Dr. Protacio holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education with a language and literacy emphasis from Michigan State University and an M.Ed. in Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her bachelor’s degree is in communication research from the University of the Philippines-Diliman. Prior to earning her graduate degrees, Dr. Protacio worked as an English teacher in the Philippines, which is her native country. Her research interests primarily focus on the literacy motivation and engagement of English learners in K-12 settings. She has also conducted research focused on parental and family engagement of immigrant families in the U.S. Dr. Protacio serves as co-editor of the international, peer-reviewed journal Reading Horizons.