Bilingual/Bicultural Education

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Two young women laugh while making pastries

The Bilingual/Bicultural Education (BBE) program provides expertise for students to become leaders in a field of growing importance. BBE students develop a critical perspective that allows them to advocate for bilingual educators, administrators, children, and families both in and outside the K-12 education system.

Working alongside faculty, BBE graduate students develop a knowledge base in research and practice in the areas of: language policy and bilinguals’ educational program development; second language acquisition; biliteracy; effective bilingual and ESL instructional practices; bilingual and ESL teacher preparation; and theories of immigration.

In addition, our thriving undergraduate Bilingual Teacher Certification program offers students extensive opportunities to experience research and theory in practice in the classroom.

Photo of faculty member Paty  Abril-Gonzalez
Assistant Professor

Studies long-term relationships with Latinx bilingual students and teachers using arts-based biliteracy approaches to affirm and amplify silenced perspectives, build connections, and develop bilingualism and biculturalism.

Photo of faculty member Doris L Baker
Associate Professor

Develops and evaluates interventions and assessments using technology to support the academic success of Latinx students and other students whose home language is not English.

Photo of faculty member Sylvia  Celedón-Pattichis
Professor

Focuses on language and cultural influences on teaching and learning mathematics, particularly equity issues involving Latinx students’ mathematical thinking, the simultaneous learning of English as a second language and math and preparing teachers ...

Photo of faculty member Stella M Flores
Associate Professor

Examines the effects of state and federal policies on college access and completion outcomes for low-income and underrepresented populations including immigrant and English Learner students.

Photo of faculty member Maria E Franquiz
Professor

Examines ethnographic language and literacy practices in K-12 classrooms, specifically focusing on how Latinx critical race theory explains the relationship between heritage language and culture and the evolving identities of future teachers.

Photo of faculty member Nora A Luna
Assistant Professor of Practice

Interests also include critical race theory specifically Latinx critical race theory and multigenerational subtractive schooling experienced by a marginalized majority.

Photo of faculty member Desiree  Pallais-Downing
Assistant Professor of Instruction-CURR

Examines the contributions of strengths-based approaches in literacy instruction with Spanish-speaking bilingual teacher candidates and in-service teachers in the U.S. and in Latin America. 

Photo of faculty member Haydee M Rodriguez
Clinical Assistant Professor

Prepares students to become educators in bilingual and ESL education and mentors novice bilingual educators.

Photo of faculty member Cinthia S Salinas
Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusive Excellence, College of Education

Dr. Salinas is a member of the Social Studies Education program area and is an affiliate faculty member in the Bilingual/Bicultural and the Cultural Studies in Education program areas. Her focus in the social studies includes critical historical inqu...

Photo of faculty member Sandra M Springer
Assistant Professor of Practice

  • Lucía Cárdenas Curiel

    Assistant Professor, Bilingual/Multilingual Education, Teacher Education, Michigan State University Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, 2017

  • Iliana Alanís

    Associate Professor and Assistant Department Chair, Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching, The University of Texas at San Antonio Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, 1998

  • Dora Fabelo

    Executive Director for Human Resources, Retired, Austin Independent School District Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, 2008 M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction, 1987

  • Belinda Flores

    Professor of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies, The University of Texas at San Antonio Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, 1999

  • Alma Itzé Flores

    Doctoral Student, University of California Los Angeles M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction, 2011

  • Kathryn Henderson

    Assistant Professor, Department of Bilingual-Bicultural Studies, The University of Texas at San Antonio Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, 2015

  • Clarena Larrotta

    Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, 2005

  • Manuel Martinez

    Second grade dual language teacher at Houston Elementary School, Austin, Texas Proyecto Maestría BBE Master’s Graduate, 2013

  • Monica Tellez de Arste

    M.Ed. in Bilingual Bicultural Education, 2009

  • Christian Zúñiga

    Visiting Professor, The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, 2015

  • Elizabeth Greer

    M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction, 2015 Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, 2019

Photo of Maria Franquiz

Program Area Coordinator, Advisor
Maria Franquiz



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