Holly Hansen-Thomas, Ph.D.

Vice Provost for Research, Innovation, and Corporate Engagement

Teacher Education

Contact

hhansenthomas@twu.edu
940-898-3401
ACT 704

Biography

Holly Hansen-Thomas is Vice Provost of Research, Innovation, and Corporate Engagement (VPRICE), and Professor of ESL and Bilingual Education at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX. As VPRICE, she leads the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and provides oversight of the Center for Research Design and Analysis and the Center for Student Research; serves as the Human Protections Administrator on the Institutional Review Board, the Research Integrity Officer, and the Institutional Official in the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee; oversees all internal and external research initiatives and contract negotiations, as well as commercialization, tech transfer, intellectual property endeavors; and promotes engagement with corporate partners. A two-time Fulbright Scholar, she has worked in language education for several decades. Dr. Hansen-Thomas is bilingual and biliterate in Spanish and English and has dedicated her academic scholarship to second language educational issues, with over 85 peer-reviewed publications, and more than 100 peer-reviewed conference presentations. Some of her representative books she has authored/co-authored include Putting Critical Language Pedagogy in Action (Routledge); Innovative Approaches to Teaching Multilingual Students (IAP), Discourse Analytic Perspectives on STEM Education (Springer), Engaging Diverse Learners in the Mathematics Classroom (Brookes) and was the Series Editor for TESOL Press's Engaging Research series. She has served as a leader in higher education for multiple years as Graduate Dean, Associate Dean, Program Coordinator, and Interim Chair, as well as a successful grant writer/manager of over 8 million dollars in federal, state, and private funds.

Education

Ph.D., Culture, Literacy, and Language, University of Texas System: San Antonio
M.A., Bicultural/Bilingual Education, University of Texas: San Antonio
B.A., Art History, University of Texas: Austin

Research Interests

Emergent Bilinguals (EBs) in Math and Science; Bilingual Education; Bilingualism and Biliteracy; Rural Education for EBs; Secondary Education; Language Awareness; Culturally Responsive Teaching; Adolescent EBs

Latest Articles

Reimagining secondary newcomer instruction through multilingual possibilities
Journal of Education for Multilingualism (2024)
Angeles Munoz, Esmerelda Collazo, Mary Amanda Stewart, Holly Hansen-Thomas

Translingual Disciplinary Literacies: Equitable Language Environments to Support Literacy Engagement
Reading Research Quarterly (2022)
M. A. Stewart, Holly Hansen-Thomas, P. Flint, M. Nunez

La educación bilingüe durante una pandemia: Compromiso familiar [Bilingual education during a pandemic: Family engagement]
El Guiniguada (2022)
V. Lozada, Holly Hansen-Thomas, J. Figueroa, M. A. Stewart

Translingual Disciplinary Literacies: Shifting the Linguistic Landscape in Two High Schools
Reading Research Quarterly (2022)
M. A. Stewart, Holly Hansen-Thomas, P. Flint, M. Nunez

Understanding the power of Latinx families to support the academic and personal development of their children.
Bilingual Research Journal (2021)
L. G. Richins, Holly Hansen-Thomas, V. Lozada, S. South, M. A. Stewart

Study Abroad for Critical Multilingual Language Awareness Development in Teacher Candidates
TESL- EJournal (Online) (2020)
Kristen Lindahl, Holly Hansen-Thomas, Laura Baecher, Mary Amanda Stewart

Co- learning in the High School English Class through Translanguaging: Emergent Bilingual Newcomers and Monolingual Teachers
Journal of Language, Identity, and Education (2020)
Holly Hansen-Thomas, Mary Amanda Stewart, Patricia Flint, Tamra Dollar

Co-learning, translanguaging, and English Language Acquisition
Research Outlook (2020)
M. A. Stewart, Holly Hansen-Thomas

Using Latin American Folkloric Music to Support emergent Bilinguals'' Literacy Development in the Classroom
NABE Global Perspectives (2020)
E. Rios-Jimenez, S. South, L. Richins, Holly Hansen-Thomas, V. Lozada

ELLevating the success of high school Emergent Bilinguals in Math: Appropriate accommodations and confidence building
NABE Journal of Research and Practice (2020)
R. Hay Ho, Holly Hansen-Thomas, C. Collier, K. Burke

The Role of Language Objectives: Building Math and Science Teachers' Language Awareness with Emergent Bilinguals in Secondary Classrooms.
Latin American Content & Language Integrated Instruction Journal (2019)
Holly Hansen-Thomas, Juliet Langman, Tiffany Farias Sokoloski

Culture clash in the diverse classroom: A case study from a newcomer school
English Language Teaching (2018)
Holly Hansen-Thomas, SriPadmini Chennapragada

Deictics and the construction of mathematics and science knowledge in the secondary school classroom
Classroom Discourse (2017)
Holly Hansen-Thomas, Juliet Langman

Family Science Night / Earth Day Celebration: A Project for the International Newcomer Academy using insights from the graduate course 'Teaching in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Environments'
The Science Teacher (2016)
Holly Hansen-Thomas, H Alderman

Translanguaging in the secondary class through poetry: The case of a transnational youth
Research in the Teaching of English (2016)
Mary Amanda Stewart, Holly Hansen-Thomas

Experiential learning activities to promote higher education for At-Risk K-12 students
The International Journal of Higher Education in the Social Sciences - print (2015)
Holly Hansen-Thomas, S McMahan, R. R. Fredrickson

High stakes plumbing in the 21st century. Fixing the cracks in the academic pipeline (in press)
The International Journal of Higher Education in the Social Sciences - print (2015)
Holly Hansen-Thomas, Sourdot L.

