In 2001, Lillian Vega-Castaneda joined the faculty at California State University Channel Islands as Professor of Elementary Education. Previous to her tenure at CSUCI she served on the faculty of California State University San Marcos where she was Professor of Multicultural/Multilingual Education (1992 – 2001). During her tenure at CSUSM she coordinated the (Bilingual) Cross-cultural Language and Academic Development Program. Dr. Vega-Castaneda led the development of the BCLAD credential and MA program in multicultural/ multilingual education at the CSU San Marcos campus.
Currently, she teaches in the areas of multicultural/multilingual education, media literacy and Chicano studies. She teaches undergraduate, pre-credential and graduate students. During the early years of CSUCI, Dr. Vega Castaneda developed the state approved elementary education teacher preparation program with an emphasis in Cross-cultural, Language and Academic Development (CLAD). She has also developed several iterations of the bilingual emphasis, including the Bilingual, Cross-cultural and Academic Development (BCLAD) and Bilingual Authorization programs. She served on the Statewide Academic Senate from 2002 – 2008 and was a member of the Teacher Education and K – 12 Relations Committee. From 2005 – 2009 she served on the board of the California Faculty Association and was also a member of the California Teachers Association general assembly.
Dr. Vega-Castaneda has conducted research in language and literacy in mainstream and multilingual contexts, community based education, and learning in English only contexts for English Learners. Previous scholarship also includes narratives in teacher education with ethnic minority and mainstream pre-service and in-service teachers.
Current scholarship focuses on issues of diversity and the use of social and other electronic media in teaching and learning contexts.
A lifelong commitment to social justice issues and equity and access to learning for all students underscores her teaching, scholarship and service.
