Maya Israel, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Educational Technology and Computer Science Education

College of Education

2024 Awardee

A former special education teacher, Maya Israel now does research that focuses on strategies for supporting students with disabilities and other academically diverse learners’ meaningful engagement in computer science education through Universal Design for Learning.

Israel is currently the primary or co-primary investigator on several grants, including a National Science Foundation project that brings together researchers and educational leaders to address ways to make computer science education more inclusive to students with disabilities. She also serves as director of UF’s CSEveryone Center for Computer Science Education as well as the Creative Technology Research Lab.

Israel was a writer for the K-12 Computer Science Education Framework, a high-level guide for implementing computer science education. Additionally, Israel works with multiple school districts on strategies to more effectively include students with disabilities in K-12 computer science education initiatives.

“In addition to her numerous scientific contributions, Israel never loses sight of the importance of designing instruction to meet the learning needs of students with disabilities and the importance of recruiting and retaining women and underrepresented groups into STEM/Computer Science Education,” says Alyson Adams, a clinical professor and director of the School of Teaching and Learning in the College of Education.