Bita Razavi-Maleki is a doctoral student in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy at The University of Texas at Austin. She received her B.A. in Middle Eastern studies at UT Austin and her M.A. in cultural anthropology at Texas State University. Her professional practice has been in the field of vocational rehabilitation and workforce advancement. She has worked at different non-profit organizations in case management and leadership roles. Working on issues of social justice and the intersection of nationality, culture, language, and education has shaped her research interests. Her previous academic, professional, and personal experience led her to pursue a career in which she can have a voice in shaping policies that affect the education of English learners and immigrant student populations and their access to postsecondary education.