Dr. Yue Bian: Advancing Equity and Multilingual Education at UW Bothell
Dr. Yue Bian, an assistant professor in the School of Educational Studies at the University of Washington Bothell, is dedicated to transforming teacher education to better serve emergent multilingual students.
Dr. Bian’s work bridges linguistics, education, and social justice, addressing the complexities of preparing educators to support emergent multilingual students; ensuring that all students thrive in diverse learning environments. She exemplifies UW Bothell’s framework of cross-disciplinary scholarship, connected learning, and community engagement through her innovative research and collaborative approach to teacher education.
“Giving back to the community and supporting the next generation of educators, particularly those from minoritized backgrounds, is central to my research and service.”
Through connected learning, she integrates real-world challenges into her teaching, preparing future educators to be culturally and linguistically responsive. Her community engagement is evident in her partnership with local organizations to promote equity and representation in Washington’s education workforce, fostering meaningful change beyond the classroom.
Educational background & teaching
Dr. Bian earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education from Michigan State University, an M.A. in Educational Studies from the University of Michigan, and a B.A. in English from Nankai University in China. At UW Bothell, she teaches courses that delve into second language acquisition, bilingual education, and ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) curriculum and instruction. Her classes are designed to equip future educators with the skills and knowledge necessary to support multilingual learners effectively.
Collaborative initiatives
Beyond her individual research, Dr. Bian is actively involved in collaborative projects aimed at promoting equity in education.
In 2023, she, along with colleagues Dr. Allison Hintz and Amy Couto, received a LEADER planning grant from College Spark Washington to support community-driven solutions for increasing representation within Washington state’s education workforce. Building on this momentum, the team was awarded a $1.05 million implementation grant, which will sustain their work over the next six years, further advancing efforts toward diversity, equity, and inclusion in education.
In addition to this initiative, Dr. Bian, alongside Dr. Carrie Tzou and Dr. Allison Hintz, received the Spencer Vision Grant in 2023 to support teacher education for multilingual learners in mathematics and science. This project, conducted in collaboration with the Northshore School District, aims to strengthen educational opportunities for multilingual students by enhancing teacher preparation in STEM fields.
A transnational perspective
As a transnational and bilingual scholar, Dr. Bian brings a unique perspective to her research and teaching, deeply connecting with the experiences of prospective and practicing teachers from multilingual and immigrant backgrounds.
Her commitment to fostering inclusive and globally minded educators extends beyond the classroom. In 2022, she became a COIL Fellow, collaborating with Dr. Ruiling Feng from Tianjin Normal University, China, to integrate Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) into two ESOL courses. This initiative has equipped ESOL teacher candidates with a global perspective and the skills necessary to support immigrant students effectively.
Beyond her work with students, Dr. Bian is also dedicated to supporting faculty colleagues from transnational backgrounds. In the summer of 2024, she led a reading group for international faculty across four different schools on campus, facilitating discussions on navigating higher education as transnational scholars. This initiative has since evolved into an ongoing network of support, fostering collaboration and professional growth among faculty members.
Research & publications
Dr. Bian’s scholarship explores critical issues in teacher education and multilingual learning. In 2024, she co-authored a chapter on fostering critical reflection in TESOL professionals through dialogic online spaces in Critical Dialogic TESOL Teacher Education: Preparing Future Advocates and Supports of Multilingual Learners. She also published a study in the Journal for the Study of Education and Development: Infancia y Aprendizaje, her first in a Spanish-English bilingual journal, using narrative inquiry to examine how four international prospective teachers navigated learning to teach and developed an emerging teacher identity within a predominantly White teacher certification program. The study provides insights into the challenges these educators face and offers recommendations for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers on supporting international students and first-generation immigrants in the teaching profession
The Goodlad Institute at UW
Dr. Bian is also a member of the Goodlad Institute for Educational Renewal, which is dedicated to promoting justice-centered education by collaborating with schools, universities, and communities. Her involvement with the institute aligns with her mission to co-design and study processes that lead to continuous educational renewal, ensuring that all students have access to equitable learning opportunities.
Through her teaching, research, and collaborative efforts, Dr. Yue Bian demonstrates a profound commitment to enhancing teacher education and advocating for emergent multilingual students. Her work not only contributes to academic discourse but also has a tangible impact on educators and students alike, paving the way for a more inclusive and effective educational system.