Jan Lacina, Ph.D.
j.lacina@tcu.edu817-257-6786
Program Affiliations
Dr. Jan Lacina holds the Bezos Family Foundation Endowed Chair of Early Childhood Education and is Senior Associate Dean for Research, Graduate Studies & Strategic Partnerships. She began her career as a Texas public school teacher.
Dr. Lacina’s scholarly work centers on literacy learning and leadership and teacher education. More recently she has focused her work on the impact of children’s literature as she leads a children’s book club. Dr. Lacina is the recipient of many awards for teaching, research, and service. She holds an appointment as U.S. Ambassador for the United Kingdom Literacy Association through 2028 and serves on the Board of Directors for the American Reading Forum 2024-2026; she was elected to serve as Vice-President for 2025-2026 and will serve as President 2026-2027.
Dr. Lacina has served as Editor and/or Associate Editor for three major journals within her field, including the Journal of Research in Childhood Education, The Reading Teacher, and the Early Childhood Education Journal. She has authored more than 100 publications, including four books authored or edited and an additional book under contract. She serves on the editorial advisory board for three major journals. She currently serves as Associate Editor for the Early Childhood Education Journal.
Dr. Lacina is an experienced leader in higher education. In leadership roles she led programs to win national awards including the AACTE Best Practice Award in Support of Multicultural Education and Diversity, the AACTE/Southern Poverty Law Center Culturally Responsive Teaching Award, the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE) Billy G. Dixon Distinguished Program in Teacher Education Award, as well as the Wisniewski Teacher Education Award presented by the Society of Professors of Education (SPE). She is a graduate of the Harvard Management Development Program (MDP) as well as the AACTE Leadership Academy.
Awards
- 2025 Visiting Scholar at the International Youth Library, Munich Germany
- 2024 Eileen Wallace Research Fellowship In Children's Literature, University of New Brunswick, Canada
- 2025 Warren Faculty Fellow, Holocaust Museum of Houston
- 2024 Warren Faculty Fellow, Holocaust Museum of Houston
- 2023 International Literacy Association Jerry Johns Outstanding Teacher Educator in Reading Award
- 2023 Excellence in Action: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Social Justice Award presented by the Associate & Assistant Deans and Directors of Texas (ADoT) Colleges of Education
- 2023 Ezra Jack Keats/Janina Domanska Research Fellowship, University of Southern Mississippi
- 2023 TCU Dean’s Award for Teaching
- 2023 Finalist, TCU Michael R. Ferrari Award for Distinguished University Service and Leadership
- 2022 Notable Books for a Global Society Research Award, International Literacy Association
- 2022 Warren Faculty Fellow, Holocaust Museum of Houston
- 2014 Finalist, Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Achievement as a Teacher & Scholar
- 2013 TCU Dean’s Research and Creativity Award
- 2012 Finalist, Dean’s Research and Creativity Award
- 2011 Finalist, Dean’s Research and Creativity Award
- 2001 Faculty Achievement Award for Teaching, Department of Elementary Education, Stephen F. Austin State University
Editorial Leadership
- Associate Editor for the Journal of Early Childhood Education, 2021-present, published by Springer
- Co-Editor for The Reading Teacher, 2015- 2021, published by ILA and Wiley
- Editor for the Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 2012-2014, published by ACEI/Taylor & Francis
- Associate Editor for the Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 2009-2011, published by ACEI/Taylor & Francis
- Columnist, Technology in the Classroom—published in the journal Childhood Education, 2003-2009
Leadership Positions
- Associate Dean, TCU 2011-present
- Interim Dean, TCU 2019-2020
- Board Member for the American Reading Forum, 2024-2026
- International Ambassador representing the United States for the United Kingdom Literacy Association, present - 2028
- AACTE Holmes Scholars Coordinator, 2020-present
- LBSD College Coordinator, 2020- 2023
- Early Childhood Coordinator, TCU 2006-2009
- Post Baccalaureate Graduate Coordinator, Stephen F. Austin State University 2001-2005
- ESL Coordinator, Stephen F. Austin State University 2000-2005
- Professional Development School (PDS) Site Coordinator 2000-2001
- 2004-2009 Lead NCATE reviewer
Education
Ph.D. University of Kansas
Curriculum & Instruction/TESOL
M.Ed. Texas Woman’s University
Elementary Education
B.S., Baylor University
Interdisciplinary Studies
Lacina, J. (Ed.) (under contract) Children’s Literature to Read Our World: Text Selection and Strategies for Critical Reflection. NY: Routledge.
Lacina, J. (2024). Peritextual features and racialized space in children’s literature. Language Arts, 102 (1), 39-43.
