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Mary Carol Combs

  • Professor, Teaching/Learning and Sociocultural Studies
  • Professor, Educational Policy Studies and Practice
  • Professor, Second Language Acquisition / Teaching - GIDP
  • Member of the Graduate Faculty
Contact
  • (520) 626-3771
  • Education, Rm. 523
  • Tucson, AZ 85721
  • combs@arizona.edu
  • Bio
  • Interests
  • Courses
  • Scholarly Contributions

Biography

Date of birth: May 26, 1956 (Boston, Massachusetts)

Kindergarten: Durham, North Carolina

1-12 Schooling: Kalamazoo, Michigan; Jyvaskyla, Finland (1962-1974) 

BA: University of Michigan (1974-1978)

MAT: Georgetown University (1980-1983)

PhD: University of Arizona (1989-1995)

Degrees

  • Ph.D. Language, Reading and Culture
    • University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States
    • Research and Policy: Factors Influencing the Development of Bilingual Education in the Valle Encantado School District
  • M.A.T. Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
    • Georgetown University, District of Columbia, Washington, DC, USA
    • Pidgin or Language?: A Sociolinguistic Study of "Gastarbeiter Deutsch"
  • B.A. German Language and Literature
    • University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Work Experience

  • Education Policy Center, College of Education, U of A (2021 - Ongoing)
  • University of Arizona (Teaching, Learning & Sociocultural Studies) (2014 - Ongoing)
  • University of Arizona (Teaching, Learning & Sociocultural Studies) (2011 - 2014)
  • University of Arizona (Teaching, Learning & Sociocultural Studies) (2004 - 2011)
  • University of Arizona (Teaching, Learning & Sociocultural Studies) (1996 - 2004)

Awards

  • College of Education Outstanding Teaching and Mentoring Award
    • College of Education, University of Arizona, Fall 2012
  • LRC Spirit Award
    • Department of Language, Reading and CultureUniversity of Arizona, Spring 2010
  • College of Education Outstanding Educator
    • College of Education, University of Arizona, Spring 2007
  • Maria Urquides Laureate Award
    • College of Education, University of Arizona, Spring 2007
  • Outstanding Community Service Award
    • League of United Latin American Citizens, U.S. Justice Department Federal Bureau of Investigation, Spring 2001

Related Links

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Interests

Teaching

Teacher preparation for teachers of bilingual learners, English language learners, and Indigenous students.Second language acquisition theory and research, with practical applications to teacher education, sociocultural approaches to teaching, sheltered instruction

Research

Language policy, education law and policy, bilingual education, English as a second language, sociocultural theory, critical race theory, Indigenous language revitalization

Courses

2025-26 Courses

  • Dissertation
    TLS 920 (Fall 2025)
  • Language, Culture, and Society
    TLS 504 (Fall 2025)
  • Linguistics for Teachers
    TLS 402 (Fall 2025)

2024-25 Courses

  • Dissertation
    EDL 920 (Spring 2025)
  • Dissertation
    TLS 920 (Spring 2025)
  • ELL Assessment & Instruction
    TLS 406 (Spring 2025)
  • Independent Study
    TLS 699 (Spring 2025)
  • Linguistics for Teachers
    TLS 402 (Spring 2025)
  • Critical Pedagogy/Paulo Freire
    TLS 615 (Fall 2024)
  • Dissertation
    EDL 920 (Fall 2024)
  • Dissertation
    TLS 920 (Fall 2024)
  • Linguistics for Teachers
    TLS 402 (Fall 2024)
  • Preceptor-University Teaching
    TLS 791A (Fall 2024)
  • Research
    TLS 900 (Fall 2024)

2023-24 Courses

  • Dissertation
    TLS 920 (Summer I 2024)
  • Curr+Instr Blng+Sec Lang
    TLS 528 (Spring 2024)
  • Dissertation
    EDL 920 (Spring 2024)
  • Dissertation
    TLS 920 (Spring 2024)
  • Immigration+Education
    TLS 641 (Spring 2024)
  • Independent Study
    EDL 699 (Spring 2024)
  • Dissertation
    EDL 920 (Fall 2023)
  • Dissertation
    TLS 920 (Fall 2023)
  • Independent Study
    TLS 599 (Fall 2023)
  • Independent Study
    TLS 699 (Fall 2023)
  • Research
    TLS 900 (Fall 2023)

