Alisha Wackerle-Hollman receives inaugural U of M justice, equity, and diversity/inclusion award

Assistant Research Professor Alisha Wackerle-Hollman, Department of Educational Psychology, has been named a recipient of the University’s inaugural 2021 Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Award. The award honors faculty who have done significant research, teaching, or service/leadership to advance justice, equity, diversity and inclusion at the University, in the person’s field of study, or in the broader community.

JEDI awards intend to advance and elevate equity work; provide funding in recognition of the value of that work; and showcase critical scholarship, pedagogy, and community engagement. Recipients receive a one-time $10,000 award to support their work in justice, equity, and diversity and inclusion.

Wackerle-Hollman’s research centers on equitable assessment and parent engagement in historically marginalized communities. Her work includes two foci specific to early childhood—early literacy and language assessment and research on caregiver engagement and intervention for families with young children. A significant proportion of her work focuses on Latine communities, Hmong communities, and community-based participatory research (CBPR) models with BIPOC communities that experience poverty and limited upward mobility due to oppressive systems. Wackerle-Hollman is particularly committed to addressing the needs of children who are from these underserved and historically marginalized and in supporting these cultural communities through mentorship and resource development.