Mila Zhu

Dr. Mila Zhu is an Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator for the EDUC Program at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, where she also serves as the Founding Director of the Center for Asian Resources and Intercultural Studies (CARIS). Dr. Zhu’s current research centers on Ludic Scholarship, exploring the integration of game-based learning, play, and narrative into educational contexts. As the series editor of Ludic Scholarship: Games, Learning, and Innovative Pedagogy, Dr. Zhu leads groundbreaking work that merges gamification, ludology, and pedagogy, creating a platform for innovative scholarship that reimagines the role of gaming in education. Her upcoming book, StrataPlay Methodology: A Lorekeeper's Game Design in Postqualitative Inquiry, serves as the foundational volume of the series, exploring multi-layered approaches to research through gamification and postqualitative inquiry. Her scholarly contributions, featured in numerous peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes, address critical issues at the nexus of education, technology, and society.

Before joining Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Dr. Zhu lived, studied, and taught in diverse international settings, including Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Shanghai, enriching her global perspective on education. As a grand winner of the First Asian Youth Piano Competition and a freelance musician, Dr. Zhu uniquely integrates her musical expertise into her pedagogical approach, enriching teacher preparation and curriculum theorizing with a multi-disciplinary perspective. Her research and teaching are dedicated to promoting the role of arts and multicultural education in creating diverse and equitable learning environments.

Dr. Zhu is the recipient of the 2024 Southeastern Faculty Senate Recognition Award for Outstanding Research and Scholarly Activity and the 2023 Faculty Senate Recognition Award for Excellence in Teaching. These accolades underscore her commitment to extending her impact within and beyond the campus community, notably working with pre-service teachers and underserved communities to advance educational inclusivity across different contexts. A dedicated educator and researcher, she is passionate about combining scholarly rigor with engaging storytelling, aiming to bridge the gap between academic analysis and enchanting narrative to foster educational experiences that are both intellectually enriching and captivating.