2022-23 Courses

  • Critical Pedagogy/Paulo Freire
    TLS 615 (Summer I 2023)
  • Dissertation
    TLS 920 (Spring 2023)
  • Independent Study
    EDL 699 (Spring 2023)
  • Linguistics for Teachers
    TLS 402 (Spring 2023)
  • Preceptor-University Teaching
    TLS 791A (Spring 2023)
  • Dissertation
    TLS 920 (Fall 2022)
  • Immigration+Education
    TLS 641 (Fall 2022)
  • Independent Study
    EDL 699 (Fall 2022)
  • Independent Study
    TLS 599 (Fall 2022)
  • Research
    TLS 900 (Fall 2022)

2021-22 Courses

  • Critical Pedagogy/Paulo Freire
    TLS 615 (Summer I 2022)
  • Dissertation
    TLS 920 (Spring 2022)
  • Independent Study
    TLS 599 (Spring 2022)
  • Independent Study
    TLS 699 (Spring 2022)
  • Lang Planning+Education
    TLS 795C (Spring 2022)
  • Research
    TLS 900 (Spring 2022)
  • Dissertation
    TLS 920 (Fall 2021)
  • Independent Study
    TLS 699 (Fall 2021)
  • Independent Study
    TLS 799 (Fall 2021)
  • Linguistics for Teachers
    TLS 402 (Fall 2021)
  • Preceptor-University Teaching
    TLS 791A (Fall 2021)

2020-21 Courses

  • Dissertation
    TLS 920 (Spring 2021)
  • Critical Pedagogy/Paulo Freire
    TLS 615 (Fall 2020)
  • Dissertation
    TLS 920 (Fall 2020)
  • Evaluating Education Research
    EDL 522 (Fall 2020)

2019-20 Courses

  • Dissertation
    TLS 920 (Summer I 2020)
  • Dissertation
    TLS 920 (Spring 2020)
  • ELL Assessment & Instruction
    TLS 406 (Spring 2020)
  • ELL Assessment & Instruction
    TLS 506 (Spring 2020)
  • Immigration+Education
    TLS 641 (Spring 2020)
  • Master's Report
    TLS 909 (Spring 2020)
  • Dissertation
    TLS 920 (Fall 2019)
  • ELL Assessment & Instruction
    TLS 406 (Fall 2019)
  • Independent Study
    TLS 699 (Fall 2019)
  • Issues Lang,Rdng+Culture
    TLS 595 (Fall 2019)
  • Preceptor-University Teaching
    TLS 791A (Fall 2019)
  • Research
    TLS 900 (Fall 2019)

2018-19 Courses

  • Dissertation
    TLS 920 (Spring 2019)
  • Independent Study
    TLS 699 (Spring 2019)
  • Issues Lang,Rdng+Culture
    TLS 595 (Spring 2019)
  • Research
    TLS 900 (Spring 2019)
  • Dissertation
    TLS 920 (Fall 2018)
  • Independent Study
    TLS 599 (Fall 2018)
  • Independent Study
    TLS 699 (Fall 2018)
  • Lang, Reading + Culture
    TLS 696A (Fall 2018)
  • Linguistics for Teachers
    TLS 402 (Fall 2018)
  • Preceptor-University Teaching
    TLS 791A (Fall 2018)
  • Research
    TLS 900 (Fall 2018)

2017-18 Courses

  • Dissertation
    LRC 920 (Spring 2018)
  • Dissertation
    SLAT 920 (Spring 2018)
  • Immigration+Education
    LRC 641 (Spring 2018)
  • Internship
    LRC 793 (Spring 2018)
  • Intr Strc Engl Immersion
    TLS 416 (Spring 2018)
  • Preceptor-University Teaching
    LRC 791A (Spring 2018)
  • Research
    LRC 900 (Spring 2018)
  • Dissertation
    LRC 920 (Fall 2017)
  • Dissertation
    SLAT 920 (Fall 2017)
  • Independent Study
    LRC 699 (Fall 2017)
  • Issues in Teaching
    TLS 496C (Fall 2017)
  • Lang Planning+Education
    LRC 795C (Fall 2017)

