Victoria Trinder

Victoria Trinder, PhD, is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). She serves as Program Coordinator and Director of Undergraduate Studies for the BA Urban Education: Elementary Education program, focusing on experientially-based teacher training to advocate for urban students. Her work centers on decolonizing pedagogy, anti-racist education, and linguistic justice, informed by decades of experience with pre-service teachers and faculty collaboration. Dr. Trinder co-leads the Pelino project, expanding early childhood education pathways at UIC, tripling the number of licensed early childhood teachers graduated annually. Her scholarship includes a seminal book, Teaching Toward a Decolonizing Pedagogy, awarded the 2021 Society of Professors of Education Outstanding Book Honorable Mention. She actively disseminates her frameworks through national conferences and invited talks, addressing intersections of race, gender, and class in educational contexts. Trinder holds licensures in Illinois for K-12 social studies, bilingual education, and school leadership, and is a member of organizations like AERA and AACTE.

Her research explores decolonial theories, teacher identity, and historical critiques of U.S. schooling systems. Collaborative projects, such as the Pelino initiative, reflect her commitment to program redesign for equity. Key contributions include frameworks for 'reparative' pedagogies and decolonizing teacher education, emphasizing unlearning colonial practices. Trinder’s work bridges theory and practice, offering tools for educators to foster critical, justice-oriented classrooms.