Research Areas

Our research investigates interdisciplinary areas to foster educational justice, such as teaching, teachers’ work, teacher preparation, mathematics and science education, language and literacy, technology in education, educational policy and reform, and critical studies in education. Using qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, our faculty pursues interdisciplinary research that values the lived experiences of research participants through collaborative, participatory, and action research methods. 

The current research of our faculty falls into the following core areas; however, the boundaries among these categories are fluid. Our department values collaboration and interdisciplinarity, both within and outside our department, so our faculty are in continuous conversation with each other and often influence each other’s work across each of the topical areas below. Learn more about our approach to research and see our latest publications and research news on our Research Overview page.

Race, ethnicity, gender, class, and (dis)ability in education

Our faculty investigates how the facets and intersections of identity and social processes affect learning experiences and learning opportunities for marginalized youth and their communities. This work provides a foundation for transformative and liberating pedagogical practices.

Michelle Aguilera

• Title
  • Assistant Professor
• Campus Email
  • miaguile@ucsc.edu

Arshad Ali

• Title
  • Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies Education & Civic Education
• Campus Email
  • arshad@ucsc.edu
• Website
  • Art of Knowing Curriculum

Roberto de Roock

• Title
  • Associate Professor of Learning Sciences and Technology
• Campus Email
  • rderoock@ucsc.edu
• Website
  • Personal Website

Rekia Jibrin

• Title
  • Assistant Professor Critical Studies of Education
• Campus Email
  • rjibrin@ucsc.edu
• Website
  • UCSC professor building collaborations to shape future minds through ethnic studies

Rene Espinoza Kissell

• Title
  • Assistant Professor
• Campus Email
  • rkissell@ucsc.edu
• Website
  • Academia.edu

Josephine H Pham

• Title
  • Assistant Professor of Critical Studies in Education
• Campus Email
  • jpham44@ucsc.edu

Paulo Tan

• Title
  • Assistant Professor of Education: Mathematics and Disability Studies
• Campus Email
  • ptan19@ucsc.edu
• Website
  • Disability, Education, and Society Podcast

Language and literacy in diverse classrooms and communities

Many of our faculty members study the role of language, literacy, and discourse in transforming educational settings, including topics like digital media literacy, disciplinary literacy, and the linguistic strengths and learning experiences of students from a wide range of linguistic backgrounds.  

Michelle Aguilera

• Title
  • Assistant Professor
• Campus Email
  • miaguile@ucsc.edu

George Clay Bunch

• Title
  • Professor of Education and Department Chair
• Campus Email
  • gbunch@ucsc.edu

Roberto de Roock

• Title
  • Associate Professor of Learning Sciences and Technology
• Campus Email
  • rderoock@ucsc.edu

Judit Moschkovich

• Title
  • Distinguished Professor, Mathematics Education
• Campus Email
  • jmoschko@ucsc.edu

Eduardo Mosqueda

• Title
  • Associate Professor
• Campus Email
  • mosqueda@ucsc.edu

Emily V Reigh

• Title
  • Assistant Professor of Science Education
• Campus Email
  • ereigh@ucsc.edu

Kip T Tellez

• Title
  • Professor
• Campus Email
  • ktellez@ucsc.edu

Teaching, teachers, and teacher education

Our faculty study curriculum and pedagogy in schools, the preparation and ongoing development of K-12 teachers, their professional learning and lives once in the field, and policies and sociopolitical contexts impacting teachers.  

Lora Bartlett

• Title
  • Associate Professor
• Campus Email
  • lorab@ucsc.edu

George Clay Bunch

• Title
  • Professor of Education and Department Chair
• Campus Email
  • gbunch@ucsc.edu

Soleste Hilberg

• Title
  • Director of Teacher Education, Associate Professor of Teaching
• Campus Email
  • soleste@ucsc.edu

Josephine H Pham

• Title
  • Assistant Professor of Critical Studies in Education
• Campus Email
  • jpham44@ucsc.edu

Emily V Reigh

• Title
  • Assistant Professor of Science Education
• Campus Email
  • ereigh@ucsc.edu

Paulo Tan

• Title
  • Assistant Professor of Education: Mathematics and Disability Studies
• Campus Email
  • ptan19@ucsc.edu

Kip T Tellez

• Title
  • Professor
• Campus Email
  • ktellez@ucsc.edu

Educational policy, systems, schools, and political economy

Our research in this area includes research-practice partnerships in schools and districts and the study of educational policy, from development to implementation, with a focus on the needs of marginalized youth.  

Lora Bartlett

• Title
  • Associate Professor
• Campus Email
  • lorab@ucsc.edu

Rekia Jibrin

• Title
  • Assistant Professor Critical Studies of Education
• Campus Email
  • rjibrin@ucsc.edu

Rene Espinoza Kissell

• Title
  • Assistant Professor
• Campus Email
  • rkissell@ucsc.edu

Learning Sciences and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education

Our faculty in this area study learning inside and outside of schools across various subject areas, including mathematical and scientific thinking and learning, discourses, and student learning opportunities, with a special emphasis on how these are affected by socio-cultural context and power relationships. 

Arshad Ali

• Title
  • Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies Education & Civic Education
• Campus Email
  • arshad@ucsc.edu

Roberto de Roock

• Title
  • Associate Professor of Learning Sciences and Technology
• Campus Email
  • rderoock@ucsc.edu

Soleste Hilberg

• Title
  • Director of Teacher Education, Associate Professor of Teaching
• Campus Email
  • soleste@ucsc.edu

Judit Moschkovich

• Title
  • Distinguished Professor, Mathematics Education
• Campus Email
  • jmoschko@ucsc.edu

Eduardo Mosqueda

• Title
  • Associate Professor
• Campus Email
  • mosqueda@ucsc.edu

Emily V Reigh

• Title
  • Assistant Professor of Science Education
• Campus Email
  • ereigh@ucsc.edu

Paulo Tan

• Title
  • Assistant Professor of Education: Mathematics and Disability Studies
• Campus Email
  • ptan19@ucsc.edu

Kip T Tellez

• Title
  • Professor
• Campus Email
  • ktellez@ucsc.edu

Critical childhood and youth studies

Our faculty study how youth culture, identity formation, and children’s strengths for learning interact with educational institutions. Each incorporate perspectives from critical socio-cultural theory to identify opportunities for restorative justice in education. 

Michelle Aguilera

• Title
  • Assistant Professor
• Campus Email
  • miaguile@ucsc.edu

Arshad Ali

• Title
  • Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies Education & Civic Education
• Campus Email
  • arshad@ucsc.edu

Roberto de Roock

• Title
  • Associate Professor of Learning Sciences and Technology
• Campus Email
  • rderoock@ucsc.edu

Rekia Jibrin

• Title
  • Assistant Professor Critical Studies of Education
• Campus Email
  • rjibrin@ucsc.edu