Dr. Michelle Vanderburg
Head of Course - Master of Teaching (Primary), Deputy Dean of Learning & TeachingSchool of Education and the Arts
Centre for Research in Equity & Advancement of Teaching & Education (CREATE)
Building 5
School of Education and the Arts
Dr. Michelle Avila Vanderburg is Deputy Dean of Learning & Teaching for the School of Education & the Arts at CQUniversity, where she also serves as Head of Course for the Master of Teaching (Primary) and Manager of the CQUniversity Bundaberg Makerspace. With over two decades of international experience spanning primary, secondary, and higher education across the United States and Australia, she is a recognised leader in literacy education, digital literacy, and innovative STEM pedagogies.
Her research expertise encompasses inquiry-based learning methodologies, literacy coaching, and the integration of emerging technologies in educational settings. Dr. Vanderburg is particularly passionate about makerspace pedagogy and its potential to enhance digital literacy skills among young learners. She has successfully secured over $1.3 million in competitive research funding and has published extensively on topics ranging from teacher professional development to digital literacy interventions.
As a member and past President of the Australian Literacy Educators' Association (ALEA) Central Queensland Local Council and Co-Champion of CQUniversity's Technology Enhanced Learning Community of Practice, Dr. Vanderburg is actively involved in shaping educational policy and practice. Her commitment to excellence in both teaching and research is reflected in her supervision of numerous doctoral and master's students, her editorial roles in leading educational journals, and her extensive community engagement through the Bundaberg Makerspace, which has served hundreds of local students through innovative STEM workshops.
Background
Dr. Vanderburg's educational journey began with her undergraduate studies in Anthropology at the University of California, San Diego, where she also completed a minor in Teacher Education. This interdisciplinary foundation provided her with a unique perspective on learning and culture that continues to influence her educational philosophy today. She subsequently earned her Masters in Teaching from Chapman University, specialising in K-8 education, before completing her PhD in Language and Literacy at the University of South Carolina.
Her early career as an English and Social Studies teacher in California's diverse classrooms shaped her understanding of the challenges faced by English Language Learners and the importance of culturally responsive pedagogy. This experience sparked her lifelong commitment to educational equity and inclusive teaching practices. Her transition to higher education began at the University of South Carolina, where she served as a graduate assistant while completing her doctoral studies, working closely with renowned literacy researchers and contributing to significant studies on literacy coaching effectiveness.
Upon joining the University of South Carolina Aiken as Assistant Professor and Head of the Elementary Education Program, Dr. Vanderburg established herself as a leader in teacher preparation and literacy education. Her work there included securing substantial AmeriCorps funding to support community literacy initiatives, demonstrating her ability to bridge academic research with real-world community needs. Her move to Australia in 2017 marked a new chapter in her career, where she has embraced the opportunity to contribute to educational innovation in a regional setting while maintaining her international research collaborations and expanding her expertise into digital literacy and makerspace education.
