Irene Villanueva

Irene Villanueva is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the MAT program at USC Rossier School of Education. She currently teaches Understanding the Social Context of Urban Schools in this program.

Dr. Villanueva received her Ph.D. at UC San Diego, earning her doctorate from the Comparative Studies Program in Language, Society, and Culture: Spanish Literature and Bilingualism. Her research and publications center on bilingual/bicultural issues in both classroom and community settings. Her research focuses on family interaction in the Chicano/Mexicano community and has implications on academic achievement, bilingualism, language maintenance and attrition, cultural identity, parent involvement, classroom interaction, teaching techniques, and pedagogical research in multicultural and bilingual communities. In affiliation with the San Diego Dialogue, she conducted a study on border kinship in the San Diego/Tijuana region, videotaping interviews with familias fronterizas on the impact of the border in maintaining family relationships and cultural connections. In addition, she participated in a five-year study on an “untracking” program in San Diego high schools, investigated the culturally diverse students in the program, the academic and social support for college preparatory courses, student achievement after three years of participation in the project, parental support and community resources. Her most recent work focused on engaging preschool English Learners, transforming relationships between teachers and Latino families, and incorporating students and families in the curriculum.