Education

  • Doctoral Minor: Queer Studies

    Dissertation: Re/Naming Queer Asian America: Toward a Queer-Raciolinguistic Perspective for Education Policy Analysis

    Committee: Drs. Yoon Pak (chair), Jon Hale, Gabriel Rodriguez, Damian Vergara Bracamontes

    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2025

  • Concentration: Diversity and Equity in Education

    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2022

    *Outstanding Student Medal Award, Graduate and Advanced Certificate Division, College of Education

    Advisor: Dr. Theopolies Moton III

  • Concentration: Vocal Performance & Pedagogy

    Columbia University, Teachers College, 2020

  • École Normale de Music de Paris, 2015

    Primary Teachers: Vladimir Chernov, Olga Toporkova

  • Minor, Humanities

    California Institute of the Arts, 2014

    Primary Teachers: Dr. Paul Berkolds, Dr. Tali Tadmor

Professional Appointments

  • Visiting Scholar, Rutgers University—Newark, Department of Urban Education, 2025–present

    Instructor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, College of Education, 2022–2025

    Adjunct Faculty, Columbia University, Teachers College, Department of Music & Music Education, 2019–2020

  • Senior Director, Research & Evaluation, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 2024–present

    Acting Senior Director, Faculty & Creative Practice, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 2024–2025

    Research Associate, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2022–2025

    Policy Researcher, Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, 2024

  • College of Education, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

    Teaching Assistant

    • Advanced Qualitative Methods (G), 2025

    • Introduction to Diversity and Equity (G), 2024

    • Proseminar in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership (G), 2024

    Section Instructor

    • Section Instructor: Asian American Education (UG, G), 2x, 2022–2023 

    • Section Instructor: Identity and Difference in Education (UG), 2x, 2022–2023

    Department of Arts and Humanities, Columbia University, Teachers College

    Adjunct Faculty

    • Applied Vocal Performance (UG, G), 2x, 2019–2020

  • Teacher Trainer: Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Chicago; Chicago, IL, 2023

    Head of Youth Instruction: Eleonor England Music Studio; New York, NY, 2020–2022

    Music Faculty: Random Farms Kids’ Theater; Elmsford, NY, 2019–2021

    Musical Theater Faculty: The School of the New York Times; New York, NY,* 2019

    Music Director: National Theatre for Student Artists; New York, NY,* 2019

    Music Director: Statement Arts; New York, NY,* 2019

    Music Director & Theatre Faculty: Broadway Training Center; Hastings, NY, 2017–2019

    Teaching Artist: Inside Broadway; New York, NY, 2016–2017

    Teaching Artist: CalArts Community Arts Partnership; Los Angeles, CA, 2012–2014

    *Indicates teaching intensive.ription

Awards & Recognition

    1. Dr. William Trent Spencer Mentor Award, 2025

    2. Outstanding Teaching Award, nominee, 2025

    3. William C. Bagley Scholarship, 2024–2025

    4. List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students (5x), 2022–2025

    5. Letter of Service Appreciation, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, 2024

    6. NAEd/Spencer Foundation Dissertation Fellowship, semifinalist, 2024

    7. Tanaka Grant, Asian American Studies Department, 2023–2024

    8. Conference Participation Award (2x), 2022–2023

    9. Outstanding Student Medal Award, Master’s Division, College of Education, 2022

  • Spring Scholarship, Music & Music Education, 2019–2020

  • Dumont Foundation Scholar, 2011–2015

    Herb Alpert School of Music Scholarship, 2011–2015

Publications

Conferences & Invited Talks

    1. Masamitsu, T. (2025, July 25–27). Toward a queer-raciolinguistic framework for education policy analysis. International Conference on LGBT Studies. Dublin, Ireland. 

    2. Masamitsu, T., Auffant, N., Porterfield, L., & Mawhinney, L. (2025, June 25–28). Speak up and show out: A learner-led photovoice evaluation of arts education programs in the United States. International Visual Sociology Association. Seoul, South Korea.

    3. Masamitsu, T. (2025, April 24). Toward a queer-raciolinguistic perspective: (Re)new(ed) approaches for considering education politics and policy. American Educational Research Association. Denver, Colorado, USA.

    4. Wilson, A., & Masamitsu, T. (2024, November 20; 2025, April 26). Tippin’ the tightrope: Forces that push and pull social Studies teachers’ justice-centered praxes. National Council for the Social Studies, College and University Faculty Assembly. Boston, MA, USA. (Invited to present additional findings at the American Educational Research Association in Denver, CO, USA.)

    5. Masamitsu, T. (2024, November 2). Gesturing towards queer Asian America: How scholarship compounds multiple minoritization. International Conference on LGBT Studies. Copenhagen, Denmark. Acceptance only.

    6. Masamitsu, T. (2023, September 29). How California’s Proposition 8 weaponized K-12 education to stall marriage equality.” Organization of Educational Historians, Virtual Convening, USA. 

    7. Masamitsu, T. (2023, March 3). Unpacking “Asian American” in contemporary education policy. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Graduate Conference. Champaign, IL, USA.

    8. Masamitsu, T. (2022, October 1). Florida’s “don’t say gay or trans” bill: How we got here. Organization of Educational Historians, Virtual Convening, USA.

    1. Pak, Y., Lee, S., Ouk, L., & Masamitsu, T. (2024, April 23). Implementing AAPI lessons in K-12 classrooms.  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA, Professional Learning Webinar.

    2. Masamitsu, T. (2024, April 15). Applying gestures in education research: Some methodological musings.” University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Department of Asian American Studies. Champaign, IL, USA.