ESL Mentoring for secondary rural educators: Math and science teachers become second language specialists through collaboration
TESOL Journal (2015)
Holly Hansen-Thomas, L. Grosso Richins

Books

Building Classroom Culture Through Translanguaging: Theory to Practice
TESOL Press (2025)
Holly Hansen-Thomas, ME Gomez Parra, B Muszynska

Critical Pedagogy in Action
Routledge (2024)
B. Muszynska, Holly Hansen-Thomas

Transforming Practices for the English as a Foreign Language Classroom
TESOL Press (2023)
L Lopriore (Editor)

Engaging Diverse Learners in the Mathematics Classroom: A functional language awareness approach for middle and high school educators
Brookes Publishing (2022)
Holly Hansen-Thomas, J. Langman

Leveraging Languages, Literacies, and Cultures: Innovative Approaches for Teaching Multilingual Students
Information Age Publishing (2022)
M. A. Stewart, Holly Hansen-Thomas

Engaging Research Series: Transforming practices for the High School Classroom (Series Editor and Editor)
TESOL Press (2019)
H. Hansen-Thomas, M. A. Stewart

Engaging Research Series Transforming Practices for the Elementary School (Series Editor)
TESOL Press (2018)
J Sharkey (Editor)

Engaging Research Series Transforming Practices for the Middle School Classroom (Series Editor and Editor)
TESOL Press (2018)
H. Hansen-Thomas, K. Lindahl

Discourse Analytic Perspectives on STEM Education
Springer (2017)
J. Langman, H. (Eds.) Hansen-Thomas

The Common Core State Standards in Mathematics for English Language Learners: High School
TESOL Press & NCTM (2015)
A Bright, H Hansen-Thomas, L Oliveira

Chapters

Teaching pragmatics in the multilingual EFL class
in Transforming Practices for the EFL Classroom | TESOL Press (2022)
K. Voltmer, Holly Hansen-Thomas

Functional Language Awareness in Secondary Mathematics Classrooms
in Teaching mathematics to English language learners: Preparing pre-service and in-service teachers | Palgrave (2020)
Holly Hansen-Thomas, Juliet Langman

Rural LTELs' Funds of Knowledge, Teacher Attitudes, and School Success in Today's Political Climate
in Language Learning Instruction for Culturally Diverse Students and Immigrant Communities | IGI Global (2019)
E. Hughes Karnes, Holly Hansen-Thomas

Pioneering Frontiers: Bilingual Education in Texas
in Lenguas y Culturas en Educación Multilingue y Multicultural/Languages and Cultures in Multilingual and Multicultural Education | UCo Press (2019)
Holly Hansen-Thomas, M Stewart, J Figueroa

Mathematics for EBs
in Handbook of TESOL in K-12 | Wiley Press (2019)
Holly Hansen-Thomas, Anita Bright

Rural ESL: I only have two students!
in The TESOL Encyclopedia of English Language Teaching | John Wiley & Sons, Inc (2018)
Holly Hansen-Thomas

Mini-novelas to incorporate culturally responsive literature with academic writing
in Engaging Research Series: Transforming Practices: Elementary School | TESOL Press (2018)
Holly Hansen-Thomas

Language Standards in the Classroom
in The TESOL Encyclopedia of English Language Teaching | John Wiley & Sons, Inc (2018)
Holly Hansen-Thomas

The Power of Voice in Advanced Social Studies and Language Arts Texts
in Transforming Practices for the Middle School Classroom | TESOL Press (2018)
Elizabeth Hughes Karnes, Holly Hansen-Thomas

Picture this: Using illustrated books to support comprehension in social studies complex texts
in Transforming practices for the high school classroom | TESOL Press (2018)
Tamra Dollar, Patricia Flint, Holly Hansen-Thomas

Mini-novelas to incorporate culturally responsive literature with academic writing
in Engaging Research Series: Transforming Practices: Elementary School | TESOL Press (2018)
Holly Hansen-Thomas

Triumvirate of Academia
in Coping with Gender Equity Gender in Higher Education | Rowan & Littlefield (2017)
R. R. Fredrickson, S. K. McMahan, Holly Hansen-Thomas

