Bui's dissertation focuses on preservice teachers' professional noticing of students' measurement thinking. Broadly, her research has implications for addressing unconscious bias about students' ability to do math based on gender.
Building on her past experiences as a teacher educator at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education and as a facilitator for the Enhancing Teacher Education Program, Bui aims to integrate research on teacher education into training and curricula to positively impact over one million Vietnamese math teachers and their 18 million students.
"Mai’s work is ambitious and poised to advance our collective understanding of the resources and experiences that support teachers’ noticing skills,” said Jessica Bishop, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Mathematics.
In addition to her scholarly achievements, Bui founded the nonprofit organization Empowering Girls Through Education (EGE), which raises funds to support educational expenses for low-income, female students in Vietnam. As an international student in the United States, she also serves as a mentor, supporting underserved, international undergraduate and graduate students, through the I-Mentor and Supporting Undergraduates for Powerful Equitable Results in Math programs.
In recognition of her academic excellence and longstanding commitment to educational equity for women and girls in Vietnam, Bui previously received the AAUW International Fellowship in 2024-2025 and the P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship (first award in 2022-2023 and renewal in 2023-2024).
“I am especially grateful to my dissertation chair, Dr. Bishop, whose mentorship has been instrumental in helping me grow both academically and professionally,” Bui said. “I also want to thank Dr. Hwa Young Lee, whose teaching and research guidance have been deeply inspiring, especially as we share a similar background as international scholars. I am also very thankful for Dr. Hilkovitz, our external funding coordinator. Her enthusiasm and genuine care for students are qualities I admire greatly."
MMEG is a non-profit, public charity founded in 1981 that awards education grants to exceptional women from developing countries. Its namesake — the wife of Robert McNamara, the World Bank's fifth president — advocated for the inclusion of gender and education issues in the Bank’s development programs.
MMEG awards grants through its U.S.-Canada Program to support the education of women who have demonstrated a commitment to empowering women and children in developing countries. MMEG empowers grantees with the knowledge, skills, and self-confidence necessary to reduce poverty, improve environmental sustainability, and protect human rights, and successful applicants can clearly articulate how their studies and future plans may stimulate economic growth in their home country.
