Brenda Arellano

Partnership Director, Southwest English Learner Literacy (SWELL), New Mexico

Brenda Arellano, PhD, a principal researcher at the American Institutes for Research, serves as the partnership lead for the Southwest English Learner Literacy (SWELL) partnership. Dr. Arellano’s expertise focuses on English learner students, teacher preparation, and Native American supports. She led the former Regional Educational Laboratory Southwest English Learners partnership, working with the state education agency, school districts, and other stakeholders to improve outcomes for English learner students. She also served as co-principal investigator for two of the partnership’s studies: One study examined the English language development of American Indian English learner students, and the other examined characteristics and outcomes among schools and students receiving biliteracy seals. She has also published articles on Spanish-speaking English learners and teacher collaboration. Dr. Arellano holds a doctorate in education from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with an emphasis in educational leadership and organization focused on research methods. She is a certified What Works Clearinghouse reviewer. She is fluent in Spanish.