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 |
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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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Okony Cham Hometown: Rochester, Minnesota Previous degrees: M.S. Community Health Education and M.P.A. Public Administration Research Interests: Critical Race Theory; assessment of ‘health, well-being and educational disparities’ among refugee/immigrants in the pursuit of higher education along educational pipeline Hobbies/Interests: Civic engagement Favorite Quote: “The only thing that stands between a person and what they want in life is the will to try it and the faith to believe it's possible” -Rich Devos |
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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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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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Cara Greenwell Hometown: West Jordan, utah Research Interests: Bilingual/Bicultural Education, Borderlands Theory, Testimonio, Culturally Relevant Pedagogy. Hobbies or Interests: Running, Tennis, Teaching |
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Steven Heise Research: Free speech, critical pedagogy, affirmative action pedagogy, critical race theory, whiteness studies Favorite Quote: "We are responsible beyond our intentions." - E. Levinas |
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Jake Hinckley Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah Research Interests: Educational Philosophy, Critical Pedagogy, Culturally Relevant/Multicultural Education, Comparative Education, Ecological Education, Cross-Cultural Conflict, Cultural/national Identity & Globalization. Hobbies and Interests: Aspiring farmer, avid outdoors-man, windsurfer, snowboarder, and geocacher. |
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Anne Innis Hometown: Newville, Pennsylvania Research Interests: Microaggression toward Indigenous Peoples, Cultural Violence, De-colonial and Anti-colonial Theory, Coloniality of Power, Critical Constructivism Hobbies/Interests: I’m a wannabe urban homesteader with a love of heirloom vegetables. I also enjoy hiking with my partner and three fearless children. Favorite Quote: “He allowed himself to be swayed by his conviction that human beings are not born once and for all on the day their mothers give birth to them, but that life obliges them over and over again to give birth to themselves.” -- Gabriel Garcia Marquez, "Love in the Time of Cholera" "Give me a condor's quill! Give me Vesuvius' crater for an inkstand! Friends, hold my arms!" -- Herman Melville, "Moby Dick" |
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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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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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German Lopez Hometown: South Jordan, Utah Research Interests: Student Dropout, Leadership Hobbies/Interests: Movies, music, food Favorite Quote: Never Let Schooling Interfere With Your Education, Mark Twain |
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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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Andrea Garavito Martinez Hometown: Los Angeles, California Research Interests: My areas of interest are critical race policy analysis, feminist genealogy, Chicana Feminist Thought, feminist epistemology, community-school partnerships, and critical race theory. Hobbies or Interests: Hiking. Eating. Cooking.
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Bri Pela Hometown: Bronx, New York Research Interests: Critical Race Theory, Cultural Identity, LGBT Issues, Multiculturalism Hobbies/Interests: Spending time with my kids, reading, dancing, traveling, shopping Favorite quote: "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. |
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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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Gardner Seawright Hometown: Heber City, Utah Research Interests: Gardner's studies focus on the everyday presence of whiteness within educational spaces, as well as the possibilities of challenging this reality. Particular attention is paid to the relationality and phenomenology of whiteness. Through this lens, Gardner conducts qualitative studies engaging the way that race affects pedagogy and the real-time nature of student-teacher relationships set within the lived space of classrooms. The result of this work is primarily focused on improving teacher education and antiracist pedagogy. These interests also inform additional ongoing qualitative and theoretical projects exploring the possibilities of place-based education, learning gardens as civic education, antiracist solidarity, relational philosophy, and the contemporary relevance of W.E.B. Du Bois. Gardner will graduate in May 2018. Hobbies and Interests: I really enjoy cooking, gardening and preserving (canning [especially pickling!]), in addition to some amateur wood-working (I love making picture frames) and exploring the streets of Salt Lake City with my spouse. |
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Elizabeth Silva Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico Degree: Master of Arts, Language Literacy Sociocultural Studies Concentration in Education Thought Sociocultural Studies; Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Spanish; Minor in Psychology University of New Mexico My general intellectual interests include analysis of generational, educational achievement among students of color, specifically regarding the emerging complex “Latina/o/x” identity and its racial implications in contemporary United States. In my work I identify places where the relationship between racialized bodies and the evolvement of social structural hierarchies of race are evident, specifically, how colonialism and “colorism” work to frame the identity constructions of Latinidades. My research is aimed at situating race as a focal point in identity politics. I look to the ways in which the performance or different performances of Latinidad(es) might work to counter and disrupt social reproduction that negatively impacts marginalized communities. I also look to theories of “Global Souths” as well biopolitics and assemblages to think through social constructions of identity. My work was inspired in Latinidades, and the prospects of the United States as a new “Latino Majority” country, with potential for political identity construction that works to destabilize the racial colonial project. This is not an illusory imagining in terms of creating colorblindness, rather–it is an attempt to portray the ways that we weave notions of self within this (coming) space and time, that moves the brave work of antiracist articulations. |
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Graham Slater Hometown: Greensboro, North Carolina Research Interests: My research focuses on contemporary educational policies and reforms that support a border 'neoliberal' political and social agenda that aims to privatize public or 'common' institutions, resources, and relationships, and works to produce students subjectives that internalize and embody a logic of competitive individualism. Drawing upon philosophical, historical, and sociological approaches to critical educational theory, my work seeks to reconceptualize education as a project of collective struggles for autonomy: the social production of collaborative futures outside and against the logics of domination, capital, patriarchy, racism, coloniality, and human supremacy. |
