Language and Literacy Studies

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

A young woman works with a girl on reading comprehension.

 Language and Literacy Studies are called many things—English, Language Arts, Reading, Literacy—and its complexity and significance is increasing more than ever in the 21st century. Our faculty and students contribute to the ways literacy education is changing in digital environments within an increasingly diverse communication landscape.

Our master’s and Ph.D. programs focus on educational research in the ways children learn and re-learn how to read and compose in an evolving world. This includes an increase in the number of genres, media, cultures, and languages within a community. Our programs give educators the opportunity to think deeply about teaching and learning in diverse classrooms and communities. We provide students with theoretically sound, research-based ways of growing their knowledge of Language and Literacy Education. Students in our program go on to become certified teachers, professors, and policy influencers for education.

Photo of faculty member Denise  Davila
Assistant Professor

Studies children's literature and researches the home literacy practices of families with young children in under-resourced communities.

Photo of faculty member Tracey T Flores
Associate Professor

Dr. Flores' research focuses on Latina mothers and daughters language and literacy practices, the teaching of young writers in culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms, and family and community literacies.

Photo of faculty member Deborah C Kelt
Associate Professor of Practice

Brings her experience in literacy education to UT with a specialization in preparing secondary teachers to work in urban schools.

Photo of faculty member Grace MyHyun Kim
Associate Professor

Studies literacy, language, and multicultural education, especially involving new media and globalization.

Photo of faculty member Beth Maloch
Senior Associate Dean, College of Education

Examines literacy teacher preparation, specifically the role of coaching and mentoring that occurs inside programs.

Photo of faculty member Allison  Skerrett
Professor

Focuses on secondary English and literacy education in urban contexts, including among transnational youth.

Photo of faculty member Melissa Wetzel
Department Chair

Literacy teacher preparation, coaching and mentoring, equity and justice in literacy instruction

  • Caitlin McMunn Dooley

    Georgia Department of Education, Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Atlanta, GA Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, 2004

  • Leah Durán

    Assistant Professor, Teaching, Learning & Sociocultural Studies, University of Arizona Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, 2015

  • Michelle Fowler-Amato

    Assistant Professor of English and English Education, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, Language and Literacy Studies, 2015

  • Michiko Hikida

    Assistant Professor of Elementary Language Arts, The Ohio State University Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, 2015

  • Angie Zapata

    Assistant Professor of Literacy Education, University of Missouri Columbia, Missouri Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, 2015

Photo of Tracey Flores

Program Coordinator
Tracey Flores 

Photo of Denise Davila

Ph.D. Program Advisor
Denise Dávila

Photo of Melissa Wetzel

Master’s Advisor
Melissa Wetzel



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