[ skip to content ]

Tami Al-Hazza

  • Tami Al-Hazza
  • Associate Professor
  • Teaching & Learning
  • 167 Education Building
  • Norfolk, VA 23529
  • 757-683-3228
  • talhazza@odu.edu
  • Dr. Tami Craft Al-Hazza, Associate Professor of Language, Literacy & Culture, specializes in literacy. She has more than fifteen years of experience teaching elementary and middle school in the roles of classroom teacher, ESL teacher, and as a reading specialist. Her experience includes living and teaching extensively in the Middle East where she taught at the American School in Kuwait as well as at Kuwait University. Dr. Al-Hazza's research interests include introducing Middle East literature into the classroom and New Literacies. One of her primary areas of scholarly interest is implementing Middle East literature into the classroom to help young people gain an understanding of the people of the Middle East and their culture. She is author of one book on Middle East literature and she has published numerous articles on Middle East culture and literature. A second avenue of research for Dr. Al-Hazza is motivating readers through the use of electronic devices in the classroom. She is currently conducting research on preservice teacher's digital practices and their beliefs about integrating New Literacies into the classroom. Tangential to this research she is also exploring the use of iPads in the classroom to bridge the gap between students' private literacies and the literacies expected in educational settings. Dr. Al-Hazza has received numerous teaching awards, has delivered keynote addresses, and has been a co-recipient of the Virginia Hamilton Award, recognizing an article published in a given year which makes a significant contribution to the professional literature concerning multicultural literary experiences for youth.
  • Education

  • Research Interests

    -Introducing and using Middle East Literature in the classroom. -Examining creative use of new literacies which can be introduced in the classroom to connect students' private literacies with educational expectations.
  • Licensures and Certifications

    ESL
    K-8 Master Teacher Certification
    Reading
  • Expertise

    Education
    Literacy
    Education
    Middle East Literature
    Education
    New Literacies
  • 2012: Most Inspirational Faculty Member Award, Old Dominion University
  • 2012: Provost Converstions, Old Dominion University
  • 2012: Board of Directors, Association for Literacy Educators and Researchers
  • 2011: Shinning Star Teacher Award, Old Dominion University Office of Student Affairs
  • 2010: Keynote Speaker , Middle East Misunderstandings. Discovering the Middle East through Literature and Poetry: A Speakers Series
  • 2009: Virginia Hamilton Essay Award, Kent State University
  • College Reading Association Board of Directors
  • 2008: Keynote Speaker, Kuwait Student Union and Kuwait Professor Union
  • Graduate Teaching Assistantship, Old Dominion University
  • 1996: Outstanding Teaching Award, Kuwait University
  • 1995: Outstanding Teaching Award, Kuwait University
  • Graduate Assistantship, Trenton State College
  • Contracts, Grants and Sponsored Research