Joanna Liu

Passionate educator with over a decade of experience in education from K-12 to Higher Ed. Researcher invested in exploring innovative and community-based education and humanizing pedagogy. Experienced mentor, leader, and team-builder with track record of developing programs and growing rapport. Other interests include spoken word, visual media, authentic collaboration with youth, sustainability, growing food, healing work, travel, fine arts, graphic arts, textile arts, community organizing, lifelong learning, and music. 

12 years as a K-12 teacher, 3 years as university level guest lecturer, 3 years as English Language Learners program staff coordinator, 4 years as English Language Development classroom teacher, TESL/TOEFL certified teacher with 2 years’ experience teaching abroad, 15 years as a private tutor, 3 years as BSU advisor, 2 years as Slam Poetry coach, 6 months as volunteer in Tanzania teaching & caring for children in a children’s home, 8 years playing cello & performed internationally with youth orchestra, 1 year as a foster parent and 5 years as a mother. Speaks Mandarin, Italian, basic Spanish

Ph.D. in Education, Chapman University

M.Ed. in Urban Teaching, University of California at Los Angeles

B.A. in Italian & Linguistics, University of California at Los Angeles