Vivian Maria Vasquez

Vivian Maria Vasquez is a professor of education at American University School of Education in Washington, D.C., specializing in critical literacy and early childhood education. Before entering academia, Vasquez spent 14 years as a preschool and public school teacher, an experience that informs her research and teaching philosophy. She earned a Doctor of Education from Indiana University, Bloomington, and her interest in fostering critical literacies in early childhood classrooms began during her time as a kindergarten teacher. Vasquez's scholarship, teaching, and service are grounded in a critical literacy perspective, focusing on how young children engage with social and political issues through everyday texts and conversations.

Vasquez is the author or co-author of 15 books, including "Negotiating Critical Literacies with Young Children," which has influenced the field of critical literacy in early childhood education. Other works include "Getting Beyond I Like the Book: Creating Spaces for Critical Literacy Across the Curriculum," "Technology and Critical Literacy in Early Childhood," "Courageous Leadership in Early Childhood Education: Taking a Stand for Social Justice," and "Critical Literacy Across the K-6 Curriculum." Her book "What Pokémon Can Teach Us about Learning and Literacy" examines how engagement with popular culture texts can inform educators about learning and literacy. Vasquez also hosts the CLIP (Critical Literacy in Practice) Podcast, expanding her reach in the education community.

Vasquez's contributions have been recognized with several honors. She is the only scholar to have received both the James N. Britton Award and the AERA Division B Outstanding Book of the Year Award for "Negotiating Critical Literacies with Young Children." She was the first recipient of the American Educational Research Association Teacher Research SIG Dissertation Award, a five-time recipient of the Mellon Award for Research, and has received the NCTE Outstanding Elementary Educator in the English Language Arts Award and the NCTE Advancement of People of Color Award. The NCTE Early Childhood Assembly established the Vivian Vasquez Teacher Scholarship in her honor, awarded to early childhood teachers who encourage young children to be critical inquirers and advocates for social change.

Vasquez has held positions in organizations such as the National Council of Teachers of English, the American Educational Research Association, and the International Reading Association. She has served as a keynote speaker at the National Association for Media Literacy Education conference and has led professional development workshops on anti-bias and anti-racist classroom practices. Vasquez's work in critical literacy and early childhood education continues to influence educators and researchers worldwide.