Crawford P.A., Roberts, S, Lacina J. (2024). Picturebooks and young children: Potential, power, and practices. Early Childhood Education Journal. 1–7.
Lacina, J., & Nakamura, T. (2024). Teaching writing to young children: A review of core reading programs. Literacy Innovation, 9 (2) 58-73.
Lacina, J., Baldikoski, M., & Penman, A. (2024). A club for all: Creating a critical literacy book club. Literacy Today, 42 (1), 68-70.
Lacina, J. (2023), 2022 Notable Books for a Global Society Research Award Winner: Heroes among us: Refugees and Immigrants in Award-Winning Children's Literature. Read Teach. https://doi.org/10.1002/trtr.2222
Bauml, M. Griffith, R., Kyzar, K, & Lacina, J. (2023). The 3C network: An anchor for effective field experiences in educator preparation programs. Young Children, 78(2), 82-89.
Lacina, J., Helling, M., Nakamura, T. & Montgomery, S. (2022). Award winning picture books with refugees & immigrants as main characters: Building understanding and inspiration. Dragon Lode 41(1), 19-26.
Lacina, J. (2022). Motherhood, the Tenure Track & Leadership. In Handbook of Teacher Reflections on Transitioning from K-12 to Higher Education Classrooms. IGI Global Publications.
Lacina, J., & Griffith, R. (2021). Hope for the Future: An Interview With Linda Darling- Hammond. Reading Teacher, 74(6), 673– 676. https://doi.org/10.1002/trtr.2018
Chamberlain, L., Lacina, J. & Bintz, B., Jimerson, J. & Payne, K. (2020). Literacy in lockdown: learning and teaching in COVID-19 school closures. The Reading Teacher 74 (3).
Lacina, J. & Griffith, R. (Eds.) (2020). Preparing globally minded literacy teachers: Knowledge, practices, and case studies. New York: Routledge.
Lacina, J. & Hults, K. (2019). Using museum photography as a bridge for writing. English in Texas, 49 (1), 46-49.
Lacina, J. (2018). Literacy leadership: Global leaders call for the teaching of writing. English Journal, 107 (4), 59-63.
Lacina, J. & Griffith, R. (2018). Embracing generation 1.5 learners through the teaching of writing. English in Texas, 47(2), 27-30.
Lacina, J. & Griffith, R. (2017). Teaching writing: Literacy coordinators’ views. New England Reading Journal, 52 (2), 11-19.
Lacina, J., Bauml, M. & Taylor, B. (2016). Promoting resilience through read-aloud. Young Children, 71 (2), 16-21.
Lacina, J. (2015). New literacies and comprehension. In Parris, S. & Headley, K. Comprehension Instruction: Research-Based Best Practices (3rd edition). Guilford Press: NY.
Griffith, R. & Lacina, J. (2015). Making In-the-Moment Teaching Decisions: A Matter of Knowledge. Literacy Today. International Literacy Association.
Lacina, J. (2014). Exploring cross cultural friendship in young adolescent literature. Dragon Lode, 33 (1) 63-74.
Lacina, J. & Griffith, R. (2014). Making new friends: Using literature to inspire cross cultural friendship. Literacy Today. International Literacy Association.
Lacina, J. (2014) Learning from poverty and high stakes testing: Developing as a professional educator in Texas. English Journal, 103 (6), 28-32. Acceptance Rate: 20%.
Lacina, J. & Stetson, R. (2013). Using children’s literature to support positive classroom behaviors. Young Children. Acceptance Rate: 21-30%.
Lacina, J. & Griffith, R. (2013). Blogging as a means to craft writing. The Reading Teacher. Acceptance Rate: 15%.
- Article selected for an International Reading Association’s special publication issue of articles published in 2013 for their “impact on literacy scholarship and practice.”
Lacina, J. & Matthews, S. (2012). Using online storybooks to build comprehension. Childhood Education 88(3), 155-161. Acceptance Rate: 20%.
Lacina, J. & Block, C. (2012). Progressive writing instruction for the 21st century: Empowering school leaders and teachers. Voices from the Middle (NCTE), 19(3), 10-17. Acceptance Rate: 14%.
Lacina, J. (2012). Best practices for twin placement in school. Young Children, 67(1), 80-83. Acceptance Rate: 21-30%.
Lacina, J. & Block, C. (2012). What matters most in distinguished literacy teacher education programs? Journal of Literacy Research. 43(4), 319-351. Acceptance Rate: 6-10%.
Lacina, J. & Silva, C. (2012). Cases of successful literacy teachers. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Last Updated: February 11, 2025