Kate Paesani

Kate Paesani is an Associate Professor in the Department of French and Italian at the University of Minnesota and Director of the Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA). Her leadership at CARLA includes directing projects on foreign language literacies, language program direction, and developing conference resources. She co-edits the Issues in Language Program Direction series and previously served as President of the American Association of University Supervisors and Coordinators (AAUSC).

Her research centers on:

• Literacy-based foreign language curriculum design
• Multiliteracies pedagogy applications in collegiate programs
• Integration of language, literature, and cultural content
• Teacher conceptual development and program articulation
• Sociocultural approaches to language education

Her publications emphasize social justice, professional development, and critical pedagogies, with recurring themes of teacher identity, equity frameworks, and graduate education in language teaching.

Awards:

• Wayne State University Board of Governors Faculty Recognition Award (2016) for co-authoring A Multiliteracies Framework for Collegiate Foreign Language Teaching

She leads major federal grants including:

• U.S. Department of Education Title VI Language Resource Center program (2022–2026)
• Social Justice in Language Education initiative (2020–2024)

Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals in quality education and equity.