Gayle Thieman, EdD, is a professor in the Educator Licensure Department in the College of Education at Portland State University, specializing in curriculum and instruction and social studies/civic engagement. She teaches and supervises in the elementary and secondary teacher licensure programs. She has also taught and supervised administrative licensure candidates in the educational leadership program in the COE. Her research interests include civic engagement, equity and diversity in teacher preparation, social studies disciplinary literacy and teacher practice. Her website includes a blog and showcases social studies teacher candidates' civic engagement projects.
Before joining the College of Education Dr. Thieman worked as a high school administrator in Washington and Alaska for eight years. She also taught social studies in Alaska, Colorado, and Illinois. Dr. Thieman has presented numerous workshops and developed curriculum materials in U.S. history, civic education, gender and race equity, and interdisciplinary teaching. She is a past president of the National Council for Social Studies (NCSS) and remains active with NCSS and the Oregon Council for Social Studies.