Jennifer Smith

Jen Smith (Ngāti Whātua, Te Roroa, Ngāpuhi) is a senior lecturer in Māori education in the Faculty of Education at the University of Canterbury [UC]. In addition to her lectureship, she leads Culturally Responsive Education in Te Kāhui Pā Harakeke: The Child Wellbeing Research Institute at UC. Jen is an experienced teacher of primary education.

As a recipient of the University of Canterbury’s Innovation Award, other awards, and grants, Jen’s research in culturally responsive pedagogies underpins her expertise in Māori educational experiences and wellbeing. Her research leadership has recently focused on culturally responsive strategies that enhance literacy engagement through the national Better Start Literacy Approach [BSLA]. As a doctoral candidate, Jen’s focus on Māori teachers' cultural safety experiences in schools theorises how institutional systems impact Māori success. Jen specialises in employing Indigenous braided approaches to methodology, leveraging qualitative analytical approaches and mixed-method designs.

Jen has published in the areas of CRP frameworks that enhance school practices in partnership with Māori, Māori audiological health, and teacher education. Jen won the inaugural fellowship with the Journal of Critical Study of Communication & Disability (JCSCD) and regularly peer reviews for other journals. Jen has shown leadership across the sector as a cultural advisor, guest keynote speaker and the Advisory Chair of Deaf Education for the New Zealand Deaf School. Jen presents regularly at international and national conferences, contributes to professional learning for kaiako and schools, and welcomes all enquiries.

Jen teaches various Teacher Education courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She supervises students at a master’s level and is available to supervise Māori and non-Māori students in subjects of her interest.
- Māori Education
- Cultural and social well-being,
- Kaupapa Māori theory and methodology,
- Teacher education and practice;
- and Kaupapa Māori audiology.