RUDIA W. KIHURA, Ph.D.
Home Address:  1200 University Street, # 7691 
Spearfish, SD, 57799
Cell: (605) 340-4740
E-Mail Address: [email protected] 

EDUCATION: 

Ph.D. in Special Education and a minor in International Education           2020 
University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa

 Dissertation Title: “Investigating Primary Teachers’ Attitudes Towards the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in General Education Classroom-Embu County (Kenya)”  

MA in Special Education                                                                                      2010 University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 

 MEd in Educational Psychology                                                                          2006 Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya 

 Thesis Title: “Investigation of Major Factors Contributing to Secondary School Dropout in Manyatta Division-Embu District” 

BEd in Botany and Home Economics                                                                 2002 Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya 

 PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS / EMPLOYMENT 

 Assistant Professor, Educational Psychology & Early Childhood, Black Hills State University                                                                                                               2022 – Current 
Advisor International Health, Safety & Security, University of Iowa           2021 – 2022 
Senior Advisor International Student and Scholar, University of Iowa       2013 – 2021 
Exchange Visitor Assistant: International Student and Scholar Services     2012 – 2013 

International Programs, University of Iowa 
Graduate Assistant (International Programs Events), University of Iowa 2008 - 2012 
Direct Care Professional (Part-time): Reach for Your Potential, Inc.            2015 - 2020 
Direct Support Professional (Part-time): Systems Unlimited, Iowa City     2015 - 2020 

High School Teacher (Grade 9-12): Agriculture,  1997 - 2006                                                                     
Biology and Home Economics, St. Anne’s Girls High School, Embu, Kenya                                                        
High School Teacher (Grade 9-10): Agriculture and Home Economics       1995 - 1996. Kituro High School, Baringo, Kenya        

 TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
College Instructor 

Assistant Professor, Black Hills State University, Spearfish, SD                 2022 - Current                    

Educational Psychology, Child and Adolescent Development, Early Childhood Curriculum, Early Childhood Practicum, Supervising Early Childhood Student Teachers in the Field 

Building our Global Community- Story Stitch Course for Graduate         2015 - Current   & Professional Students (online) - University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa  

Engaging Across Intercultural Conflict Course for Faculty & Staff           2013 - Current  (online) - University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa  

Education Abroad Pre-Departure Training (Online)  2021 - 2022  University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa     

International Education Program Leader Training (Online)    2021 - 2022  University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
               
Conversation Practicum for Undergraduate Students  2013 - 2022 (Face to Face/Online) - University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa               

 Intercultural Training Certificate Course for Faculty,   2013 - 2022                 staff & students (Face to Face) - University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa  

 Graduate Teaching Assistant 

Seminar in College Teaching, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, Fall, 2012 
Seminar in College Teaching, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, Summer, 2012 
Instructional Decision Making in Education, University of Iowa, Spring, 2012 

 K-12 Teaching 

Behavior Disorders Classroom: Longfellow Elementary                                  Spring, 2010  and Southeast Junior High, Iowa City Community School District, Iowa City, Iowa 

 Behavior Disorders Classroom: West High School and                                    Fall, 2009 and Roosevelt Elementary, Iowa City Community School District, Iowa City, Iowa 

Agriculture, Biology, and Home Economics: St. Anne’s Girls High School       1997 - 2006 Embu, Kenya 

 Home Economics: Alliance Girls High School, Kikuyu, Kenya                       Spring, 1997 

Agriculture and Home Economics: Kituro High School, Baringo, Kenya           1995 - 1996 

 GRANTS AND AWARDS:

Black Hills State University Seed Grant ($ 2473.81)  2022 
Preservice Teachers’ Sense of Self-Efficacy Toward Teaching in an Inclusive Classroom- Mixed Methods Approach 

Staff Tuition Assistance ($1,740)  2021   University of Iowa  

T. Anne Cleary International Dissertation Research Fellowships ($3,400)   2019 University of Iowa Graduate College                                                 
Graduate Student Research Award from the College of Education ($500)    2019  University of Iowa College of Education 

Travel Grant ($500) 2011 University of Iowa Graduate Student Senate 

 RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Preservice Teachers, Special Education, Trauma in Early Childhood, Teaching, International Education, Pedagogy and Education, Inclusive Education Research, Inclusion, Student Drop Out

RESEARCH IN PROGRESS:
Kihura, R. W., & Hollingsworth, M. A.  “Pre-Service Teachers’ Sense of Self Efficacy Toward Teaching in an Inclusive Classroom”

Kihura, R. W., & Stewman W.  “Pre-service Teacher Perceptions: Trauma-Informed Practice”

Kihura, R. W. “Special Education Teacher Shortages in Oglala Lakota County School District – Pine Ridge Indian Reservation”

PUBLICATION IN PROGRESS:
Kihura, R. W. “Teachers’ Attitudes Toward Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in Embu County Primary Schools” to publish in the Journal of the International Association of Special Education

Kihura, R. W. “Teachers’ Attitudes Towards Inclusive Classroom (ISHST)” to publish in the Journal of International of Special Need Education

PUBLICATION:
Woods-Groves, S., Hua, Y., Therrien, W. J., Kaldenberg, E. R., Kihura, R. W., & Hendrickson, J. M. (2015). An Investigation of the Efficacy of an Editing Strategy with Postsecondary Individuals with Developmental Disabilities. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 95-108. 