    3. Wilson, A., & Masamitsu, T. (2024, April 6). Tippin’ the tightrope: Forces that push and pull social studies teachers’ justice-centered praxes.” I3 Collective, Chicago, IL, USA.

    4. Masamitsu, T., & Rosado-Torres, A. (2023, October 6). In conversation: Contextualizing LGBTQIA+ topics in education.” Circa Queer Histories Festival, ONE Foundation, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

    5. Wilson, A., Masamitsu, T., & Chhikara, P. (2023, August 18). I3: Inclusive, inquiry-based social studies for Illinois. Illinois State Board of Education, Equity Committee. Springfield, IL, USA.

    6. Masamitsu, T. (2023, August 1). What do teachers need when teaching equitable Asian American community history? Teachers’ Summer Academy, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA. 

    7. Lee, S., & Masamitsu, T. (2023, June 14). Teaching Asian American history: A primer for new teachers. Illinois New Teacher Collaborative Conference. Champaign, IL, USA.

    8. Lee, S., & Masamitsu, T. (2023, March 31). The dos and don’ts of teaching about Asian Americans. Illinois Council for Social Studies, Charleston, IL, USA, 2023.

    9. Lee, S., Bunch, M., & Masamitsu, T. (2023, February 16 & March 6). Teaching equitable Asian American community history in K-12 classrooms, Champaign Unit #4 School District, Urbana School District. Champaign & Urbana, IL, USA.

    1. Masamitsu, T. (2024, October 29). Refreshing crash course: What Critical Race Theory is (and isn’t) for Introduction to Diversity and Equity in Education, Department of Education Policy, Organization & Leadership, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Sharon Lee, Ph.D.

    2. Masamitsu, T. (2024, February 29). Unpacking the model minority myth: K-12 implications for and perceptions of Asian American students” for Identity and Difference in Education, Department of Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ini Periodi, M.A.; Curtis Mason, Ph.D.

    3. Masamitsu, T. (2022–2024, 4x). Florida’s House Bill 1557: How did we get here? for Identity and Difference in Education, Department of Education Policy, Organization, & Leadership, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Curtis Mason, Ph.D.

    4. Masamitsu, T. (2022, October 11). Educational histories of queer Asian American youth for Asian American Education, Departments of Asian American Studies and Education Policy, Organization, & Leadership, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Sharon Lee, Ph.D.

Service & Leadership

  • Curriculum Committee Member, Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards, University of Illinois & Illinois State Department of Education, 2025–present

    Co-Founder and Head Executive, Creating for Justice, inc., 2020–present

    DEI Committee Member, NJ Governor’s Arts Awards Council, 2024–2025

  • Reviewer, American Educational Research Association, Critical Examination of  Race, Ethnicity, Class, and Gender SIG, 2025–present

    Reviewer, The Journal of Social Studies Research, 2025–present

    Co-Lead, Arts & Health Research Lab, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, 2024–present

    Affiliate, Visual Sociology in Education Lab, Rutgers University, Newark, 2024–present

    Panelist, Graduate Student Meeting, Organization of Educational Historians, 2024

    Reviewer, Organization of Educational Historians, Annual Conference, 2023–2024

    Session Chair, Organization of Educational Historians, Annual Conference, 2023

  • Organizer, Summer Teaching Academy: Asian American History in K-12 Schools (2x), 2023, 2024

    Panelist, Chancellor’s Review, College of Education, 2023

    Panelist, Graduate Student Recruitment Committee, 2022

Performances & Creative Projects

    1. Holland America Productions, RWS Entertainment Group (42 shows)

    2. The Piper (Reading), Davenport RAVE Festival

    3. Loserville (U.S. Premiere), Off-Broadway

    4. The Good Time, Hersheypark, Dir. Ryan Kasprazak

    5. CATS, Irvington Town Hall (Keys II)

    6. Let There Be Stuff, Off-Broadway (Copyist)

    7. Annie, Gallery Players (casting only)

    8. Kid Kristy and the Candy Touch, La MaMa (Composer & MD)

    9. Trail, REDCAT

    1. Let There Be Stuff: Lead, Off-Broadway

    2. A Christmas Carol: Peter/Supporting, Queensborough Theater Project

    3. Everything is Fluid: Nurse/Lead, Columbia University

    4. Dido and Aeneas: Aeneas/Lead, Altadena Children’s Opera

    5. Don’t Look at Me Like That: Bilitis/Lead, Wild Beast Pavilion

    6. Le Nozze di Figaro: Figaro/Lead, CalArts Opera

    7. Candide: Pangloss/Supporting, CalArts Opera

    8. The Fairy Queen: Sleep/Snout/Supporting, Walt Disney Modular Theater

    1. Higglytown Heroes: Series Regular, Disney

    2. Jojo’s Circus: Recurring, Disney

    3. Dead Silence: Additional Dialogue Recording, Universal Studios

    4. You, Me and Dupree: Additional Dialogue Recording, Warner Brothers

    5. Santa Clause 3: Additional Dialogue Recording, Disney

    6. Wicked Little Things: Additional Dialogue Recording, Millennium Films

    7. The Fog: Additional Dialogue Recording, Sony Pictures

    1. TranScend Sings: New York, NY

    2. Faculty Recital: Random Farms Kids’ Theater New York, NY

    3. Toporkova/Chernov Présentent: Récital du Studio Paris, FR

    4. Defying Gravity: Eric Whitacre, Lincoln Center

    5. Konzert von Maestro Vladimir Chernov Reichenau, Austria

    6. Composers’ Album: Santa Clarita Master Chorale Santa Clarita, CA

    7. Either/Or (World Premiere), by John Eagle Santa Clarita, CA

    8. Noon Concert with Maria Fortuna-Dean, Soprano, Santa Clarita, CA