Lauren Liang, an associate professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Utah, continues her work examining how children's and adolescent literature influences student response and comprehension. As the Director of the LEAP-Quest Academic Learning Communities in Undergraduate Studies, Liang focuses her research on the educational application of literature and its impact on student development.
Research and Academic Focus
Liang's academic research is centered on the selection and educational use of literature for children and adolescents. Her specific area of study includes investigating how various text characteristics relate to how students respond to and comprehend what they read. This work seeks to understand the complex relationship between written materials and the cognitive and emotional development of young readers.
Program Leadership and Publications
In addition to her work in educational psychology, Liang serves as the co-director of the READ-U (Reading with Empathy, Awareness, and Depth with U) Program. Her extensive research has been featured in several prominent academic journals, including Reading Research Quarterly, The Reading Teacher, Reading Psychology, and the Journal of Children's Literature. Her contributions to the field extend beyond journals into professional and practitioner books.
Published Works and Future Projects
Liang is a co-author of the widely utilized children's literature textbook, Literature and the Child. She is also set to release a new book in 2025 titled Courageous Conversations in the Classroom: Using Children's Literature to Support Social and Emotional Growth, Positive Identity, and Mental Health, which she is co-authoring with Drs. Karen Tao and Michelle Hosp through Guilford Press.
Academic Appointments and Honors
The University of Utah faculty profile notes that Liang has held several prestigious positions and awards. She served as a University Professor from 2016 to 2018 and was named the Director of the Quest Academic Learning Community, formerly known as LEAP and Early College, starting in July 2024. Her previous accolades include the College of Education Faculty Teaching Award in 2009 and the University of Utah Early Career Teaching Award in 2010.
National Professional Service
Liang's influence extends to national literature standards and award committees. She is currently a board member for the United States Board on Books for Young People and is a past-president of the Children's Literature Assembly. Her expertise has been utilized by several major award committees; she chaired the 2020 Mildred L. Batchelder Award and served on the International Literacy Association's Children's and Young Adult Book Awards Committees from 2012 through 2016, as well as the 2017 Caldecott Medal committee.
Educational Background
Liang's academic background includes a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction- Literacy Education from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. She also holds a Master of Arts in Cognition and Development from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor of Arts in English and American Studies from the University of Notre Dame. Her research fields encompass curriculum and pedagogy, education systems, specialist studies in education, education policy, sociology and philosophy, and applied and developmental psychology.
Career Progression at University of Utah
Liang has been a member of the University of Utah faculty since July 1, 2011. Her career has progressed through various roles, including Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology from 2004 to June 2011, before her transition to her current associate professorship.