2016-17 Courses

  • Master's Report
    LRC 909 (Summer I 2017)
  • Dissertation
    LRC 920 (Spring 2017)
  • Dissertation
    SLAT 920 (Spring 2017)
  • Independent Study
    LRC 599 (Spring 2017)
  • Independent Study
    LRC 699 (Spring 2017)
  • Internship
    LRC 693 (Spring 2017)
  • Intr Strc Engl Immersion
    TLS 416 (Spring 2017)
  • Practicum in Literacy Settings
    LRC 694B (Spring 2017)
  • Preceptor-University Teaching
    LRC 791A (Spring 2017)
  • Dissertation
    LRC 920 (Fall 2016)
  • Dissertation
    SLAT 920 (Fall 2016)
  • Independent Study
    LRC 699 (Fall 2016)
  • Intr Strc Engl Immersion
    TLS 416 (Fall 2016)
  • Lang, Reading + Culture
    LRC 696A (Fall 2016)
  • Preceptorship
    LRC 791 (Fall 2016)
  • Structured Engl Fundtns
    LRC 516 (Fall 2016)

2015-16 Courses

  • Dissertation
    LRC 920 (Spring 2016)
  • Dissertation
    SLAT 920 (Spring 2016)
  • Honors Thesis
    TLS 498H (Spring 2016)
  • Independent Study
    SLAT 699 (Spring 2016)
  • Internship
    LRC 793 (Spring 2016)
  • Issues Lang,Rdng+Culture
    LRC 595A (Spring 2016)
  • Master's Report
    LRC 909 (Spring 2016)
  • Research
    LRC 900 (Spring 2016)
  • Sei Methods
    LRC 517 (Spring 2016)

Related Links

UA Course Catalog

Scholarly Contributions

Books

  • Combs, M. C. (2012). Bilingual and ESL Classrooms, 5th Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Chapters

  • Combs, M. C. (2014). Self-Inflicted Reductio ad Absurdum: Pedagogies and Policies of the Absurd in the State of Arizona. In Raza Studies: The public option for educational revolution(pp 188-196). Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Press.
  • Combs, M. C. (2014). “Performing goofiness” in teacher education for emergent bilingual students. In Research on Preparing Preservice Teachers to Work Effectively with Emergent Bilinguals(pp 287-312). Bingley, England: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
  • Combs, M. C., DaSilva Iddings, A. C., & Moll, L. C. (2014). 21st Century linguistic Apartheid: English language learners in Arizona public schools. In Affirming language diversity in schools and society: Beyond linguistic Apartheid(pp 23-34). New York: Routledge.
  • Combs, M. C., DaSilva Iddings, A. C., & Moll, L. C. (2014). English language learners and partnerships with families.. In Handbook of Urban Education(pp 188-196). New York: Routledge.
  • Combs, M. C., Betts, D., & Fisher, P. (2013). Acted and enacted lives: Language play, theatre, and language development on the border. In The arts and English language learners: Building culturally responsive, critical and creative programs in school and community contexts(pp 63-67). New York: Routledge.
  • Combs, M. C. (2012). Everything on its head: Re-inventing theory and practice in a Structured Immersion Classroom. In Implementing Educational Language Policy in Arizona: Legal, Historical and Current Practices in Structured English Immersion(pp 59-85). Clevedon, England: Multilingual Matters.
  • Combs, M. C., & Penfield, S. (2012). Language activism and language policy. In The Cambridge handbook of language policy(pp 461-474). Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.
  • Combs, M. C., Gonzalez, N., & Moll, L. C. (2010). Latinos and the learning of English: The Metonymy of Language Policy. In Ethnography and language policy(pp 184-203). New York: Routledge.
  • Combs, M. C. (2008). Adalberto Guerrero. In Encyclopedia of Bilingual Education(pp 332-335). Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications.
  • Combs, M. C. (2008). Henry ("Hank") Oyama. In Encyclopedia of Bilingual Education(pp 637-638).
    More info
    Biographical entry
  • Combs, M. C. (2008). James Crawford. In Encyclopedia of Bilingual Education(pp 183-185). Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications.
    More info
    Biographical entry
  • Combs, M. C. (2008). Luis Moll. In Encyclopedia of Bilingual Education(pp 558-559). Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications.
  • Combs, M. C. (2008). Maria Urquides. In Enclyclopedia of Bilingual Education(pp 869-871). Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications.
  • Combs, M. C. (2008). What we need to know to educate English language learners. In Affirming Students’ right to their own language: Bridging language policies to teaching practices(pp 35-38). New York: Routledge.
  • Combs, M. C. (1999). Public perceptions of Official English/English only: Framing the debate in Arizona. In Socio-political perspectives on language policy and language planning(pp 131-154). Erdenheim, PA: John Benjamins, Inc.

