Author Page - Magdalena Ruz Gonzalez – Velázquez Press

Marialuisa Di Stefano

Dr. Marialuisa Di Stefano is an assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, specializing in teacher education and curriculum studies. She authored Integrando STEAM: A Guide for Elementary Bilingual and Dual Programs (2023), which received the Book of the Year award from the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education. Her research focuses on integrating STEAM education with bilingual and transnational civic education to promote equity in K–12 settings. She holds degrees from the University of Messina, Washington State University, and a Ph.D. from Utah State University.

Title

Education

Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Humanities, with Concentrations in Journalism and Mass Media Communication - Reading and Learning Disabilities, with an emphasis on bilingual children
Master of Arts in Foreign Languages and Cultures - Reading and Learning Disabilities, with an emphasis on bilingual children
Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction – Dr. Di Stefano completed her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction in 2017, focusing on bilingual education and cultural studies at Utah State University.

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Expertise

STEAM Integration in Bilingual Settings - Dr. Di Stefano focuses on integrating STEAM disciplines into bilingual and dual-language education. She emphasizes developing disciplinary biliteracies and content knowledge in K–6 classrooms through culturally sustaining pedagogies.
Professional Development for Educators - She leads initiatives like the Western Massachusetts Bilingual Hub, providing professional development and mentorship for bilingual educators. These programs aim to prepare teachers to be agents of change in dual-language education.
Research on Emergent Bilinguals - Dr. Di Stefano's research includes studies on how emergent bilingual students develop identities and a sense of belonging in dual-language immersion settings. Her work contributes to understanding the impacts of bilingual programs on students' academic and sociocultural development.
Equity and Social Justice in Education - Her work is grounded in promoting equity and social justice, focusing on historically marginalized groups in education. She advocates for linguistically and culturally sustaining practices in teaching.