Doctoral Students
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Eulogio Alejandre Hometown: Ogden, Utah Degree: B.A. in Secondary Education, M.S. in Language Acquisition Research Interests: Education Equity, Undocumented Students' Access to Education, Language Acquisition, and Dual Immersion Language Education. Hobbies Interests: Hiking, Sports, specifically soccer and football Favorite Quote: All words have the 'taste' of a profession, a genre, a tendency, a party, a particular work, a particular person, a generation, an age group, the day, and hour. Each word tastes of the context and contexts in which it has lived its socially charged life... Bakhtin 1981:293 |
Josephine Amoakoh Hometown: Ghana, West Africa Degree: M.Ed. Education, Culture & Society Research Interests: As an African from a multilingual society with over 45 dialects, I am highly interested in issues related to language learning such as language ideologies and policies and how they impact the academic and social lives of students from diverse background. I am also interested in the assessment of English language learners in mainstream classrooms and have been the instructor for ECS 5645/6645 (Assessment of Linguistically Diverse Population) for the past two years. Hobbies/Interests: Teaching & singing |
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Adrienne Andrews Hometown: South Weber, UT Degree: M.S. Women's Studies; M.A Political Science Research Interests: social justice movements and activity; leveraging institutions of higher learning to cultivate community through education; building community through civic engagement, cross-cultural conflict resolution and mediation; community development through service learning and so much more. Hobbies/Interests: I love to create - quilting, knitting, spinning wool, writing, paper crafting and the list goes on. I love to travel - I'm at 47 countries and counting. I believe in service work, listening and creating spaces for critical conversations. I also love to spend time with my partner and playing Cribbage. Interesting fact: I am bionic - I have a titanium plate and four screws holding up my head, this means that I am lots of fun at the airport! I climbed to the Tiger's Nest in Bhutan. I lived in a convent for a year and was not a novice or a Catholic. |
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Augustin Diaz Hometown: Brooklyn, New York Research Interests: - Critical Rhetoric and Critical Race Theory, Pacific Islander and Latin@/Chican@ youth and family educational decision-making, 12-16 pipeline; higher-education, School-community-family partnerships, storytelling Hobbies/Interests: Spending time with family; Game of thrones; reading Afro-Latino literature, Indigenous histories, and poetry--globs of it; Ancient military history fan; Age of Empires game fanatic; Immigration activism...and lately really interested in documenting the relationships between Pacific Islander and Latin@/Chican@ youth. Favorite Quote: By Drey Vazquez (ECS Alumni) "I'm going to write an open letter to my hair, and apologize for the many times I complained about it, and the many times my parents tried to tame it…they didn't know better. And I'm going to try to explain to it that yes, womyn love it, and yes everyone wants to touch it, but that it also makes people uncomfortable. That it scares people. That it scares people because in it you can find traces of my mother, and her grandmother, and all the womyn before that. That in this map you can outline a genealogy all the way back to that muxer that was enslaved, brought to the center of the world, beaten and sold. A womxn so powerful, they had to make sure we never knew who she was." |
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Kona Eldredge Hometown: Seoul, South Korea Undergraduate: University of Utah Major: Linguistics (TESOL Certificate) & B.A. International Studies Research Interests: I have lived in two different countries and been exposed to two different languages and cultures. For this reason, I have naturally become interested in bilingual. biliteracy, and bicultural education. As an immigrant myself and English teacher for immigrants (mostly refugees), I am highly interested in language and culture education for immigrants as well. Interesting Fact: Used to sing in a Jazz band. |
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Ivy Patricia Farguheson Hometown: Lynn, Massachusetts Research Interests: Role of schools on racial and ethnic identity formation of young immigrants and first- and second- generation Americans; identity formation and schools Hobbies/Interests: Running (especially marathons), watching football, playing basketball, talking politics, yoga Favorite quote: Do your job. - Bill Belichick |
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Juan Carlos Fernandez Hometown: Madrid (Spain) Previous Education: History Major; Art History Master’s degree Research Interests: I am interested in gaining a better understanding of the racial ideologies at play in education, especially in Spanish-English bilingual programs. More specifically, I would like to comprehend the role of colonial epistemologies as an indicator as to whom we privilege in education. Hobbies/Interests: Watching movies with my family, snowshoeing, reading and traveling. Favorite quote: If you can dream — and not make dreams your master; |
Melissa Flores Hometown: Provo, Utah Research: Racial battle fatigue; critical race theory Hobbies/Interests: Movies, traveling, reading, and hanging out with my family |
