Contact Information
Biography
Dr. Xia Chao is Associate Professor of language and literacy education in the School
of Education at Duquesne University. Grounded in anthropological education, critical
applied linguistics, and multiliteracies, her research examines everyday language
and literacy practices among students and families, particularly those from immigrant
and refugee backgrounds, as well as the preparation of teachers to work effectively
with multilingual learners.
Dr. Chao has received grant funding from the Spencer Foundation, the National Geographic
Society, and the Wenner-Gren Foundation. Her scholarship has been published in leading
peer-reviewed journals, including Journal of Literacy Research, Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, Language and Education, Linguistics and Education, Anthropology and Education Quarterly, Teacher Education Quarterly, Adult Education Quarterly, Teachers College Record, among others.
Dr. Chao is the recipient of the 2015 J. Michael Parker Award from the Literacy Research
Association, the 2016 Outstanding Early Career Scholar Award and the 2026 Exemplary
Paper Award from the American Educational Research Association’s Special Interest
Group. At Duquesne University, she has been recognized with the Creative Teaching
Award and the Excellence in Community-Engaged Research Award.
Beyond her scholarship, Dr. Chao has led many educational workshops for school districts
and professional development organizations. She serves as Editor of Cogent Education (Taylor & Francis) and has served on the editorial boards of several peer-reviewed
journals, including Language and Education, Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, among others.
Learn more about her work and research in her Q & A - Faculty Focus on Dr. Xia Chao.