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Phone: 470-578-7854

Email: zespinos@kennesaw.edu

Office Location: BEB 437

Office Hours:
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Zurisaray Espinosa

About Me---Dr. Zurisaray Espinosa

Hi! I'm Dr. Zurisaray Espinosa, a Clinical Assistant Professor of TESOL in the Department of Inclusive Education at Kennesaw State University. I am passionate about bilingual education, literacy, and mindful culturally responsive teaching. My work focuses on supporting multilingual students and teachers.

I earned my Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning with a concentration in Language and Literacy Education from Georgia State University. Before that, I completed my M.Ed. in English Education and B.S. in English Literature at Clayton State University. My journey in education has taken me through many roles--from teaching high school Spanish and English writing support to mentoring pre-service and in-service teachers--all with the goal of creating inclusive and empowering learning spaces.

At KSU, I teach a variety of TESOL courses that help future educators develop the skills they need to support English learners in K-12 classrooms. My research is deeply rooted in culturally relevant pedagogy, Chicana feminist theory, nepantlera pedagogy, and mindfulness, and I strive to bring these perspectives into both my teaching and scholarship.

My writing and research have been published in books and journals, including my chapter on antiracist ESOL education in Antiracist Research on K-12 Education and Teacher Preparation and my bilingual storytelling work in Critical Storytelling: Multilingual Immigrants in the United States. I love sharing my research, and I've presented about multilingual education and teacher preparation. 

Beyond academia, I am Committed to community work. As the Mentor Program Coordinator for Creciendo Juntas with Los Niños Primero, I help create curriculum, leadership, and educational opportunities for Latina/o youth, supporting their growth and development. At the heart of everything I do is a deep commitment to empowering multilingual students and teachers through inclusive, holistic, and affirming education. I believe that language is a powerful tool for connection and transformation, and I am excited to continue learning, researching, and advocating for equity in education.