.:: Think Globally, Act Locally ::.
I was born in Nan Province, a quiet and beautiful region in northern Thailand. Growing up, my first inspiration to become a teacher came from my mom, Yupin Kamlue. She often told me that if she could help even one student build a better life, she would consider her dream fulfilled.
Her words stayed with me, but over time, my own dream grew larger. I don’t want to support just one student—I want to help as many as I can, not only reach their dreams but also find joy in the journey toward achieving them.
During my undergraduate years, I took independent study classes with Dr. Sansanee Nenthien, and the way she facilitated my learning inspired me to notice how research could be a powerful tool to help support learners, especially in mathematics education.
Since then, I’ve continued learning and reflecting every day: How could I apply what I’ve learned in my classes in real classrooms, particularly in rural areas around the world?
That question drives me to bridge research and practice, and it’s what led me to pursue higher degrees in the United States—to learn from diverse perspectives, and continue supporting learners through both research and teaching.
.:: Valuing Student Thinking and Finding Joy in the Work ::.
Dr. Laura R. Van Zoest has been my dissertation chair since 2024 and my advisor since I started my Ph.D. program in Mathematics Education at Western Michigan University in May 2020.
Working and learning with her has taught me to listen carefully to students’ mathematical thinking, interpret their ideas accurately without judgment of right or wrong, and ensure that we find joy in every aspect of our work and life.
There has never been a day that she said what I dream is impossible. In fact, she has been supporting every single dream I initiate and helping find a way to make them come true every single day.
.:: Asian Perspectives in a Western Culture ::.
Dr. Jane-Jane Lo has been my dissertation committee since 2024 and my advisor since I started my Ph.D. program in Mathematics Education at Western Michigan University in May 2020.
She was the one who encouraged me to pursue my Ph.D. at Western Michigan University. She has taught me to set clear goals in my academic life while maintaining a balanced perspective between Asian approaches to teaching and learning and those in the U.S. Both have their strengths and limitations; however, with critical thinking and kindness, we can find harmony across cultures.
.:: Shifting Perspectives: From How We Teach to How Students Learn ::.
Dr. Ruthmae Sears was my advisor when I pursued my master’s degree at the University of South Florida from August 2018 to May 2020.
She was the one who provided me opportunities to present my undergraduate thesis in regional conferences, such as the 2018 FCTM and 2018 FERA. What I learned from studying with her is that we should “focus on quality over quantity” and “the consistent thing in this world is change.”
Before pursuing a higher degree in the U.S., my goal was to return to Thailand with a variety of teaching strategies to help strengthen students’ ability to learn mathematics. However, after two years of classes at USF, I realized that what I needed to focus on was not just teaching strategies, but a deeper understanding of how students from diverse backgrounds learn mathematics.
.:: Create Your Own Dream ::.
Dr. Sansanee Nenthien was my advisor during my time in the Honors Program at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, from 2014 to 2017.
She used inquiry-based learning to guide me as I worked on my undergraduate thesis, which focused on problem-based learning.
Since the beginning of the Honors Program, I had always shared my dream of studying abroad. At first, I was interested in pursuing a degree in psychology, particularly in the area of positive thinking. However, she reminded me that our community needed more support in helping students learn mathematics—and that psychology is an important part of mathematics education. I trusted her advice and chose to pursue a higher degree in mathematics education. Looking back, I’m grateful I listened to her guidance that day.
I didn’t have any role models at the time, and she told me that if no one in our community had pursued the degree I wanted, I could be the first. I was amazed by how strongly she believed in my dream, and I will never forget that moment, when I had no one to follow except the path of creating my own dream.
“Thank You All
for Your Incredible Support
Throughout My Academic Journey!“
.:: Nitchada Kamlue ::.
I’m currently a mathematics education Ph.D. candidate at Western Michigan University. My research interests are cultural aspects of professional development and investigating productive struggle. For more information about my dissertation proposal, please follow: tinyurl.com/KamlueDissertationProposal