Dr. Lan Kolano

Lan Kolano is a Professor of Education and Chair of the Department of Middle, Secondary, and K12 Education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She completed her Ph.D. in the Culture, Curriculum, and Change program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2004 after working as a public school teacher in Virginia and North Carolina. Dr. Kolano teaches undergraduate and graduate level foundations courses on language, immigration, and anti-racist pedagogies. Her research focuses on the academic, language, and identity development of immigrant learners, and in the fostering of critical multicultural efficacy in teacher preparation programs. She has been awarded the College of Education’s Excellence in Teaching Award, the Sustained Service to Public Schools Award, and Diversity Award for her innovations and contributions to teacher education. Recognized as an advocate for social justice education, she also serves on critical advisory boards for several non-profit organizations serving local refugee/immigrant communities.