Elena M. Venegas

Elena M. Venegas is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Bilingual and Literacy Studies in the College of Education and P-16 Integration at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). For the 2019-2020 academic year, Elena also served as the Faculty Fellow for Educational Technology at UTRGV.

Elena’s research agenda centers on social issues in education. Presently, she is a Co-Principal Investigator researching the language and literacy practices of students enrolled in Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). Elena is the Principal Investigator on a study exploring the experiences of women faculty of color at HSIs. Through her work, Elena aims to contribute to scholarship advocating for an asset-based approach to teaching students of color as well as enacting equity in higher education for not only students but also faculty.  

 Elena earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Teaching with an emphasis in literacy from Baylor University. Prior to higher education, Elena worked as an elementary teacher and director of a private preschool after obtaining a B.A. in Child and Family Studies and MSEd. in Curriculum and Instruction. Outside of academia, Elena enjoys spending time with her husband, son, and the family dog.