Home Departments: Linguistics and TLS
SLAT Areas of Specialization: Instructional Dimensions of L2 Learning, Sociocultural Dimensions of L2 Learning
Graduate College Faculty Fellow in Mentoring and Retention of Under-represented and Minoritized Students
Sonja Lanehart is Professor of Linguistics in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Teaching, Learning, and Sociocultural Studies in the College of Education as well as a Faculty Fellow in the Graduate College at the University of Arizona. Her scholarship focuses on language and education in African American communities; language and identity; sociolinguistics and language variation; and African American education from Black feminist and Critical Race Theory perspectives. She is particularly interested in pushing the boundaries of research in sociolinguistics and language variation to be more diverse, inclusive, and intersectional (e.g., race/ethnicity, gender, sexuality, gender identity, region, SES, and religion) as seen with the significant research advancement presented in The Oxford Handbook of African American Language (Oxford University Press, 2015). She is a staunch advocate for mentoring and sponsoring emerging scholars of color, anti-racism, social justice, equity, and inclusion.