Xu Zhao

Dr. Xu Zhao

Ed.D
Pronouns: She/Her

Positions

Associate Professor

Werklund School of Education, Specialization, Counselling Psychology

Contact information

Web presence

Phone number

Office: 403.220.5382

Location

Office: EDT640

For media enquiries, contact

Clayton MacGillivray
Content and Media Specialist


Email: clmacgil@ucalgary.ca
Twitter: @UCalgaryEduc

I'm looking for...

Research partners

I am seeking research partners and graduate students interested in studying intergenerational transmission of family history in three communities: Indian, Filipino, and Chinese.

Background

Educational Background

Ed. D Human Development & Psychology, Harvard University,

Research

Areas of Research

Youth Psychosocial Development in Cultural and Intercultural Contexts

Dr. Zhao studies youth psychosocial development from a sociocultural perspective. Across China, the U.S., and Canada, she has listened to the stories of the young, vulnerable, marginalized, and oppressed, aiming to understand how educational narratives are constructed and communicated to shape children's understanding of self, others, society and history, thereby influencing both individual and collective identities and wellbeing. Her research encompasses narratives across various domains of society, including family (e.g., intergenerational narratives), education system and culture (e.g., Neoliberalist discourse on meritocracy), and broader social and political processes that impact families, schools and youth themselves. Often employing a critical theoretical lens, Dr. Zhao examines the forms and functions of narratives as sources of oppression and liberation at the societal level, and as contributors to vulnerability and resilience at the community and individual levels. 

Dr. Zhao serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Moral Education

Participation in university strategic initiatives

Courses

Course number Course title Semester
EDUC 309 Early Childhood Development
EDPS 611 Qualitative Research Methodologies
EDER 655.14 Developing resilient youth
EDPS 693 Child Development

Projects

On-going Research Projects

Awards

  • Werklund School of Education Diversity Award, University of Calgary . 2022
  • Harvard Chen Yidan Global Fellow, Harvard Graduate School of Education . 2021
  • Harvard Gutman Library Distinguished Book Author, 2016
  • Council of Alumni for Social Enterprises (CASE) Fellowship, 2006

Publications

In the News