Mariana Pacheco

Mariana Pacheco is a Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's School of Education. Her research centers on bilingual/multilingual education, focusing on asset-based practices that empower Chican@/Latin@ students. She employs ethnographic and anthropological methods to study sociopolitical processes in language education, advocating for policies that recognize students' linguistic resources. A former bilingual elementary teacher, she is a proud alumna of the Migrant Education and Upward Bound Programs.

Education:

• PhD in Urban Schooling (2005), UCLA
• M.Ed. in Multiple Subject (Bilingual) Credential (1997), UCLA
• BA in Liberal Studies & Chicano Studies (1995), California State University-Long Beach

Research Interests: Bilingual education, sociocultural linguistics, equity in education, and the intersection of language, identity, and policy. Her work critiques performativity in education and promotes inclusive, culturally responsive pedagogies.

Key Contributions: Her publications address bilingual youth’s linguistic repertoires, antiracist schooling frameworks, and systemic barriers faced by emergent bilingual students. Recent work explores the 2026 NAEP Reading Framework and antiracist coalition-building in schools.

Awards:

• Early Career Award, National Research Conference on Language & Literacy (2011)

Engagement: Active in community and academic partnerships, including presentations on antiracist education, migrant student empowerment, and culturally sustaining pedagogy. Her work bridges theory and practice, emphasizing participatory approaches to educational equity.