Dr. Pappas is an educator, researcher, and curriculum designer with experience spanning preschool through doctoral education. Their career reflects a commitment to equity, creativity, and collaboration, grounded in both classroom practice and strategic leadership.

Throughout her university experiences, Dr. Pappas has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in curriculum design, action research, teaching methodologies, instructional practices. She has served as a faculty advisor to PhD candidates preparing their qualifying papers. As a provider of Professional Development to school districts, Dr. Pappas has trained educators nationally and internationally, including projects in Japan in areas of curriculum design and assessment. She has also supervised student teachers, guiding future educators in linking theory with practice.

Previously, Dr. Pappas has served as liaison to the Rhode Island Department of Education, developing pathways for teachers to earn additional licenses, and contributed to the CEEDAR national partnership to strengthen teacher preparation and licensure standards. As Program Coordinator for the STEAM Lab at Lesley University, she facilitated interdisciplinary faculty research, highlighting her passion for cross-disciplinary learning. In this position, Dr. Pappas also engaged with community projects and served as a trainer for youth centers and MakerSpace and climate curriculum in Metro-Boston school districts.

Dr.Pappas’s scholarship includes qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies exploring curriculum, supervision, interdisciplinary learning, and education as a vehicle for social justice and community building. Across roles, they lead with empathy, creativity, and a belief in the power of education to transform both individuals and systems.