Julia Maria Aguirre

Julia Maria Aguirre is a Professor of Education and Faculty Director of teacher certification programs and the BA in Education at the University of Washington Tacoma. Her scholarship focuses on critical equity studies in mathematics education, teacher education, culturally responsive mathematics pedagogy, and mathematical modeling, and she has taught mathematics in both formal K–12 school settings and informal/out‑of‑school contexts. She earned a BA in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, an MA in Education from the University of Chicago, and a PhD in Education from the University of California, Berkeley.

Aguirre is co‑author of several influential books on equity‑focused mathematics education, including Cultivating Mathematical Hearts: Culturally Responsive Mathematics Teaching in Elementary Classrooms (with Maria del Rosario Zavala), The Impact of Identity in K‑12 Mathematics: Rethinking Equity‑Based Practices, Transforming Mathematics Teacher Education: An Equity‑Based Approach, and The Impact of Identity in K‑8 Mathematics: Rethinking Equity‑Based Practices. Her work aims to prepare new generations of teachers to make mathematics education accessible, meaningful, and relevant for diverse learners, with particular attention to social justice and culturally responsive practice.