Dr. Lindiwe Magaya

Dr. Magaya is an associate professor of special education at Georgian Court University in New Jersey, USA. She is originally from Zimbabwe, where she earned her first degree. Since coming to the U.S. in 1998, Dr. Magaya earned both M.A. in Educational Psychology and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Special Education from Southern Illinois University. She has taught preservice teachers in the USA, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Dr. Magaya is passionate about preparing culturally responsive teacher candidates. 

Dr. Magaya’s international work has focused on preparing preservice teachers to conduct research in areas of special education and culturally responsive teaching. She has worked with her university to lead a global learning program in Africa where she exposes her students to the South African culture and special education services. Dr. Magaya has conducted numerous donation supply drives to donate to schools that have inadequate resources in Zimbabwe and South Africa. She currently serves as a resource expert for families of children with disabilities in Zimbabwe, working to translate special education resource pamphlets in three languages. She has recruited her colleagues here in the USA to draw students from the sciences to serve as volunteers in schools in South Africa.

When asked about her motivation to recruit students from the sciences, she has this to say “This is a great experience for my students and me. I have learned the importance of giving back. Teacher training in special education and science is a major barrier for inclusive education in South Africa. As someone who was a teacher in Zimbabwe and not trained to teach students with disabilities, I understand the challenges that South Africa is facing. It is important for me to research possible collaborative efforts to train teachers to be able to provide appropriate services.”

Dr. Magaya’s future goal is to examine possible ways to provide teacher training in special education at the University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN). She hopes to empower these teachers with the knowledge and training she has acquired in the United States.