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Dr. Francesca López is the Jim and Georgia Thompson Distinguished Professor in the Department of Educational Policy and Leadership Analysis at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her research centers on educational practices and policies that promote equity and belonging for historically marginalized students, particularly multilingual learners and students from racially and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
She began her career in education as a bilingual (Spanish/English) elementary teacher, and later as a high school counselor, in El Paso, Texas. Her numerous recognitions include being named a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), the American Psychological Association (APA), and the National Education Policy Center. She is the recipient of the AERA Midcareer Scholars of Color Award (2024) and the APA Division 15 Best Article Award (2023). She has served as Co-Editor of the American Educational Research Journal, the Review of Educational Research, and Educational Psychology Policy and Practice.