WENYANG SUN portrait
  • Assistant Professor, Education, Culture & Society
  • Faculty Affiliate, Asian Studies Program
801-587-7803

Publications

  • Sun, W. (2024). An AsianCrit perspective on Chinese immigrant parents’ language ideologies. Bilingual Research Journal, 47(1), 25–41. https://doi.org/10.1080/15235882.2023.2284926. Published, 03/25/2024.
  • Kwon, J., Sun, W., & Son, M. (2024). The voices of transnational MotherScholars of emergent bilinguals. Journal of Literacy Research. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/1086296X241226478 . Published, 01/23/2024.
  • Jiang, L., Li, S., & Sun, W. (2023). First-generation college and international students attend TESOL PhD programs: Navigating the profession as emerging research scholars. In H. Kayi-Aydar, A. Steadman, & K. Shea (Eds.) Narratives of TESOL professionals: Navigating the doctoral program (pp. 135–152). Information Age Publishing. Published, 10/2023.
  • Yu, M., Coloma, R. S., Sun, W., Kwon, J. (2023). Dissecting anti-Asian racism through a historical and transnational AsianCrit lens. Sociological Inquiry. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/soin.12572. Published, 09/28/2023.
  • Hughes, S. A., Sun, W., Garner, P. W., Legette, K. B., & Halberstadt, A. G. (2023). Context matters as racialization evolves: Exploring bias in preservice teacher responses to children. American Educational Research Journal. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.3102/00028312231200016. Published, 09/27/2023.
  • Sun, W., Xu, N., & Valdez, V. E. (2023). Not for us: Chinese immigrant parents’ perspectives on Mandarin Chinese dual language bilingual education programs. Critical Inquiry in Language Studies. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427587.2023.2231583. Published, 07/03/2023.
  • Sun, W., & Wang, X. (2023). A raciolinguistic analysis of the promotion of dual language education in a new Latinx South state. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 44(1), 61–75. https://doi.org/10.1080/01596306.2021.1955242. Published, 02/2023.
  • Sun, W. (2023). Fostering critical consciousness with immigrant families: The story of a Chinese immigrant mother in a Mandarin-English dual language program. In L. M. Dorner, D. Palmer, C. G. Cervantes-Soon, D. Heiman, & E. R. Crawford (Eds.), Critical consciousness in dual language bilingual education: Case studies on policy and practice (pp. 131–138). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003240594-17. Published, 01/2023.
  • Rong, X. L., Sun, W., & Cong, H. (2022). The shortage of Asian American teachers in K-12 schools: Trends, patterns, causes, and recommendations. In C. D. Gist & T. J. Bristol (Eds.), Handbook of research on teachers of color and indigenous teachers (pp. 319–344). American Educational Research Association. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv2xqngb9.29. Published, 10/15/2022.
  • Wang, X., & Sun, W. (2022). Unidirectional or inclusive international education? An analysis of discourses from U.S. international student services office websites. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 15(5), 617–629. https://doi.org/10.1037/dhe0000357. Published, 09/2022.
  • Kwon, J., Sun, W., & Rheem, C. S. (2022). Teaching while becoming: The transnational expertise of a Korean immigrant youth-educator. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy. Published, 06/2022.
    https://ila.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ja...
  • Cao, J., Lee, C., Sun, W., & De Gagne, J. C. (2022). The #StopAsianHate movement on Twitter: A qualitative descriptive study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Vol. 19, 3757. Published, 03/22/2022.
    https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19073757
  • Cervantes-Soon, C. G. & Gambrell, J. A., Kasun, G. S., Sun, W., Freire, J., & Dorner, L. (2021). “Everybody wants a choice” in dual language education of el Nuevo Sur: Whiteness as the gloss for everybody in media discourses of multilingual education. Journal of Language, Identity & Education. Vol. 20, 394-410. Published, 12/2021.
    https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15348...
  • Kwon, J., & Sun, W. (2021). Transnational lives of Asian immigrant children in multicultural picture books. Young Children. Vol. 76, 24-31. Published, 09/01/2021.
    https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/fall2021
  • Sun, W., & Rong, X. L. (2021). English education reform in Asian countries. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education. Published, 05/26/2021.
    https://oxfordre.com/education/view/10.1093/acrefo...
  • Sun, W., & Kwon, J. (2020). Representation of monoculturalism in Chinese and Korean heritage language textbooks for immigrant children. Language, Culture, and Curriculum. Vol. 33, 402-416. Published, 11/2020.
    https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/079083...
  • Sun, W. (2019). From the Editorial Board: Multilingualism for all or tools for gentrification? Call for the examination of dual language programs in secondary education. The High School Journal. Vol. 102, 263-266. Published, 06/2019.
    https://muse.jhu.edu/article/739399
  • Sun, W., & Rong, X. L. (2018). Globalization, national identity, and multiculturalism and multilingualism: Language policy and practice in education in Asian countries. In A. Bonnet & P. Siemund (Eds.), Foreign languages in multilingual classrooms (pp. 99-123). Amsterdam: John Benjamins. Published, 06/2018.
    https://benjamins.com/catalog/hsld.7.05sun
  • Rong, X., Hilburn, J., & Sun, W. (2017). Immigration, demographic changes and schools in North Carolina from 1990 to 2015: Transformations to a multiethnic, global community. In X. L. Rong & J. Hilburn (Eds.), Immigration and education in North Carolina: The challenges and responses in a new gateway state (pp. 3-24). Boston, MA: Sense. Published, 06/2017.
    https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-6...
  • Liu, S., Sun, W., & Barrow, E. (2017). Promises and practices: A case study on compulsory education policy implementation in a large migrant-inflow city in China. In W. T. Pink & G. W. Noblit (Eds.), Second international handbook of urban education (pp. 133-149). New York: Springer. Published, 06/2017.
    https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-31...

