Profile

Vanessa, E. Vega, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Secondary English Language Arts Education at the University of Central Florida. Dr. Vega believes that our unique life stories carry woven threads that broaden our humanity and serve as bridges to better understand each other. She is committed to establishing reciprocal spaces where teachers and students learn from each other. Her primary research interests center humanizing narrative qualitative methodologies and epistemologies aimed at exploring the lived and embodied experiences of Latina teachers. She is also interested in the use of young adult literature to explore themes of authenticity and world building. Her research is highlighted in her book entitled, Latina Teachers in the Deep South: Testimonios, Cuentos y Consejos (2024).

Prior to joining UCF, Dr. Vega worked at the University of South Florida teaching Social Foundations of Education courses and at the University of Alabama at Birmingham as a Director of Clinical Field Experiences and English Language Arts Methods Teaching Instructor. Her teaching career began in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, where she taught various English literature, creative writing, and reading courses as a National Board Certified Teacher.

• English Language Arts Teaching Methods
• Young Adult Literature Texts as Bridges to Lived Experiences
• Social Foundations of Education
• Creative and humanizing narrative qualitative methodologies such as testimonios and muxerista portraiture

• Ph.D. in Educational Studies in Diverse Populations - English Language Arts Curriculum and Instruction Pedagogical Concentration, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Ed.S. in English Language Arts Education Curriculum and Instruction, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• M.Ed. in English Language Arts Education, Rutgers University
• B.A. in English Literature and Professional Writing for the Arts with a minor in Women’s Studies, Purdue University