Dr. Xu Zhao
Positions
Associate Professor
Werklund School of Education, Specialization, Counselling Psychology
UCalgary Research Excellence Chair
Werklund School of Education
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
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
- Intergenerational Narratives and the Construction of Future Canadian Identities (PI). Research design and data collection stage. Supported by funds from the University of Calgary Research Excellence Chairs Program.
- Young Newcomer Social Integration in Canadian Schools (PI). SSHRC Insight Development Grant. Data analysis and manuscript preparation stage. see "Barriers and Bridges: An Integrated Approach to Understanding the Process of Newcomer Social Integration in Canadian High Schools".
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
- Competition and Compassion in Chinese Secondary Schools. Zhao. X.. New York: Palgrave MacMillan. (2015)
- Adolescent psychology and mental health needs in China. Oxford Encyclopedia of Research in Education. Zhao, X., Chen, Z., Bao, L. . Oxford Encyclopedia of Research in Education. (2021)
- Educating young children: Research from Harvard, UCalary and East China Normal University . Selman, R.L., Snow, C. Zhao, X., Zhou, J. . SDX Joint Publishing Company. (2020)
- Bystanders’ responsibilities in a situation of teasing: A Dual Dynamic Analysis approach for understanding culture, context, and youth moral development. Zhao, X., & Selman, R. L. Qualitative Psychology. (2019)
- Academic competition and parental practice: Habitus and change. Luke; K Dooley; M Mu; Xu Zhao; A Luke; Selman R L. Routledge. 220-245. (2018)
- Adolescent victim experiences of cyberbullying: Current status and future directions. M Gao; McJunkin; T Fillippino; Xu Zhao; Y Zheng. IGI Global.. 236-254. (2018)
- Educating competitive students for a competitive nation: How and why the Chinese discourse of competition in education has rapidly changed within three decades? . Zhao. X.. Berkeley Review of Education. (2016)
- Compliant, cynical, or critical: Chinese adolescents’ explanations of social problems and individual civic responsibility. Zhao, X., Haste, H., Selman, R. L., & Luan, Z. . Youth & Society. (2014)
- Academic stress in Chinese schools and a proposed preventive intervention program. Zhao, X., Selman, R. L. & Haste, H. . Cogent Education. (2014)
- “No time for friendship”: Shanghai mothers’ views of adult and adolescent friendships. Zhao, X. & Gao, M.. Journal of Adolescent Research. (2014)
- Promoting democratic citizenship among rural women: A Chinese NGO’s two models. Zhao, X., & Haste, H. . Berkeley Review of Education. (2012)
In the News
- Newcomer Youth Social Integration in Canadian Schools. 770 CHQR Global News Radio . (2019)
- Young immigrants ‘friendly but not friends’ with other high school students, researchers say. The Star. (2019)
- Newcomers and Canadian high school students are friendly, but not friends.. UToday. (2019)
- Syndicated interviews on newcomer social intergration research with 9 stations across Canada. CBC Radio One . (2019)
- Are your dreams over if you fail that exam? Finding ways to overcome anxiety disorders in schoolkids. Explore UCalgary . (2018)
- Growing ties between U.S. and Asia are helping schools on both side of Pacific. The Washington Post . (2016)
- Report on the project of academic stress in Chinese schools. The Harvard Crimson. (2015)
- Daybreak Asia. Voice of America. (2014)
- Don’t go overboard praising China’s schools.. The Washington Post. (2014)
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