Research Statement

My research focuses on language ideologies and the social context of language and literacy education for culturally and linguistically diverse learners. In particular, my research is grounded in critical race theory and critical pedagogy to explore how the larger sociopolitical contexts shape the experiences of language-minoritized communities. The scope of my research also expands to analyze the critical language issues in the field of dual language education, heritage language curriculum, immigrant/migrant education, Asian and Asian American studies, and international education. 

Research Keywords

  • Race, Ethnicity, and Immigrants
  • English as a Second Language
  • Bilingualism & Biliteracy
  • Bilingual or Bicultural Education
  • Asian Studies
  • Asian American Studies

Presentations

  • Sun, W., & Wang, X. (accepted). The counterstories of a Chinese immigrant mother against the neoliberal framing of dual language education. Annual Meeting of American Educational Research Association (AERA). Philadelphia, PA. Conference Paper, Refereed, Accepted, 11/2023.
  • Ojha, L. P., Kwon, J., & Sun, W. (accepted). Centering Asian immigrant children and families’ transnational funds of knowledge in language and literacy research. Annual Meeting of AERA. Philadelphia, PA. Conference Paper, Refereed, Accepted, 11/2023.
  • Li, S., Jiang, L., Sun, W., & Fan, F. (accepted). Teaching Multilingual Learners in Rural Communities: How a Teacher Negotiates the Ethico-politics of Teacher Identity. Annual Meeting of AERA. Philadelphia, PA. Conference Paper, Refereed, Accepted, 11/2023.
  • Yu, M., Coloma, R. S., Kwon, J., & Sun, W. (accepted). Asian American youth participatory action research through Asia diasporic and transnational lenses. Annual Meeting of AERA. Philadelphia, PA. Conference Paper, Refereed, Accepted, 11/2023.
  • Kwon, J., Sun, W., & Son, M. (accepted). The voices of Asian transnational MotherScholars of emergent bilinguals. Annual Meeting of AERA. Philadelphia, PA. Conference Paper, Refereed, Accepted, 11/2023.
  • Sun, W., & Kwon, J. (accepted). Community-based heritage language schools as transnational counterspaces for first-generation Chinese immigrant families. American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL). Houston, TX. Conference Paper, Refereed, Accepted, 10/2023.
  • Li, S., Jiang, L., & Sun, W. (accepted). Reflexivity and resilience: International first-generation college students be(com)ing emerging scholars in applied linguistics. AAAL. Houston, TX. Conference Paper, Refereed, Accepted, 10/2023.
  • Yu, M., Coloma, R. S., Sun, W., Kwon, J. (2023, April). Research with/about Asian American youth: Youth Participatory Action Research through Asia diasporic and transnational lenses. Annual Meeting of AERA. Chicago, IL. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 04/2023.
  • Sun, W. (2023, April). Efforts and dilemmas: Chinese immigrant parents’ perspectives on maintaining heritage language in the Southern US. Annual Meeting of American Educational Research Association (AERA). Chicago, IL. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 04/2023.
  • Sun, W. (2023, April). Fostering critical consciousness with Chinese immigrant families in a Mandarin-English dual language program. Annual Meeting of AERA. Chicago, IL. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 04/2023.
  • Xu, N., Sun, W., & Valdez, V. E. (2023, April). Secondary Chinese DLBE teachers’ barriers to developing critical consciousness in Chinese DLBE classrooms. Annual Meeting of AERA. Chicago, IL. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 04/2023.
  • Wang, X., & Sun, W. (2023, April). The “silent” Asian American faculty group: Chinese international/immigrant faculty experiences in U.S. education schools. Annual Meeting of AERA. Chicago, IL. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 04/2023.
