Research scientist at the Center for Applied Linguistics and coprincipal investigator for a number of federally funded studies, including an investigation of the development of literacy in second-language learners. She is also coprincipal investigator with the National Research and Development Center on English-Language Learners.

Author of The Oxford Picture Dictionary for the Content Areas and consultant with the Center for Applied Linguistics, where she conducts teacher-training sessions that address effective instruction for ESL students K-12. She recently completed a staff development program that has the same title as this plenary.