Mónica Baldonado-RuizView profile
Assistant Professor
Dr. Mónica Baldonado-Ruiz serves as an Assistant Professor in the School of Teacher Education at San Diego State University, where she leverages her veteran English education experience to prepare future educators. A dedicated advocate, she champions student voices and community celebration through her teaching and research. Her academic credentials include: PhD in English Education (Arizona State University) Master's Degree in English (Northern Arizona University) Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education (University of New Mexico) Dr. Baldonado-Ruiz's research centers on literacy education through the lenses of Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy , equitable writing instruction , and Lat-Crit theory with specialized focus on testimonio . She fundamentally believes 'the power of stories connects us to others,' driving her mission to create reflective educational frameworks for historically marginalized populations. Her work consistently emphasizes joy-infused pedagogy responsive to the U.S. education system's diversification. Professional recognition includes: Award-winning PhD recipient Scholarship featured in The Explicator Contributions to National Writing Project resources Publications with National Council of Teachers of English Work in Arizona English Teachers Journal Articles in English Leadership Quarterly As a teacher educator, she cultivates advocacy skills in students while drawing from her first-generation college experience. Her mentorship focuses on developing pedagogical foundations rooted in community understanding rather than formal lab structures, with research disseminated through professional organizations rather than dedicated laboratories.