Four professors are joining the University of Houston College of Education faculty in fall 2026, bringing expertise in literacy, social studies and science education as well as public health.
“I was drawn to UH because of its strong commitment to interdisciplinary research, especially in literacy, special education and community-engaged partnerships,” said Assistant Professor Albert W. Li.
The professors’ paths to UH include cross-country moves, international roots and, for one, a homecoming.
“To me, the University of Houston is about diversity, inclusiveness and an environment that fosters collaboration, innovation and growth,” said Assistant Professor Monalisa Chandra, who earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UH. “My foundation in research and teaching was laid at this university. ... Now I am back 'home,' and it’s time to pay it forward through scholarship and student development.”
For Yuxi Huang, an assistant professor of science education, Houston offers a strong setting for research rooted in real classrooms. “The chance to study and collaborate with Houston’s broader educator community feels like the right fit at the right time,” she said.
Dawn Brimhall, a clinical assistant professor of social studies education, said UH’s teacher preparation work and school partnerships stood out to her. “I am especially interested in supporting future teachers as they learn to design engaging, inquiry-based learning experiences that foster civic understanding and critical thinking.”
Learn more about the faculty members’ interests and the projects that excite them most in the following Q&A.
Albert W. Li 
Assistant Professor of Literacy Education
Department of Curriculum & Instruction
Education: B.A., English and education, Northeast Normal University; M.A., literacy education, University of British Columbia; Ph.D., special education, University of California, Irvine
Most recent job: Ph.D. candidate at University of California, Irvine
What drew you to UH?
I was drawn to UH because of its strong commitment to interdisciplinary research,
especially in literacy, special education and community-engaged partnerships. I was
also excited by the opportunity to work with colleagues and students who care deeply
about improving educational opportunities for diverse learners.
Can you share a little about your background?
I grew up in Beijing, China. I am also a first-generation college student, and my
academic training took place on the West Coast of North America. For as long as I
can remember, I have wanted to be a teacher. I love being around children and young
people; their energy, curiosity and joy make me feel forever young. That early passion
for teaching has continued to shape my work as both a researcher and an educator.
What are your research and/or teaching interests? And what inspired your interest?
I focus on advancing research in special education, with particular emphasis on writing
development among struggling adolescents, including students with writing disabilities,
emotional/behavioral disorders and limited English proficiency. My experiences as
a high school English and special education teacher, as well as an elementary English
tutor, helped me understand the challenges students face when learning to write. I
believe working in special education is one of the most rewarding paths one can take.
It is not always easy, and it can be emotionally demanding, but it is also deeply
meaningful and intellectually stimulating. As a teacher or researcher, you are constantly
observing students’ progress, reflecting on your own practice and adapting your support
to meet students’ needs.
What’s one project you’re working on (or hope to work on this year) that has you excited?
I am excited to scale up the intervention program, Perspectives, which I developed
as part of my dissertation research. Perspectives is designed to provide writing support
for adolescent students with comorbid writing disabilities and internalizing behaviors.
What advice would you give yourself as a college student?
Devote yourself to work that is personally meaningful. Try to make a difference in
the lives of others. Be aware of inequalities and work to challenge them. Keep learning
from the people around you.
If I weren’t a professor, I’d…
teach children reading and writing on the beach, with the sound of the waves nearby.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I love traveling, trying new Asian restaurants and watching Korean dramas.
Dawn R. Brimhall
Clinical Assistant Professor of Social Studies Education
Department of Curriculum & Instruction
Education: B.A., history teaching, Brigham Young University; M.Ed., counselor education, University of St. Thomas; Ed.D., curriculum and instruction, University of Virginia
Most recent job: Instructional specialist in Aldine ISD
What drew you to UH?
The University of Houston’s reputation for excellence in teacher preparation and its
deep connections with local schools make it an exciting place to contribute as a social
studies educator. I am especially interested in supporting future teachers as they
learn to design engaging, inquiry-based learning experiences that foster civic understanding
and critical thinking.
Can you share a little about your background?
I was born and raised in Utah, where my love of history and education first took root.
I began my career teaching social studies in Salt Lake City before moving to Houston,
where I have worked as both a classroom teacher and an instructional specialist. Much
of who I am as an educator stems from the values instilled by my parents. They encouraged
my siblings and me to be curious, ask questions and pursue our passions. As a result,
we each followed different paths: one sibling became an attorney, another a genealogist
and I found my calling in education.
What are your research and/or teaching interests? And what inspired your interest?
My recent research focuses on expanding opportunities for student success in social
studies education, particularly through efforts to close achievement gaps and increase
access to meaningful learning experiences. My work has explored social studies summer
school programs, enrichment models and instructional approaches such as Universal
Design for Learning and differentiation. I am especially interested in how social
studies can not only foster civic understanding but also support literacy, critical
thinking and learning across disciplines.
