- Omogun, L. & Skerrett, A. (2021). From Haiti to Detroit Through Black Immigrant Languages and Literacies. Journal of Literacy Research, 53(3), 406-429.
- Omogun, L. (2021). Counterstories: Reimagining youth in multiethnic short story anthologies [Review of the book Black enough: Stories of being young & Black in America edited by I. Zoboi. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 64(5).
- Skerret, A. & Omogun, L. When racial, transnational, and immigrant identities meet: Black youth of Caribbean origin speak. Teachers Collge Record, 122(13).
- Wetzel, M. M., Vlach, S. K., Svrcek, N. S., Steinitz, E., Omogun, L., Salmerón, C., ... & Villarreal, D. (2019). Preparing teachers with sociocultural knowledge in literacy: A literature review. Journal of Literacy Research, 51(2), 138-157.
- Omogun, L. (2018). Immigrant student identities in literacy spaces. Texas Education Review, 6(2), 70-81.
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Scholars of Color Transitioning into Academic Research Institutions Fellow (STAR), Literacy Research Association (2022 – 2024)
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Outstanding Dissertation Award, Bilingual Education Research SIG, American Educational Research Association (2022)
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Cultivating New Voices among Scholars of Color Fellow (CNV), National Council of Teachers of English (2020 – 2022)
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Texas New Scholars Fellowship, Department of Teaching & Curriculum, The University of Texas at Austin (2016 – 2019)
I am an Assistant Professor of Language, Literacy, and Culture in Teaching, Learning & Curriculum. Raised between my Nigerian and African American cultures, my hybrid identity is reflected in my work that focuses on Black African immigrant youth. Specifically, my research explores the role of language, literacy, including digital literacies, in Black African immigrant youth identity constructions and negotiations across school, community, and digital spaces. I pay particular attention to how racialization influences their identity formations. I draw on my lived experiences, the wisdom of my former middle school students, and the arts to inform my creative approach to shifting static ideas about identity. A critical part of my work includes putting my research and critical theories into practice through school and community partnerships to supoprt youth of color identities and overall well-being. My academic scholarship has appeared in the Journal of Literacy of Research, Teachers College Record, and the Journal of Research in Childhood Education. My public scholarship has been featured on various formats, including TEDx, ESSENCE Magazine, NPR Radio, ZORA, and SXSW.
Education
Ph.D. The University of Texas at Austin (Language & Literacy Studies)
M.A. Teachers College, Columbia University (Curriculum & Teaching, Literacy Specialist)
B.A. Michigan State University (Elementary Education; Language Arts)
Select Publications
(Fomerly known as "Omogun". If you'd like to read a copy and/or need access, email me lafolalu@uw.edu.)
Select Awards & Fellowships
Courses
EDC&I 568: Youth Multiliteracies: Modality, Culture, and Identity
EDTEP 533: Language, Culture, and Power in the Writing Classroom
EDC&I 528: Foundations of Language, Literacy, and Culture