Arthi B Rao

Dr. Arthi B Rao is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction at the College of Education, University of Illinois Chicago. Her work focuses on effective pedagogy, teacher preparation, and culturally sustaining practices in urban elementary classrooms. She holds a PhD from DePaul University (2011), an MSEd from the University of Pennsylvania (2002), and a BA from the University of Michigan (2000).

Research Interests:

• Language program models and their impact on emergent bilingual students
• Pre-service teacher education and induction support
• Culturally responsive teaching strategies for diverse classrooms

Dr. Rao emphasizes bridging theory and practice through purposeful coursework and fieldwork, particularly addressing the needs of urban educators. She is licensed in Illinois for Grades K-9 and actively contributes to teacher training programs.