What’s one project you’re working on (or hope to work on this year) that has you excited?
I have recently been working with my mother on final edits to an article for the Utah
Historical Quarterly about an influential codebreaker during World War II and the
Cold War. I value opportunities to continue sharpening my historical research and
thinking skills outside of the classroom, and this project has been especially rewarding
because it combines that passion with the chance to collaborate with my mom on something
we both enjoy.
What advice would you give yourself as a college student?
Step outside your comfort zone and embrace new experiences. Take classes simply because
they interest you, explore new hobbies and be willing to dive in wholeheartedly. Some
of the most rewarding opportunities come from saying yes to something unfamiliar.
If I weren’t a professor, I’d…
do something that involves exploring the outdoors, photography and history.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Traveling, hiking, baking and reading
Yuxi Huang 
Assistant Professor of Science Education
Department of Curriculum & Instruction
Education: B.S., physics, East China Normal University; Ph.D., science education, University of Georgia
Most recent job: Postdoctoral scholar at University of California, Irvine
What drew you to UH?
Houston is home to one of the largest and most complex public school systems in the
country, making it a compelling setting for research on how science teaching unfolds
in real classrooms. My work examines what teachers notice and how those instructional
choices shape what happens in science learning spaces. The chance to study and collaborate
with Houston’s broader educator community feels like the right fit at the right time.
Can you share a little about your background?
I grew up in China. My mother is a teacher who has influenced nearly every turn in
my career, often without either of us realizing it. Watching her show up for her students
day after day instilled in me a deep belief that teaching is fundamentally about more
than content and also a deeply human practice of attention and care. That belief followed
me all the way to my Ph.D.
What are your research and/or teaching interests? And what inspired your interest?
My research investigates preservice and in-service science teachers’ noticing and
how power dynamics interact to shape teaching practices in science learning spaces.
What’s one project you’re working on (or hope to work on this year) that has you excited?
This year, I am most energized by new work I hope to launch at UH around teacher noticing
and co-design — projects that would bring researchers, teachers and Houston’s local
communities to the table together.
What advice would you give yourself as a college student?
College is the perfect time to discover what genuinely interests you both in life
and in academia. You may have more interests than you realize, and this is exactly
the time to find them.
If I weren’t a professor, I’d…
be a historian specializing in East Asian history. There’s something about tracing
how the past quietly shapes the present that I find irresistible. It also draws me
to see historical figures as fully human, and to feel how the same emotions, fears
and desires move through vastly different times and spaces.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I enjoy visiting independent cinemas and watching films.
Any other fun facts you’d like to share?
I took up Kendo in 2024 and look forward to continuing that journey in Houston. I’ve
heard there are some wonderful dojos in the city!
Monalisa Chandra
Assistant Professor of Health
Department of Psychological, Health & Learning Sciences
Education: B.S., sociology and economics, University of Houston; M.A., sociology, University of Houston; Ph.D., behavioral sciences, The University of Texas School of Public Health
Most recent job: Postdoctoral fellow in epidemiology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
What drew you to UH?
To me, the University of Houston is about diversity, inclusiveness and an environment
that fosters collaboration, innovation and growth — virtues that I seek in my work
environment. My foundation in research and teaching was laid at this university, so,
in a way, I was raised by the University of Houston. Now I am back “home,” and it’s
time to pay it forward through scholarship and student development.
Can you share a little about your background?
I am a first-generation immigrant in the U.S., born and raised in Kolkata, India.
Although I grew up in a family of engineers, my intellectual quest was more about
understanding the science of the human condition than of machines, steel beams and
turbines. However, I did not realize that academia could be my future until I began
my tertiary education at the University of Houston. I had great mentors here who sowed
the seed of my love for research and teaching. I discovered my passion for public
health during my master’s program, and the years that followed were devoted to building
an academic career in public health research.
What are your research and/or teaching interests? And what inspired your interest?
My research interests are reproductive cancer health disparities, focusing on HPV
infections and menopause. My research emphasizes understanding the interplay of psychosocial
and environmental risks associated with reproductive cancers and addressing them through
evidence-based, tailored interventions.
What’s one project you’re working on (or hope to work on this year) that has you excited?
My current project includes promoting physical activity, using a peer-supported toolkit,
among perimenopausal and postmenopausal women from areas experiencing persistent poverty.
What advice would you give yourself as a college student?
If you want to work in population health, connect with people and listen to the community
voice. Solutions are embedded in their stories.
If I weren’t a professor, I’d…
be a globe-trotter. Travel, connect and learn.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Apart from my profession, I love traveling with historical, cultural or scientific
curiosity, adventure sports, music and dance. I have been trying my hand at gardening
lately. I am a foodie and love to cook.
Any other fun facts you’d like to share?
I love classic detective stories.