Dr. April Baker Bell

Associate Professor

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Biography

April Baker-Bell is an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan's Marsal Family School of Education. Her research focuses on the intersections of Black language, literacies, and antiracist pedagogies. She has a background as a high school English teacher and has contributed significantly to discussions around Black Language education. Baker-Bell is the author of the award-winning book 'Linguistic Justice: Black Language, Literacy, Identity, Pedagogy,' which addresses the challenges of anti-Black linguistic racism and promotes antiracist educational practices. Her latest research project, supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, seeks to develop antiracist medical curriculum interventions to confront racial bias in healthcare contexts. Throughout her academic career, Baker-Bell has received numerous accolades for her contributions to education and social justice, including the 2023 Michigan Council of Teachers of English’s Charles Carpenter Fries Award and the 2021 Coalition for Community Writing Outstanding Book Award.

Research Interests

Experience

Associate Professor

2021-08-01 — Present

University of Michigan • Ann Arbor, MI

Teaching and researching Black language education and antiracist pedagogies.

Associate Professor

2015-08-01 — 2021-08-01

Michigan State University • East Lansing, MI

Engaged in teaching and research focused on language and literacy education.

Awards

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Charles Carpenter Fries Award

2023-01-01
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Outstanding Book Award

2021-01-01
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New Directions Fellowship

2021-01-01
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Community Engagement Scholarship Award

2021-01-01
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Distinguished Partnership Award

2021-01-01
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George Orwell Award

2020-01-01
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Theory and Practice Article of the Year Award

2020-01-01
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Alumni Award for Innovation & Leadership

2019-01-01
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Early Career Scholar Award

2018-01-01

Requirements for University of Michigan

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
TOEFL
Total
Required:84
GRE General
Verbal
Required:155
Verbal Percentile
Required:50
Quantitative
Required:168
Quantitative Percentile
Required:50
Analytical Writing
Required:3.6
Writing Percentile
Required:50
Prerequisites
Bachelor degree in engineering, physics, or mathematics Calculus Physics
Application Checklist
  • Rackham Graduate School Application
  • Official Transcripts
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation
  • Academic Statement of Purpose
  • Personal Statement
  • CV/Resume
Specialization Notes

Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science