Trini Lewis received her doctorate in education with a specialization in literacy and language development from Boston University (BU) in Boston, Massachusetts.  She is a tenured associate professor in the Department of Teacher Education at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) and teaches in the credential and master degree programs.  Professor Lewis also coordinates the Master of Arts in Education degree with an option in dual language development.

Her research interests include parental involvement in children's literacy and language development, assessment, professional development and pre-service teacher's professional dispositions. She completed a book chapter for a popular edited volume by the International Reading Association (IRA) entitled Collaborating with 'Hard to Reach' Parents in an ELL Population:  One Teacher's Exploration.  Additionally, Prof. Lewis recently co-authored an article on pre-service teachers' dispositions in the journal Issues in Teacher Education.  When time permits, Professor Lewis also serves as an external reviewer for the California Distinguished School's Program and presents at regional, national, and international conferences and serves on a number of university committees.

Professor Lewis is also the co-principal investigator of a federal grant awarded by the United States Department of Education, Office of Post-secondary Education. The grant award approximates $300,000.00 and provides funds to develop teacher candidates who are committed to better serving English learners in secondary schools settings.   According to the grant's provisions, teacher candidates will participate in a series of leadership institutes and course work to prepare them as exemplary instructional leaders.  The grant is based on an innovative model co-developed by Professor Lewis and will be implemented over a two-year period from 2009-2011. To read more about this innovative grant, please click on the following blue link CSULB Press Release