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Jacob Jobe Hometown: Missoula, Montana Research Interests: Postcolonial and Neocolonial theories, Third Space Theory and applications in the classroom, English Learners and immigrant students in content-area classrooms, Native American students in secondary classrooms. Hobbies/Interests: Skiing, backpacking, playing and coaching soccer, trail running and marathons, Real Salt Lake fan, literature and poetry. |
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Jimmy Kendall Hometown: Lafayette, CA Hobbies/Interests: Reading, writing, teaching, biking, fishing, skiing, finding time to explore the great outdoors, digging for good vinyl, music and more music. |
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Taylor Knuth Hometown: Provo, Utah Previous Education: B.A. Musical Theatre, Weber State University, M.A. Arts Administration, Southern Utah University Research Interests: Ask me again next year! haha Hobbies/Interests: Performing Arts, Historic Architecture, Community Advocacy and Engagement. Interesting Fact: By the age of 25, I had both hips replaced! |
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Ashley Seitz Kramer Hometown: Cincinnati, OH Degree: M.A. English, M.F.A. Writing Research Interests: Literacy studies and L2 learning, writing/center pedagogy, the creative arts, narrative theory, feminist studies, equality and diversity in higher education, community engagement/advocacy Hobbies/Interests: Hiking, biking, camping, reading, writing poetry and fiction, loving and protecting animals, volunteering, all things epistolary Interesting Fact: My first full-length book of poetry, Museum of Distance, won the Zone 3 Press First Book Award and comes out in September 2015. I’ve taught college English/writing courses for over a decade and have worked in college administration for over 6 years. |
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Loni Manning Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah Degree: Graphic Arts, Museum Studies, University Studies, Education, Communication Institute of American Indian Arts, Brigham Young University, Utah Valley University, San Juan College Research Interests: Indigenous language revitalization programs. Cultural museum education and community involvement. Indigenous visual rhetoric and visual art in education. Indigenous giftedness identification and evaluation. Interesting Fact: I've met more than 30 movie stars and heads of state Hobbies or Personal Interests: Arts/Music-sumi-e ink painting; botanical illustration; photography; bead work; woodcarving; weaving; pottery; guitar, native flute; song-writing; Hawaiian, Japanese, and Navajo art, music, languages and dancing. Sports/Outdoor-camping, fishing, hiking, snowshoeing, gardening. |
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John Murphy Hometown: I am originally from Rye, New York but have lived in Salt Lake City, UT since 2015. Previous Education: B.A. English, University of Utah, M.A. English Education, New York University Research Interests: Education and Power, Language and Power, Critical Pedagogy, and Cultural Studies Hobbies/Interests: Skiing, Hiking, Drumming Interesting Fact: I am a drumset musician in my free time |
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Sonny Partola Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT Previous Education: B.S. Humanities, University of Utah. M.A. Community Leadership, Westminster College Research Interests: Family School Engagement Hobbies/Interests: Reading, traveling, and hiking Interesting Fact: I love to draw and learn about art |
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Danny Piper Hometown: Kaysville, UT Undergraduate: Cultural Anthropology Research Interests: Reversing language shift and counteracting language oppression, Language policy and planning, Indigenous second language acquisition, Educational linguistics, Indigenous bilingual and bicultural curriculum, Minority language rights, Historical and modern context of American Indian Education, Critical Indigenous theory. Hobbies/Interests: Reading, drawing, playing music, and exploring the outdoors. Interesting fact: Novice Celtic harpist |
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Analis Carattini-Ruiz Hometown: Lehi, Utah Degree: Masters in k-12 Administration and Supervision University of Phoenix Research Interests: Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, Education Segregation and Inequities, Social Justice, Bilingual Programs and Dual Immersion Programs. Interesting Fact: Born and raised in Puerto Rico Hobbies or Personal Interests: Loves Latin music and dancing. My hobby is Crossfit! |
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Eliot Sykes Hometown: Andover, Massachusetts Research Interests: Critical Race Theory, Multiculturalism, Colonialism, Curative Education Interesting Fact: I like building bicycles Favorite thing about Utah: The clean air during the winter. |
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Ulysses Tonga'onevai Hometown: West Valley,Ut Degree: Master's Education Research: Race and Sport, Sociology of Sport, Immigration and Education, Pacific Islander Education Hobbies/Interests: Spending time with my spouse and children, bodybuilding, football & rugby coaching, strength and agility training for youth and college athletes, research topics related to both Pacific Islander & American history, community service projects, cooking Polynesian BBQ and eating! Favorite Quote: "Don't forget your history, nor your destiny" Bob Marely |
