University at Buffalo

Tiffany Karalis Noel

Tiffany Karalis Noel

Director of Doctoral Programs

Clinical Associate Professor

LEARNING AND INSTRUCTION


Specialty/Research Focus

Curriculum and Instruction; English Education; ESL/ENL/Bilingual; Literacy; Educational Change; Educational Leadership; Educator Preparation; Leadership; Higher Education; Online and Distance Learning; Qualitative Research Methods; Professional / Staff Development; Social and Emotional Development

Contact Information
Foster Hall, South Campus
Phone: 716-645-2455
tbkarali@buffalo.edu


Professional Summary:

As an educator, researcher, and administrator with 16 years of experience in higher education and K-12 districts, I specialize in preparing interdisciplinary leaders, designing and implementing curriculum, improving institutional systems through research-driven methods, and managing faculty and professional staff. Currently, I serve as a director of university programs, associate chair of curriculum, researcher of teacher and higher education, and educator of research methods and educational leadership. I have delivered over 60 presentations and published over 45 books, journal articles, and book chapters on teacher preparation and attrition, mentorship in STEM higher education, and the structures and systems that shape educational contexts. Additionally, I leverage technology to enhance learning experiences and expand access to quality education.

Teaching is a complex profession that requires strong preparation and ongoing support. New teachers often face challenges adapting to the realities of the classroom, which can impact their long-term success. My research examines how preservice training, applied practice, and collaboration between educators and policymakers can improve teacher preparation and retention. I focus on developing effective strategies for teacher education programs, supporting new teachers, and analyzing the role of educational policy in shaping classroom practices.

My research also investigates mentoring relationships in graduate and postdoctoral education, particularly in STEM fields. I analyze how mentorship structures, research training environments, and institutional practices affect student and faculty experiences. Drawing on established theories of human, social, and structural capital, I work to identify best practices for creating productive mentoring relationships and improving research environments.

Building on my research in teacher education and mentoring, I also examine systemic issues in education, including rural education strategies, the impact of COVID-19 on academic institutions, and challenges related to faculty-student interactions in higher education. My publications address topics such as place-conscious approaches to rural education, faculty-student cyberbullying, and the role of academic institutions in shaping research culture. Through my work, I aim to provide research-driven insights that contribute to the improvement of educational systems, policies, and practices.

Education and Training:
  • Certificate, Harvard University, Management Development (2025)
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Virginia, Curriculum and Instruction (2019)
  • PhD, Purdue University, Curriculum and Instruction (2018)
  • Certificate, Purdue University, Teaching English Language Learners (2018)
  • MEd, Colorado State University, Educational Leadership and Policy (2015)
  • BA, University of Wisconsin-Madison, English Education (2013)
  • Certificate, University of Wisconsin-Madison, TESOL in K-12 (2013)
Awards and Honors:
  • GSE Ph.D. Mentorship Award; Graduate School of Education; 2023-05-20;
  • GSE Faculty STAR Award in Teaching; Graduate School of Education; 2021-05-07;
Recent Publications:
Books:
  • Karalis Noel, T. (2023). Empowering Scholar-Practitioners: A Comprehensive Guide for Conceptualizing, Designing, Writing, Defending, and Publishing a Dissertation in Practice.
Journal Articles:
  • Delmont, M., Wang, W., Karalis Noel, T., & Schindel, A. (2026). Improving scientific literacy through enhanced rigor in the secondary science classroom. School Science and Mathematics. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/ssm.70024
  • Karalis Noel, T., & Liang, W. (2026). A Freirean reckoning with AI and capitalism in the pursuit of humanising education across technology-mediated contexts. Journal of Learning for Development, 13(1), 123–129. https://doi.org/10.56059/jl4d.v13i1.2603
  • Liu, Z., & Karalis Noel, T. (2026). Exploring how lived experiences shape technology beliefs and teacher agency: A study of novice EFL teachers. Asia-Pacific Education Research, 35(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-026-01100-6
  • Schrewe, L., & Karalis Noel, T. (2026). Examining self-efficacy and gender in rural secondary engineering education. The Rural Educator, 47(2), 33–55. https://doi.org/10.55533/2643-9662.1514
Recent Presentations:
Conferences:
  • Karalis Noel, T., & Doxbeck, C. (2026). A Freirean reckoning with AI and capitalism in the pursuit of humanizing education. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Los Angeles, CA.;
  • Karalis Noel, T., & Kearney, E., *et al. (2025). The EdD through student eyes: practical recommendations for program innovation. Learning exchange presented at the convening of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate, Philadelphia, PA. *et al. represents EdD student presenters.;
  • Karalis Noel, T., Bosca, N., & Minematsu, A. (2025). Collective autoethnography as a transformative narrative methodology. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Denver, CO.;
  • Karalis Noel, T., Delmont, M., Dineen, K., Knight-Billera, J., & Pierre-Glaude, J. (2024). Voices of change: empowering equity through innovative educational practices. Learning exchange presented at the convening of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate, Honolulu, HI.;
  • Mujtaba, S., Saran, R., & Karalis Noel, T. (2025). Role of computational thinking in improving undergraduate biology education. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Denver, CO.;
Recent Activities:
Editorials and Reviews:
  • Editorial Assistant, English Education
    May 2017-Aug 2018
  • Reviewer for the following journals: Teachers College Record, English Education, English Journal, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, Journal of Teacher Education and Educators, The Reading Teacher, Reading Research Quarterly, The Teacher Educator, Teaching and Teacher Education Journal of Engineering Education
    Aug 2015-present
Professional Service:
  • NCTE Standing Committee on Diversity and Inclusivity, Member
    Nov 2019-Nov 2022
  • Institutional Delegate, Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED)
    Jun 2019-May 2026
  • Member, National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Standing Committee on Diversity and Inclusivity
    Jan 2019-Nov 2022

Contact Information

Foster Hall, South Campus
Phone: 716-645-2455
tbkarali@buffalo.edu