Universities Studied At
University of South Carolina (2013) - PhD in Language and Literacy
Chapman University (2002) - Masters of Arts in Teaching, Specialization in K-8 Education
University of California, San Diego (1997) - Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology with Minor in Teacher Education
Credentials held: Single Subject English and Multiple Subject
Universities Worked At
Central Queensland University, Australia (2017-Present) - Senior Lecturer, Deputy Dean of Learning & Teaching, Head of Course
University of South Carolina Aiken (2011-2016) - Assistant Professor, Head of Elementary School Program
University of South Carolina Columbia (2007-2016) - Adjunct Instructor
Awards
James A. Stoddard Memorial Fellowship, USC College of Education (2008)
CQUniversity Teaching Scholar recognition
Graduate Teacher Preparation Assessment (GTPA) Recognised Assessor
Media Citations
"Ignite young minds with CQUniversity's Makerspace workshops" - CQUniversity News, May 27, 2025
"STEMtastic fun for school holidays" - Bundaberg Today, December 25, 2024
"CQU challenge young minds" - Bundaberg Today, October 1, 2024
"CQU Makerspace 'making the maker' to future-proof Bundy" - CQUniversity News, October 1, 2024
"Seven Local News" coverage of CQU robotics programme - Seven Bundaberg Wide Bay, August 7, 2024
Wiemers, H., & Vanderburg, M. A. (2023). Agriculture and drones: Building student skills for future careers. Teacher Magazine, August 2023
"Drone program rise" - Bundaberg Today, June 10, 2022
"Drone program proves beneficial for students" - Bundaberg Today (online), May 19, 2022
"Drones to help students" - Bundaberg Today, March 18, 2022
"Agricultural drone project to inspire students" - Bundaberg Now, March 15, 2022
Television coverage featuring drone education project - Seven Local News, May 16, 2022
Professional Memberships
Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE)
Australian Literacy Educators' Association (ALEA)
Association for Academic Language and Learning
Australasian Council for Undergraduate Research
American Educational Research Association
International Reading Association
National Council of Teachers of English
Association of Middle Level Education
Professional Interests
Digital literacy and technology integration in education
Makerspace pedagogy and STEM education
Literacy coaching and teacher professional development
Inquiry-based learning methodologies
English Language Learner instruction
Pre-service teacher education
Qualitative research methodologies
Educational technology implementation
Key Achievements
Secured over $1.3 million in competitive research funding (US and Australia)
Successfully supervised multiple doctoral and master's completions
Published 30+ peer-reviewed articles and book chapters
Delivered 25+ international and national conference presentations
Established and manages CQUniversity Bundaberg Makerspace
Led literacy professional development for hundreds of teachers across two countries
Developed innovative digital pedagogy approaches for teacher education
Industry Reports
Co-authored systematic review on makerspaces in Australian educational contexts
Contributed to research on mobile applications in nursing science education
Participated in technology-enhanced learning implementation studies
Conducted evaluations of the Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine)
Conducted evaluations of digital pedagogy interventions in higher education
Editor
Editor - South Carolina Association for Middle Level Education Journal (2012-2021)
Interim Editor - South Carolina Middle School Association Journal (2011)
Co-Editor - South Carolina Middle School Association Journal (2010)
Editorial Review Board Member - ALEA journal Literacy Learning: The Middle Years (2021-Present)
Consultancy Work
Literacy Consultant - District Five of Lexington & Richland Counties (2009-2016)
Educational Consultant - Queensland schools on literacy strategies and professional development
Research Consultant - Various educational institutions on literacy coaching and teacher development
Professional Development Facilitator - Workshops on literacy strategies, technology integration, and makerspace pedagogy
Manuscript Reviewer - Multiple prestigious educational journals including Middle School Journal, Teacher and Teacher Education Journal, Education Sciences, and Research in Middle Level Education
Enhancing Academic Preparedness: A Comprehensive Study of Individualised Digital Pedagogy for Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Readiness - CTR-21150
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 3: Industry and Other)
Funding Schemes: Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES) Equity Frontiers Small-Scale Trials Grants Program 2024
Total Funding: $179,883.00
Online language learning approaches to enhance bioscience language acquisition in nursing students: A pilot study
Grant: Scholarly project (Internal L&T Grant)
Funding Schemes: CQU Learning and Teaching Research and Development Grants 2021
Total Funding: $11,962.00
RTP Scholarship, commencing 2021
Grant: Scholarship (Not Specified )
Funding Schemes: RTP Stipend Scholarship, Commencing 2021
Total Funding: N/A
Making the Maker: Hackerspace Grant Program
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 2: Other Public Sector)
Funding Schemes: Queensland Hackerspace Grant
Total Funding: $13,083.73
National Science Week Regional STEM Pop-Up
Grant: Government Tender (Category 2: Other Public Sector)
Funding Schemes: Department of Environment and Science
Total Funding: N/A
Girls, self-concept and social identity in STEM: The Role of makerspace pedagogy
Grant: Competitive Grant (Public)
Funding Schemes: DET - 2017 Education Horizon Research Grants
Total Funding: $46,998.99
Accreditation
I am currently accredited for supervision in the following:
- 3901 Curriculum and Pedagogy
- 3903 Education Systems
- 3999 Other Education