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Tanjerine Vei Hometown: South Weber, Utah Research Interests: Critical media literacy, identity-based curriculum, and healing in education. Interesting Fact: I love plants. A lot. Hobbies or Interests: Painting and other mixed media visual arts. Favorite thing about Utah: The mountains, seasons, and Utah's delightful plant life. |
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Adelmira Ynostroza Hometown: Texas Degree: M.Ed. in Biliteracy/Curriculum instruction University of Texas at Austin Research Interests: Hornberger's biliteracy and transnationalism are of great interest to me. I taught for 13 years as an elementary teacher and throughout my career experienced many inner-identity conflicts. As a bilingual educator, I am responsible for the community. Critical Race Theory is with me every day. As a bilingual educator I witness racial oppression and the negotiations in the curriculum. This area is of great interest to me as I study Soloranzo, Delgado and Ladson-Billings. Interesting Fact: Texas & Border History Hobbies or Personal Interests: I love to create poetry, write novels and paint on canvas. Most of my creations are tied to my Transnational identity. I enjoy being a hyphen! |
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Meghan Zarnetske Hometown: Guilford, Connecticut Previous Education: B.S. Geoscience, Environmental Studies, M.S. Applied Environmental Geology, M.A. Teaching and Learning Research Interests: Equity work in schools, de-centering whiteness, youth development, critical pedagogy Hobbies/Interests: Playing outside, spending time with my dogs and partner, writing, seeking solace Interesting Fact: I can't swim, I have two spleens, and I used to run ultramarathons for fun. |
Master's Students
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Diana Chacon Hometown: Carichi, Mexico and Memphis, Tennessee. Research Interests: The experiences and resistance of LGBT students of color in higher education contexts, student-led protest, creative writing, and visual arts and social justice. Hobbies/Interests: Southern home cooking, sustainable gardening, co-housing, jazz, gospel, and blues, African American literature, contemporary Latinx literature, queer literature, and Tarahumara art and language. Interesting Fact: I am from Memphis, Tennessee, and a resident of Orange Mound, an African American neighborhood located southeast of Memphis. Orange Mound was established in 1890 and is the first city in the south to be built by and for African Americans. Memphis, Tennessee is also the birthplace of Aretha Franklin and Stax Records where artists like Johnny Taylor, Issac Hayes, and Carla Thomas recorded several albums. |
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Kylee Ehmann Hometown: Ogden Research Interests: Art education, museums Hobbies/Interests: Listening to podcasts, reading, sewing, and baking (esp cakes!) Favorite quote: "Out of me now my mind can pour." ~ Virginia Woolf, The Waves |
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Kaimana Kahale Hometown: Kualapuu, HI Previous Education: B.A. in History at Lewis & Clark College Research Interests: Decolonial Education, Indigenous History, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Studies, Native Identity and Athletics Hobbies/Interests: Love going to the beach and doing anything that will get me on the move (sports, hikes, etc). Also an avid reader, gamer and Star Wars fanatic! Everything I do is for the benefit of my family, friends, and community. Interesting Fact: I come from a small Hawaiian island that has no stop lights, freeways, malls or major fast food chains. The population is a little over 7,000 and the only business people outside of this community would recognize is a Texaco gas station. |
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Sydney Linderman Hometown: Jackson, WY Previous Education: Bachelors of Elementary Education and Teaching English as a Second Language (Westminster College) Research Interests: Multicultural Education, Feminist Pedagogy, Language Acquisition, Decolonization of Educational Systems Hobbies/Interests: cooking, traveling, skiing, mountain biking, climbing Interesting Fact: I have two cats named Finn and Gilbert |
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Xris Macias Hometown: Kearns, UT Research Interests: Youth Education Hobbies/Interests: Collecting/playing musical instruments, Brazilian Capoeira Favorite quote: "Each one Teach one" |
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Lisa Molina Hometown: SLC, Utah Research Interests: Critical Race theory, participatory action research, and Gender and sexuality. Hobbies/Interests: I like to dance salsa, merengue, and bachata in my spare time. I enjoy baking. I like to hike and enjoy the view of the Wasatch mountains. |
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Stephanie Quinn Hometown: Clinton, Utah Research Interests: Multicultural education, Indigenous education, refugee education, ESL, advocacy and activism for LGBT and underrepresented students. Hobbies/Interests: Traveling, hiking, cooking, exercising, learning languages, spending time with family. Favorite Quote: "Certain things catch your eye, but pursue only those that capture the heart." - Native American Proverb
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Patricia Robello Hometown: Arraijan, Panama |
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Erika Zavala Hometown: Watsonville, California Research Interests: The impact of family involvement and culture in education, as well as the educational pipeline. Hobbies/Interests: I love: spending time with my family, having fun, and relaxing when I can. Favorite Quote: Si Se Puede! (Yes you/we can!) |