María José Aragón

2024 URH Faculty Mentor Award Recipient

Please tell us a bit about your educational background and current research.

I received my PhD in Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara. My research examines language and literacy practices in K-12 classrooms with a focus on how emergent bilinguals and students from minoritized backgrounds employ their linguistic and cultural resources to learn and engage with others. Currently, I am working on a study on novice teachers' experiences learning about and implementing equity-oriented teaching practices designed to support bilingual learners. 

Did you do research as an undergraduate student? How did you get started in your current field?

I was fortunate enough to do research as an undergraduate student and spent a lot of time doing classroom observations as part of my coursework in the department of Human Development. Those experiences sparked many questions for me about what happens in classrooms and why there are such vast disparities in students' educational opportunities and trajectories. 

Who are some of your most memorable mentors? How did you meet them?

My undergraduate mentor, Judith Ross-Bernstein, was my instructor for several courses in Early Childhood Education and an outstanding educator. She inspired me to study abroad in Sweden and to spend my senior year interning in a Head Start classroom, which led me to pursue a career in the field of education. At the graduate level, my advisor, Dr. Richard Durán, was instrumental in exposing me to new perspectives and guiding me through the joys and challenges of becoming a researcher. I am especially grateful to him for showing me how to do work that is grounded in addressing issues that affect students most marginalized in our education system, particularly those from linguistically, culturally, and racially minoritized communities. 

Why do you enjoy being a mentor?

I love learning alongside students and watching them discover for themselves what questions drive them. I am inspired by their curiosity and find that these collaborative relationships push the boundaries of my own thinking.

What is the most useful piece of advice a mentor gave you?

While it is not a specific piece of advice, my graduate advisor truly modeled what it means to be a lifelong learner. He remained humble and never stopped wanting to learn from others or getting excited about pursuing new questions.