  • Jiang, L., Li, S., Sun, W. (2023, April). International first-generation college students pursue doctoral programs: Navigating the TESOL profession as emerging scholars. Annual Meeting of AERA. Chicago, IL. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 04/2023.
  • Xu, N., Sun, W., & Valdez, V. E. (2023, March). Secondary Chinese dual language bilingual education teachers’ lived experiences, language ideologies, and practices. American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL). Portland, OR. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 03/2023.
  • Sun, W. (2022, November). A critical analysis of Chinese immigrant parents’ language ideologies of heritage language education in the Southeast US. Literacy Research Association (LRA). Phoenix, AZ. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 11/2022.
  • Son, M., Sun, W., & Kwon, J. (2022, April). Multiplied assets and doubled burden: A collaborative self-study of Asian immigrant mother scholars. Annual Meeting of AERA. San Diego, CA. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 04/2022.
  • Sun, W., Xu, N., & Valdez, V. E. (2022, April). Perspectives and rationales on Chinese-English dual language education: Voices from Mandarin heritage language speaking parents. Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). San Diego, CA. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 04/2022.
  • Sun, W., & Reyes, A. J. (2022, March). How two heritage language programs foster immigrant-school-community engagement in the new immigrant South. American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL). Pittsburgh, PA. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 03/2022.
  • Sun, W., & Wang, X. (2021, April). A raciolinguistic analysis of the promotion of dual language education in North Carolina. Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 04/2021.
  • Rong, X., & Sun, W., & Cong, H. (2021, April). The shortage of Asian American teachers in K–12 schools: Trends, patterns, causes, and recommendations. Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 04/2021.
  • Sun, W. (2021, April). Chinese immigrant parents’ family language policy as shaped by their racialized experiences: An AsianCrit perspective. Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 04/2021.
  • Kwon, J., & Sun, W. (accepted & withdrawn). In and Out of a Chinese-English Dual Language School: A Trilingual Child’s Language and Literacy Experiences. Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Conference Paper, Refereed, Accepted, 10/30/2020.
  • Sun, W., Liu, N., & Rong, X. L. (2020, April). Dual language program parents' perspectives on bilingualism: A convergent parallel mixed methods study. Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), San Francisco, CA. http://tinyurl.com/wxduq89 (Conference Canceled). Conference Paper, Refereed, Other, 04/2020.
  • Lys, D., Glazier, J., Barber-Lester, K., Sun, W., & Papoi, K. (2020, April). Surfacing equity in edTPA through the lens of culturally responsive pedagogy. Poster to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), San Francisco, CA. http://tinyurl.com/yxr962zn (Conference Canceled). Conference Paper, Refereed, Other, 04/2020.
  • Wang, X., & Sun, W. (2020, April). University support for international students: A critical discourse analysis of international students’ office websites. Paper to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), San Francisco, CA. http://tinyurl.com/t4ktnzr (Conference Canceled). Conference Paper, Refereed, Other, 04/2020.
  • Reyes, A. J., & Sun, W. (2019, April). Leveraging navigational capital: Strengthening family-school-community connections in Chinese and Spanish heritage language programs. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Toronto, Canada. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 04/2019.
  • Lys, D., LaGarry, A., & Sun, W. (2019, April). Leveraging completer data for program improvement: Analyzing multiple measures using a PDSA model. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Toronto, Canada. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 04/2019.