Journals/Publications

  • Combs, M. C. (2014). Explorations in "Goofineses": using Drama and Improvisation to Teach English Language Learners. Imagine Research, 5-7.
  • Combs, M. C., & Nicholas, S. E. (2012). The effect of Arizona language policies on Arizona Indigenous students. Language Policy, 11, 101-118.
  • Combs, M. C., DaSilva Iddings, A. C., & Moll, L. C. (2012). In the Arid Zone: Drying out Educational Resources for English Language Learners through Policy and Practice. Urban Education, 47(2), 495-514.
  • Combs, M. C., Rabin, N., & Gonzalez, N. (2008). Understanding Plyler’s legacy: Voices from border schools. Journal of Law and Education, 37(1), 15-82.
  • Combs, M. C., & Evans, C. (2005). Bilingualism for the children: Implementing a dual language program in an English only state. Educational Policy Journal, 37(1), 701-728.
  • Combs, M. C., & Lynch, L. (1988). English Plus: A positive language policy. English Today, 4(4), 36-42.

Presentations

  • Combs, M. C. (2015, August). Communities as Linguistic Resources Across the Americas: A symposium honoring the Legacy of Richard Ruiz: Linguistic Diversity and Empowerment Frameworks: Honoring the Scholarly Contributions of Richard Ruiz.. VI International Symposium on Bilingualism and Bilingual Education in Latin America. Lima, Perú, August 14, 2015.. Lima, Peru: nternational Symposium on Bilingualism and Bilingual Education in Latin America.
  • Combs, M. C. (2015, February). Crafting and Negotiating a Department Statement on Social Justice. Neag School of Education. Storrs, Connecticut: Neag School of Education.
  • Combs, M. C. (2015, March). How Arizona’s Restrictive Language Policies Affect Indigenous Students and Tribal Sovereignty.. TESOL International Conference. Toronto, Canada: TESOL.
  • Combs, M. C. (2015, October 2015). Hodge-Podge Pedagogy and “Accelerated” Language Acquisition Obsessions: English Language Learner Policies in Arizona.. National Association for Multicultural Education. New Orleans, LA: NAME.
    More info
    Paper presentation
  • Combs, M. C., & Combs, M. C. (2015, February). Reinstating De Jure Segregation and the Education of English Learners in Arizona and Connecticut.. Dos Días Para Tranforming Bilingual Education in Connecticut. New Britain, Connecticut: Central Connecticut State University.
  • Combs, M. C. (2014, July). Tribal educational sovereignty and Arizona state policy: Unintended consequences – or not?. 5th Annual American Indian/Indigenous Teacher Education Conference. Flagstaff, Arizona: Northern Arizona University.
    More info
    Co-presented with Sheilah Nicholas
  • Combs, M. C. (2014, June). Soberanía educativa indígena y la política lingüística de Arizona. Combinando razón y corazón: Balance y perspectivas de la education intercultural bilingüe en América Latína. Cochabamba, Bolivia: Universidad Mayor de San Simón, Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación.
  • Combs, M. C. (2014, November). 21st Century Apartheid: English Language Learners in Arizona Public Schools. 24th Annual Conference: Dismantling Fronteras through Multicultural Education: Con Communidad, Cariño y Coraje. Tucson, Arizona: National Association for Multicultural Education.
  • Combs, M. C. (2014, November). Becoming and Being a Socially Just Department of Teaching and Learning: Encouragine a Critical Stance. 24th Annual Conference: Dismantling Fronteras through Multicultural Education: Con Communidad, Cariño y Coraje. Tucson, Arizona: National Association for Multicultural Education.
    More info
    Co-presented with Sara Tolbert, Killi Gray, Vanessa Stevens, Jesus Jaime Diaz and Toni Griego-Jones
  • Combs, M. C. (2014, November). Raza Studies: The Public Option for Educational Revolution. 24th Annual Conference: Dismantling Fronteras through Multicultural Education: Con Communidad, Cariño y Coraje. Tucson, Arizona: National Association for Multicultural Education.
    More info
    Co-presented with Andrea Romero, Nolan Cabrera, Julio Cammarota

Reviews

  • Combs, M. C. (2011. Book Review: ESL, EFL & Bilingual Education (by Lynn W. Zimmerman)(pp (on-line)). New York.

Others

  • Combs, M. C., & Jiménez-Castellanos, O. (2013, March). English language learners: What’s at stake for Arizona? Morrison Institute for Public Policy. Tempe: Arizona State University. Morrison Institute for Public Policy, Arizona State University.

Profiles With Related Publications

  • Luis C Moll

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