- PhD in Child Development, Erikson Institute/Loyola University Chicago
- MEd in Early Childhood Education, Erikson Institute/Loyola University Chicago
- BA in Psychology, Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Ureña, Dominican Republic
- Effective programming and classroom practices with young, emergent bilinguals/multilinguals
- Developmental implications of early bilingual language development
- Child development and parenting in context
- Action research as a tool for teacher professional development
- Teacher knowledge and relationship to curricula and instructional practice
- Implications of local, state, and national policy for the education of young, emergent bilinguals
Recent Publications
- Souto-Manning, M., Meléndez, L., Malik, K., Martell, J.c Pión, P. (2024). When inclusion means exclusion and the terms of belonging are obfuscated: what’s the role of race? In Paul Downes, Guofang Li, Lore Van Praag, Stephen Lamb Eds. The Routledge International Handbook of Equity and Inclusion in Education. Routledge
- Meléndez, L. (2024). Advancing critical praxis through action research. In L.M. Evans, K.R. Allen, & Turner, C. (Eds). Advancing Critical Pedagogy and Praxis Across Educational Settings. Brill Publishers
- Melendez, L. & Syc, S. (2021). Rethinking and early care and education program: Responding to linguistic diversity. In Z. Kinkead-Clark and K.A. Escayg Reconceptualizing Quality in Early Childhood Education, Care, and Development. Switzerland: Palgrave McMillan.
- See more
Recent Presentations
- April 1st, 2024: A Qualitative Examination of a Public Preschool in the Midwest.
With Sandra Osorio and Lilly Padia. A presentation for families,
Administrators, and Staff. McKinley Park Public Library, Chicago, IL - February 8, 2024: Growing up with more than one language: Developmental implications.
Presentation to the Erikson Institute DCFS Project. Chicago, IL - January 19, 2024: Bilingualism in the Early Years: A [very] Quick Overview of Demographics
and Research and their Implications for Quality Programs and Practice.
Presentation to the 2023-24 Barbara Bowman Leadership Fellows
Erikson Institute-Leadership Leadership and Policy Program
Chicago, IL - November, 2023: A Qualitative Examination of a Public Preschool in the Midwest:
Highlighting the Voices of Caregivers and Families.
With Lilly Padia. La Cosecha Dual Language
Conference- Albuquerque, NM - See more
Related professional experiences
- 2022- Gateways for Opportunity: Member of the Review Team for the Modularization of Level 2 Early Childhood Credential-Spanish version
- 2020-2021-Gateways for Opportunity: Member of the Modularization Review Team of Credentials for Infant and Toddler Credential
- 2021-2022 Member of Every Child Ready Chicago Workgroup- a public-private partnership led by the Mayor’s Office in partnership with Start Early (formerly known as the Ounce of Prevention Fund) working to ensure all children in Chicago enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school and life.
- 2018-2022- Co-Author of BESL credential attached to up to Gateways level 4 Early Childhood Credential The BESL credential received final state approval in the spring 2022.
- See more
Service to the Field
- September 2014 – June 2024: Member of the Chicago Consortium of School Research Steering Committee
- June 2019 to June 2022- Member Chicago School Board of Education
- Fall 2012 – Present: Member Early Childhood Committee Illinois Bilingual Advisory Council
- See more
Before immigrating to the United States almost 30 years ago, Luisiana Meléndez, grew up, attended college, and taught kindergarten in the Dominican Republic. Thus, Dr. Melendez feels part of the cultures of two very different countries and believes this has influenced her professional interest in understanding how aspects of culture, from language to family childrearing customs, impact children’s development and learning, particularly in the early years.
A faculty member at Erikson since 2007, Dr. Melendez is committed to ensure that practitioners are prepared to work effectively with children and families from different racial, cultural, ethnic, and language backgrounds. In addition, her classes provide a rigorous academic curriculum that encourages students to reflect on how their own cultural backgrounds and experiences mediate their work with children and families.
Dr. Melendez’s recent professional projects include co-authoring an Illinois Gateways credential for levels 2 through 4 that identifies and defines the competencies needed for effectively serve young emergent bilinguals and multilinguals, and their families in a variety of early childhood settings.
In June of 2024 Dr. Meléndez concluded a ten-year term as a member of the Chicago Consortium for School Research Steering Committee. She also served as member of the Chicago Board of Education, from June of 2019 to June of 2022. During the past year-and-half Dr. Meléndez has shared her own experiences as a board member to various Chicago advocacy group working on the transition to an elected Chicago Board of Education.
Change the World for Children
Join the Erikson Institute community and discover the difference one person can make.