Assistant Professor of Education at California State University, Fresno
About
Dr. Ana K. Soltero López is an assistant professor in the Department of Literacy, Early, Bilingual and Special Education (LEBSE) in the Kremen School of Education and Human Development at the California State University, Fresno. She teaches courses on culturally sustaining pedagogy, teacher inquiry, and undocumented students. Her experiences as a first-generation, low-income, underrepresented, and formerly undocumented student have shaped her professional career as an educator.
In her fifteen-year career, she has worked with diverse students from kindergarten through graduate school as a mentor, tutor, peer counselor, instructor, and researcher. In this line of work, Dr. Soltero López is devoted to expanding the educational opportunities for all students through information, motivation, and empowerment about topics such as college admission, graduate/professional school, and everything in between.
Current Work:
Dr. Ana K. Soltero López's primary research focus is PreK-20 Latinx educational access, retention, and persistence. Some topics of interest include the undocumented student experience, preparation of teachers of color, emergent bilingual students, identity development, and Critical Race Theory.
Dr. Soltero López’s recent scholarship focuses on the identity and social interactions of undocumented Latinx high school, community college, and university students. Her current project expands her expertise by investigating the impact of the phasing out of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, teacher and counselor professional development, and undocumented emergent bilinguals in the Central Valley of California.
Research Area Keyword(s):
Latinx educational access, retention and persistence, qualitative research, Critical Race Theory, teachers of color