Meet the TexLER Committee

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The Texas Language Education Research (TexLER) Conference Committee is a student organization comprised of undergraduate, Master's and Ph.D. students of the Department of Bicultural & Bilingual Studies and TESOL in the College of Education and Human Development.

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Committee Members

Kathryn I. Henderson is the faculty advisor for TexLER. She is an assistant professor in the Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies, College of Education and Human Development at The University of Texas at San Antonio. Her education interests include language ideologies, language policy and dual language bilingual education programs.

Elise is currently a doctoral student in the Culture, Literacy, and Language program at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She has a range of English teaching experiences, including at intensive English programs in the U.S., an international school abroad, and as an English Language Fellow in Uzbekistan. Elise is interested in serving language teachers around the globe through professional development, advocacy, and mutual learning.

Kimani is a PhD candidate in the Culture, Literacy, and Language program at UTSA. She taught English for 6 years and is now an Assistant School Leader at a local high school. Her research interests revolve around Black teachers, their language practices, and their experiences.

John Turnbull is a Ph.D. student in culture, literacy, and language at UTSA. He earned the MA TESOL in 2019 at Northern Illinois University. John has worked for more than ten years as a teacher among and as an advocate for Latin American communities in the United States, México, and South America, and has also facilitated language exchanges in Lithuania, Cape Verde, and Thailand.

Melinda Zepeda is completing her first year as a doctoral student in the Culture, Language, and Literacy program. Her research interests include transformative pedagogy, critical race studies, and globalizing curriculum.

Andrew is a Graduate Research Assistant and Doctoral Fellow in Culture, Literacy, & Language at the University of Texas at San Antonio. His GRA work consists of transforming STEM undergraduate education through academic literacy, mentoring, and professional development.