  • Sun, W., & Rong, X. L. (2019, April). Do parents’ perspectives on bilingualism vary according to their children’s attendance in dual language programs? Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Toronto, Canada. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 04/2019.
  • Kwon, J., & Sun, W. (2018, November). Learning across borders: An analysis of transnational lives of Asian immigrant children in children’s literature. Paper presented at the American Educational Studies Association (AESA) annual meeting, Greenville, SC. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 11/2018.
  • Sun, W., & Kwon, J. (2018, November). Towards a critical transnational curriculum: Representations of transnational experiences and translanguaging in heritage language textbooks. Paper presented at the American Educational Studies Association (AESA) annual meeting, Greenville, SC. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 11/2018.
  • Sun, W. (2018, May). Globalization, national identity, and multiculturalism and multilingualism: Language policy and practice in education in Asian countries. Paper presented at the 7th Tsinghua Institute of Education & the 2nd Tsinghua International Conference on Future Education Doctoral Student Forum, Beijing, China. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 05/2018.
  • Cervantes-Soon, C. G., Kasun, G. S., Gambrell, J. A., & Sun, W. (2018, April). Dual language education in the Southeast: Paths, tensions, and opportunities in constructing neoliberal, multilingual subjects. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), New York City, NY. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 04/2018.
  • Sun, W., & Rong, X. L. (2018, April). From language to civic engagement: Building transnational social spaces in heritage language schools. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), New York City, NY. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 04/2018.
  • O’Sullivan, R., Salas Villalobos, F., & Sun, W. (2017, November). Collaborative evaluation strategies that enhance the usefulness of evaluations for stakeholders: Evaluation of three dual language programs in a school district. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of American Evaluation Association (AEA), Washington, DC. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 11/2017.
  • Liu, S., Sun, W., & Barrow, E. (2017, April). Promises and practices: A case study on migrant children’s compulsory education policy implementation in China. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), San Antonio, TX. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 04/2017.
  • Sun, W., Rong, X. L., & New, R. (2017, April). The benefits and constraints to “cultural insider” researcher when recruiting participants in Chinese immigrant communities. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), San Antonio, TX. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 04/2017.
  • Sun, W. (2015, November). Immigrant parents’ beliefs in bilingualism and the hegemony of English. Paper presented at the American Educational Studies Association (AESA) annual meeting, San Antonio, TX. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 11/2015.
  • New, R., & Sun, W. (2015, April). What's in a word? Immigrant parents' perspectives on children's school readiness. Paper presented at the Society for Psychological Anthropology (SPA) biennial meeting, Boston, MA. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 04/2015.
  • Sun, W. (2014, November). Dismantling the stereotypes: A review of the intersection of race and gender among female Asian American students and its implication on identity formation. Paper presented at the American Educational Studies Association (AESA) annual meeting, Toronto, Canada. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 11/2014.

Languages

  • Mandarin Chinese, fluent.

Geographical Regions of Interest

  • Asia
  • China
  • United States of America