Pat Enciso

Pat Enciso is a Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning at The Ohio State University's College of Education and Human Ecology. Specializing in Literature for Children and Young Adults, they hold affiliations with the Adolescent, Post-Secondary and Community Literacies, Dramatic and Arts-based Research, and Language, Education, and Society programs. Their research focuses on equity, imagination, and engagement in literacy education, particularly through drama, multicultural literature, and sociocultural theory.

Enciso earned a PhD in Reading and Literature from Ohio State in 1990, following earlier degrees in Drama in Education and Education. They have authored/co-authored influential books like The Handbook of Research on Children's and Young Adult Literature and Reframing Sociocultural Theory in Literacy Research, and have been recognized with awards from the Spencer Foundation, NCTE, and the Literacy Research Association.

Key research areas include Latino/a literature in classrooms, drama-based pedagogy, and critical literacy practices. Their work emphasizes youth agency in constructing meaning through storytelling and addresses systemic inequities in educational settings. Enciso has led professional organizations, including the Literacy Research Association and NCTE Research Foundation, and contributed to policy through initiatives like the Tomás Rivera Children's Book Award committee.

Publications span peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and edited volumes, with a focus on narrative theory, cultural understanding, and transformative educational practices. Their recent work explores superhero storytelling, meme repurposing, and drama's impact on literacy outcomes through meta-analytic research.