Esther provides leadership and research in adult and family literacy. Her research examines the ways in which social class, culture, race/ethnicity, and gender influence how learners participate in, and benefit from, adult education. Her other research interests include gender and adult education, civic engagement, and participatory approaches to education, community development, and research. Esther previously coordinated an adult education program and taught ESL classes to Latino/a immigrants in Chicago. She has conducted research and worked in rural and urban educational and community settings in the U.S. and El Salvador, including adult literacy and after-school programs, school-based community development projects, a community-university partnership, computer classes at a migrant housing center, an adult education program for low-wage university employees, and Cooperative Extension at Cornell, UC-Davis, and Washington State University.
Email: esp150@psu.edu
Phone: 814-865-0597
