Dr. Magdalena Pando is an associate professor of bilingual education in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Southern Methodist University. She holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, M.A. in Romance Languages: Spanish, and a B.A. in Spanish from Texas Tech University.
Dr. Pando’s research agenda sustains a social justice orientation that aims to leverage access, equity and opportunity in education. Her work bridges the field of teacher education, science disciplinary language and literacy, and culturally and linguistically responsive teaching informed by theoretical frameworks such as sociocultural theory, systemic functional linguistics, sociolinguistics, constructivist theory, second language acquisition and culturally relevant education.
Dr. Pando’s research focus is on model-based inquiry methods in STEM education where she explores the construction of models and English language learner engagement in evidence-based argumentation and explanation.
Her research also focuses on teacher preparation and professional development aimed at fostering culturally and linguistically inclusive teaching methods in early childhood and K-12 education.