Lan Kolano

Profile

Dr. Lan Kolano is Professor and Chair of the Department of Middle, Secondary and K-12 Education. She completed her Ph.D. at UNC-Chapel Hill and has been on UNC Charlotte’s faculty since 2004.  Dr. Kolano’s research agenda is centrally focused on the intersection of language acquisition, identity formation among immigrant learners, and the development of critical multicultural efficacy among educators. Her body of  research includes extensive mixed methods projects that critically examine and document how immigrant children and their families negotiate intersecting dimensions of language, race, gender, and culture within North Carolina’s educational landscape. She teaches foundational courses emphasizing the application of culturally responsive frameworks within urban school environments. Her integrated research, teaching, and service commitments are designed to enhance educators’ capacity for cultural and linguistic analysis of Multilingual Learners, thereby fostering the development of equitable and inclusive urban classrooms.

Education

Ph.D. in Education, 2004, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Culture, Curriculum, & Change
Master of Education, 1997, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Curriculum and Instruction
Bachelor of Science, 1996, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, English  & Asian Studies  

Projects

Since joining the faculty in 2004, Dr. Kolano has also provided sustained outreach to schools through the professional development training of teachers and administrators in six different districts throughout North Carolina. She has served as the College of Education’s Faculty Fellow for Engagement and has been recognized for her commitment to the education of diverse learners in NC public schools, engagement in community outreach, and in the development of teachers as culturally responsive practitioners. As a dedicated advocate for social justice, she also contributes her expertise to advisory boards for local non-profit organizations dedicated to supporting refugee and immigrant communities. Her most recent applied research endeavors include a longitudinal program evaluation in collaboration with ourBRIDGE for Kids and an ongoing qualitative case study examining the experiences of Southeast Asian refugee women in North Carolina.

Dr. Kolano has an established record of securing competitive funding, frequently serving as PI or Co-PI for impactful research and teacher development projects, especially those centered on immigrant communities. Key grants include over $1.8 million from the U.S. Department of Education for “Project TLC: Teaching Language & Content,” and over $125,000 for a multi-year program evaluation of OurBRIDGE for Kids. Additional support has been received from the Women & Girls Research Alliance and multiple Chancellor’s Diversity Grants to study Southeast Asian youth and communities. Her record of accomplishment is distinguished by several key awards from UNC Charlotte’s Cato College of Education, including the Excellence in Teaching Award, the Diversity Award, and the Sustained Service to Schools Award.

Area(s) of Interest and Research

Immigrant Education
Critical Multicultural Teacher Education
Second language identity development
Mulitlingual Learners