Marie L. Tanaka

Marie L. Tanaka is a Lecturer in the Department of Counseling and School Psychology at San Diego State University. A multilingual Japanese-Korean American daughter of immigrants, she is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) and licensed psychologist in California with extensive experience teaching newcomer immigrant students, including a Fulbright scholarship for international teaching.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Arizona (minor: Social, Cultural, Critical Theory)
• Dual B.A. degrees in Psychology and Literary Arts from Brown University

Dr. Tanaka's research critically examines:

• How middle school teachers perpetuate raciolinguistic paradigms that undermine racially minoritized newcomer students
• The 'invisible work' and systemic barriers faced by Black Indigenous Women of Color (BIWOC) in doctoral programs

Her recent publications demonstrate a cohesive trajectory applying Critical Race Theory to school psychology, with increasing methodological sophistication through QuantCrit frameworks. This work reveals how well-intentioned educational practices reproduce inequity through hidden curricula and unconscious bias.

Dr. Tanaka's scholarly recognition includes:

• Fulbright Scholarship for international teaching
• National certification as a School Psychologist (NCSP)
• California psychologist licensure

As a Lecturer, she mentors future psychologists in critical approaches to educational equity. Her collaborative publication pattern indicates active research teams addressing systemic issues in school psychology training and practice. Dr. Tanaka's work bridges clinical practice, teacher education, and doctoral training through an unflinching lens on race, language, and power.