REFEREED CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS: 

Accepted to Present at the Spearfish School District Annual Symposium, A Professional Development Day – 2025 February 

Presentation Topic: How to Model Trauma-Informed Teaching & Learning Principles in a K-12 Classroom Setting 

Accepted with Dr. Stewman to Present at CEC  2025 Special Education Convention & Expo Conference – 2025 March 

Presentation Topic: Proactive Strategies Used to Build an Inclusive Trauma-Informed K-12 Classroom 

 Accepted Present at Division of International Special Education & Services (DISES) Conference – 2025 July

Presentation Topic: Teachers’ Attitudes Towards Inclusive Classroom (ISHST) 

 Accepted with Dr. Stewman and Dr. Hollingsworth to Present at Division of International Special Education & Services (DISES) Conference – 2025 July 

Presentation Topic: Strength-Based Interventions: Inclusive Support for Trauma-Affected Students. 

 International Association of Special Education (IASE) Conference – 2024 June 

Presentation Topic: Teachers’ Attitudes Toward Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in Embu County Primary Schools 

 Division For Early Childhood Conference (DEC) - 2023 December 

Poster Topic: Early Childhood Teachers’ Support Toward Children Facing Trauma in the Classroom 

 The American Council on Rural Special Education (ACRES) - 2023 March 

Presentation Topic: Special Education Teacher Shortages: Oglala Lakota County School District and Tribal Schools - Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (South Dakota) 

 South Dakota Special Education Conference – 2023 March 

 South Dakota Early Childhood Education Conference - 2023 April 

Presentation Topic: Classroom–Based Strategies for Supporting Students Experiencing Loss of a Parent, Sibling, or Loved One
 
National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators (NAECTE) - June 2023 

Presentation Topic: Early Childhood Pre-Service Teachers’ Attitudes: Supporting Children Experiencing Trauma 

 Video Self-Modeling Intervention on Social Skills Training for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders:A Review(Poster) November 2011, Programs for Students with Emotional/Behavioral Disorders International Conference at Minnesota Fall 

 Video Self-Modeling Intervention on Social Skills Training for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Review (Poster) September 2011, presentation at Des Moines - Iowa CASE/CEC 

 Attitudes, Services, and Adaptations for Teenagers with Disabilities from 

Kenya, Britain, China, Brazil, Australia, and the U.S. (Poster) 

November 2010, 14th annual International Day Human Right to Well-Being. 

Presentation at Coralville, Iowa 

 PROFESSIONAL SERVICE:
INTERNATIONAL 
Board of Directors: International Association of Special Education  (IASE) Secretary 2024 – Current 

 Division of International Special Education & Services (DISES) Conference Proposal Reviewer  2024 - Current  

 NATIONAL 
Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education Research Article Reviewer 2024-Current                               

 Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional 

Children (DEC) Conference Proposal Reviewer 2024 - Current  

 REGIONAL/LOCAL 

Board Member: Prairie Hills Child Care Center  2024 - Current 

The Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG) Society International - Iota Chapter (vice chair) 2024 – Current 

Educators Rising State Conference: South Dakota – Judge  2024 – Current 

The Spearfish Middle School Science Fair – Judge 2024 – Current 

Spearfish High School Career Course -Interview Judge 2024 - Current 

Early Learner Rapid City and the Black Hills Chapter of South Dakota Association for the Education of Young Children (SDAEYC) booth - Pumpkin Festival      2023 – Current

BLACK HILLS STATE UNIVERSITY 
Black Hills State Research Symposium Co-Chair           2023 – Current 

New Student Orientation (NSO) registration - BHSU     2022 – Current 

BHSU Dakota Dreams Summer Camp: 7th & 8th Grade Resident of South Dakota 2023-Current 

Black Hills State University Preview Days: Prospective Students and their Parents 2022- Current 

Member, Field Experience Governing Committee, BHSU 2022-Current 

Member, Scholarship Committee, BHSU 2022-Current 

Member, Opportunity Center Committee, BHSU 2022-Current 

 UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
University of Iowa Faculty/Staff Parking Appeals Committee - IOWA   2018-2021                           

Member of the University of Iowa Staff Council – University of Iowa      2015 - 2018   

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATIONS: 

 Instructional Strategist II: Behavior Disorders/Learning Disabilities (K-12), Iowa, 2010     

Teachers Service Commission-Ministry of Education Science 1995 - 2006 and Technology. Nairobi, Kenya 

Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching, IOWA  2021- Current 

Graduate Certificate in College Teaching, University of Iowa, Iowa  2014 

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: 
Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) 

Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children (DEC) 

The Division of Internation Special Education & Services (DISES) 

Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children (TED) 

 The American Council on Rural Special Education (ACRES) 

South Dakota Early Childhood Education Conference (SDAEYC) 

 International Association of Special Education (IASE) 

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (DKG) - Iota Chapter 

 LANGUAGES: 

 English: Fluent 
Kikuyu: Native 
Kiswahili: Fluent Kiembu: Fluent