Grace D. Player

Dr. Grace D. Player is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education. Her work centers on literacy, critical pedagogies, and justice-oriented education with a focus on Girls and Women of Color. She holds a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, an MA from Teachers College Columbia University, and a BA in Psychology from Vassar College.

Her research adopts a feminist of Color lens to explore how marginalized communities mobilize cultural knowledges through art, story, and relational practices. Key areas include Girls of Color literacies, community-based research, and anti-racist teacher education. She co-edited a special issue on Girl of Color literacies and authored/co-authored multiple influential works including the 2021 book Where is the Justice?

Dr. Player’s recent projects include the Spencer Racial Equity Grant-funded Curators of Educational Dreams, a collaborative arts-based initiative with Dr. Tricia Eunji Kim focusing on Girls of Color’s educational visions. She also co-facilitates the Simmering Spices Art Collective, blending art and activism in educational justice.

• Key Awards: 2024 AERA Division G Early Career Award
• Grants: Spencer Racial Equity Grant (2023), AERA Research Grant (2021)
• Collaborations: Partnerships with Dr. Valerie Kinloch (co-author), Dr. Mónica González Ybarra (co-editor), and Dr. Danielle Filipiak (teacher education project)

Her publications span journals like Journal of Literacy Research and Urban Education, emphasizing methodological innovation through arts-based and relational approaches. She actively critiques Eurocentric educational frameworks while centering community voices in research and pedagogy.