. (Co-Principal), Chigas, G., Kirschbaum, S.
  • Research Fellow (2012), Fellowship - Asian American & Pacific Islander Research Coalition (ARC)
    Uy, P.S.
  • Asian American Educator Mentorship Program (2019), Grant - National Education Association
    Uy, P.S. (Principal)
  • Developing Teacher Associations (DTA) as a vehicle for empowerment, advocacy and professional development and using Restorative Justice Framework for developing collaborative learning spaces. (2019), Grant - U.S. State Department
    Uy, P.S. (Principal)
  • Southeast Asian American College Readiness at Middlesex Community College (2015), Grant - UMass Lowell Internal Seed Funding, Office of the Vice Provost for Research
    Kim, S.J. (Co-Principal), Uy, P.S. (Principal)
  • Southeast Asian American College Readiness at Middlesex Community College (), Grant - University of Lowell
    Uy, P.S. (Principal)
  • Southeast Asian American College Readiness (2014), Grant - University of Massachusetts Boston Asian American Student Success Program
    Kim, S.J. (Principal), Uy, P.S. (Co-Principal)
  • Southeast Asian American College Readiness (), Grant - University of Massachusetts Boston Asian American Student Success Program (AASSP)
    Uy, P.S. (Co-Principal)
  • UMass Lowell Principal Preparation Expansion Program-Project Lead (), Grant - Massachusetts Department of Education Race to the Top Funds
    Uy, P.S. (Co-Principal)
  • Parental and Famalial Influences on Southeast Asian American Students' College and Career Major Decisions (), Grant - University of Massachusetts Boston Asian American Student Success Program (AASSP)
    Uy, P.S. (Principal)
  • Assessing Southeast Asian American Youth's College and Career Readiness (), Grant - University of Boston AANAPISI Program
    Uy, P.S. (Principal)
  • Evaluating and Disseminating The Preparing Excellent Teachers of All (English) Language Learners (PETALLs) - an University-K-12 School District Professional Development Model (), Grant - University of Massachusetts Lowell Healey Public Service Award
    Uy, P.S. (Principal)
  • Academic Support of the Teen Coalition (), Grant - University of Massachusetts Lowell Faculty Service Learning Grant
    Uy, P.S. (Principal)