Heritage Language Development of Pre-Service Bilingual Teachers: How a Practice Situated Intervention Promoted Multiliteracy
in Multiliteracies Pedagogy and Language Learning.Teaching Spanish to Heritage Speakers | Palgrave MacMillan (2017)
Liliana Grosso Richins, Holly Hansen-Thomas

Developing academic and social mathematical discourse through modeling and interaction: Creating a geometrical town.
in The Common Core State Standards in Mathematics for English Language Learners: High School | TESOL Press & NCTM (2015)
Holly Hansen-Thomas, J Gordon

ESL
in The Encyclopedia of Diversity and Social Justice. | Rowan & Littlefield (2015)
Holly Hansen-Thomas

ELLs
in The Encyclopedia of Diversity and Social Justice | Rowan & Littlefield (2015)
Holly Hansen-Thomas

What types of resources can mathematics teachers who have ELLs/emergent bilinguals in their classes use to meaningfully engage these learners with the language demands of the CCSS?
in Common Core and ELLs/Emergent Bilinguals: A Guide for All Educators | Caslon (2015)
Holly Hansen-Thomas

Externally Funded Projects

Daisy Brand Undergraduate Research Program for STEM and Nutrition and Food Science Year 1 of 3
Daisy Brand | $79,513.00 | 2024
Role: Co-Principal Investigator

Fostering Undergraduate Engagement Through Undergraduate research Year 1 of 1
Lyda Hill Philanthropies | $100,000.00 | 2023
Role: Co-Principal Investigator

Collin College on behalf of the North Texas Consortium (2021, phase 3) (Collin College, Texas Woman's University, University of North Texas, University of Texas at Dallas, North Central Texas College)
Texas Reskilling Support Fund Grant Program | $300,000.00 | 2021
Role: Co-Principal Investigator

Teacher Cultural Plurilingual Project (TEACUP) Year 3 of 3
Erasmus Mundus | 2021
Role: Collaborator

Teacher Cultural Plurilingual Project (TEACUP) Year 2 of 3
Erasmus Mundus | 2020
Role: Collaborator

ACE Blockchain Innovation Challenge Grant (2020, 2021) with Greenlight, UT Arlington, A&M Commerce, North Central Texas College, Carrollton-Farmer's Branch ISD
American Council on Education | $225,000.00 | 2020
Role: Principal Investigator

Collin College on behalf of the North Texas Consortium (Collin College, Texas Woman's University, University of North Texas, University of Texas at Dallas, North Central Texas College
Texas Reskilling Support Fund Grant Program | $125,000.00 | 2020
Role: Co-Principal Investigator

Bilingual Education Funding Year 3 of 3
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board | $107,142.00 | 2019
Role: Principal Investigator

Teacher Cultural Plurilingual Project (TEACUP) Year 1 of 3
Erasmus Mundus | 2019
Role: Collaborator

AVANCE-IME Becas Scholarship Program
The Consulate General of Mexico in Dallas | $10,000.00 | 2018
Role: Co-Principal Investigator

AVANCE-IME Becas Scholarship Program
The Consulate General of Mexico in Dallas | $8,000.00 | 2017
Role: Co-Principal Investigator

AVANCE-IME Becas Scholarship Program
The Consulate General of Mexico in Dallas | $20,000.00 | 2016
Role: Co-Principal Investigator

ELLevate!: National Professional Development grant Year 6 of 6
GOV-Department of Education (DE) | $2,100,000.00 | 2016
Role: Co-Principal Investigator

PIONERAS: National Professional Development, NPD T365Z120026 Year 6 of 6
GOV-Department of Education (DE) | $2,200,000.00 | 2016
Role: Principal Investigator

Bilingual Education Funding
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board | 2016
Role: Collaborator

AVANCE-IME Becas Scholarship Program
The Consulate General of Mexico in Dallas | $14,000.00 | 2015
Role: Co-Principal Investigator

Internally Funded Projects

LEAMOS
Jane Nelson Institute for Women's Leadership | $166,031.00 | 2024
Research Grant

WoMentoring
Jane Nelson Institute for Women's Leadership | $177,736.00 | 2024
Research Grant

LEAMOS
Jane Nelson Institute for Women's Leadership | $166,031.00 | 2023
Research Grant

WoMentoring
Jane Nelson Institute for Women's Leadership | $177,736.00 | 2023
Research Grant

WoMentoring
Jane Nelson Institute for Women's Leadership | $280,264.00 | 2021
Research Grant

Small Grant
Texas Woman's University, ORSP | $400.00 | 2018
Research Grant

Small Grant
Texas Woman's University, ORSP | $495.00 | 2015
Research Grant

Professional Affiliations

AERA (American Educational Research Association)
KDP (Kappa Delta Pi) Educational Honor Society
NABE (National Association of Bilingual Educators)
NACRO (Network of Academic Corporate Relations Officers
NORDP (National Organization for Research Development Professionals)
TAA (Text and Academic Authors Association)
TABE (Texas Association of Bilingual Educators)
TCCAO (Texas Council of Chief Academic Officers)
TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages)

Page last updated 3:08 PM, April 9, 2025