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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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Robert Unzueta Hometown: Sacramento, California Research Interests: Coloniality, Discipline Policies, Du Boisan Theory, Decolonial philosophies, Marxism. Interesting Fact: I'm a jedi in training and committed to the rebel alliance Favorite thing about Utah: The snow |
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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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Elizabeth VanSant-Webb Hometown: Wichita, Kansas Research: Education equity, language learners and school culture, neoliberal educational reforms, teacher education, language policy and practice, whiteness pedagogy, and culturally responsive pedagogy Hobbies: Reading, singing, playing the piano, opera, and traveling Quote: "It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers."--James Thurber |
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Justin Grant Whitney Hometown: San Antonio, Texas Research Interests: Language and power. |
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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! |
Master's Students
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Chelsie Acosta Hometown: Grants, New Mexico Undergraduate: Weber State University Major: Health Promotion/Minor Nutrition Research Interests: Latino Issues (Education/Immigration), Native American Education, LGBT issues Interesting Fact: Fluent in American Sign Language |
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Nathan Barnum Hometown: San Diego, Ca Hobbies/Interests: Family, Outdoors, Teaching |
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Abby Barry Hometown: Chicago, IL Research Interests: Restorative Justice, Social Justice, Critical Race Theory, Educational Psychology, Trauma-Informed Pedagogy, teacher burn-out. Hobbies/Interests: gardening, reading, hiking, cooking, laughing at funny things, over-emphasizing the "t" in the word, "mountains," listening to music, fly fishing, flower arranging. Favorite quote:"I'm going to find it, and I'm going to destroy it. I don't know how yet. Possibly with dynamite."--Steve Zissou |
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Caitlyn Boyce Hometown: Lehi, Utah Research Interests: international education, educational equity, ESL education Hobbies/Interests: languages, baking, my cat Favorite Quote: "The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows." -Sydney J. Harris |
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David Cofie Hometown: Bortianor, Accra, Ghana Undergraduate: Theatre Studies Research Interests: Female child education in economically challenged societies, Educating the visually impaired in developing countries, Survival of Afrocentric education under systemic racism, How America's educational system can accommodate educating children, adopted from other cultures, about their roots. Hobbies/Interests: Cooking, Drumming, African dance, Soccer coaching, Storytelling, Fiction writing, Poetry, Songwriting, Acting and watching karaoke. Interesting fact: I wish someone will publish this novel I just finished writing! |
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Gabriella Cubas Hometown: Salt Lake City Undergraduate: Sociology & Political Science with certificates in criminology/corrections and practical politics Research Interests: Dual Language Learners, Bi-Cultural Children, Early Childhood Education, Literacy among primary educators (parents) and how it affects student performance. Hobbies/Interests: Cooking, Soccer, Photography |
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Roxanna Curiel Hometown: Cudahy, Ca Research Interests: Educational policy; feminist theory; race, gender, and sexuality studies; reproductive health and justice; youth culture; media literacy Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy running, playing tennis, and participating in team sports. My interests include learning about alternative medicine and herbal remedies, co-creating zines and other popular education inspired activities, and cooking and sharing recipes with friends. Favorite Quote: "Beware: Ignorance Protects itself. Ignorance Promotes suspicion. Suspicion Engenders fear. Fear quails, Irrational and blind, Or fear looms, Defiant and closed. Blind, closed, Suspicious, afraid, Ignorance Protects itself, And protected, Ignorance grows." Octavia E. Butler, Parable of the Talents |
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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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Giusseppe Huaman Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT Undergraduate: Communication Research Interests: Race, equality and diversity in Higher Education Hobbies/Interests: Playing volleyball, cooking, running and eating! I love fries! |
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Andrea Stephanie Hernandez Hometown: Oxnard, CA Undergraduate: Liberal Studies with an option in Bilingual/ Cross-Cultural Education Research Interests: High school after school programs that implement grass roots organizing
and their effectiveness in the success of graduation rates for students in alternative
schooling Hobbies/Interests: When I am not hitting the books, researching, or writing, I love to dance, swim, or cook. My favorite de-stresser is painting or doing any type of arts and crafts. I have picked up a lot of tools along the way and love to help out my friends, family, and community in anyway I can. Interesting fact: I like to watch anything that are in the genres of the supernatural, crime, or food. |
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Patricia Limas Hometown: Brigham City, UT Research Interests:How do microaggressions affect a students academic success and participation in extracurricular activities. I'm also interested in how to effectively raise underrepresented parent participation in college and career readiness meetings in k-12. Hobbies/Interests: Spend time with my family, playing games like movie trivia. I really like my job and the people that I work with, so going to work is fun. Time management is relaxing for me; setting up schedules, making plans, setting up budgets are all things that help keep me looking forward and on track with my goals. Favorite quote: "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way." Viktor Frankl |
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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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Abigail Salazar Romero Hometown: West Valley City, Utah Research Interests: Immigration and Latina/o Educational disparities in the state of Utah Hobbies/Interests: Reading, listening to music, and all things Pokemon. Favorite quote: "In dominator culture the will to power stands as a direct challenge to the cultural belief that humans survive soulfully because of a will to meaning. When the will to meaning is paramount, human life retains dignity." -Bell Hooks - "Belonging A Culture of Place" |
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Allison Spehar Hometown: Bountiful, Utah Research Interests: Social Justice in Art, Gender, Microaggressions Hobbies/Interests: Dance, baking, books and coffee Favorite Quote: "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality." Desmon Tutu |
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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!) |