Jiadi Zhang received her doctoral degree in Language and Literacy Education with a concentration in Writing Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. As a multilingual researcher, literacy teacher, and teacher educator, her work is guided by a sociocultural perspective that acknowledges the daily literacy and cultural practices of diverse communities, conducted through various modes and across named languages, as legitimate knowledge. Her research explores the intersection of bi/literacy, teacher education, and social justice, seeking pedagogical practices that create transformative and inclusive spaces where students can leverage various knowledge and experiences for literacy practices. Through working closely with teachers and students, particularly those who are bi/multilinguals of color, she explores the lived experiences, identities, and ideologies of teachers, and how to transform these insights into critical and culturally sustaining pedagogies; she also highlights the rich linguistic and cultural repertoires, agency, and critical insights that students bring to literacy practices. She is also interested in investigating AI literacies, particularly how they shape teachers' teaching experiences and students' critical engagement with digital tools.
Published Research Areas
Bi/Multilingual Education
Biliteracy Education
Translanguaging
Agency
Children's Literature
Critical Literacy
Asian American
Teacher Education
Writing
Community-based Heritage School
Translingual
Assistant Professor