Sen Wang
Research Assistant Professor
Dr. Sen Wang is a research assistant professor at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. She is a faculty affiliate of the Wheelock Institute for the Science of Education (WISE). Dr. Wang’s research explores how various types of language exposure, through books, multimedia, and social interaction, contribute to early language development. She also investigates content-integrated language learning, examining how integrating language and content learning in interventions optimizes academic language development. Additionally, she studies technology-assisted language learning, exploring how emerging technologies, including AI, can be leveraged to enhance language development. Her work emphasizes innovative, evidence-based strategies to support language development, particularly for marginalized and underserved students.
At WISE, Dr. Wang works for the National Center on Improving Literacy (NCIL), focusing on the dissemination of evidence-based practices for screening, identifying, and teaching students with literacy-related disabilities, including dyslexia. Her contributions include translating research into practical tools; developing toolkits with accessible resources for families, educators, and state education agencies; and overseeing internal review and quality assurance processes to ensure high-quality feedback and adherence to review protocols for product development. In addition, Dr. Wang designs instructional components for text reading and comprehension as part of an IES-funded project developing a Tier 3 reading intervention for early elementary students. She also actively engages in collaborative research projects exploring innovative applications of AI to enhance literacy learning.
Recent News
Education
PhD, Reading Education and Language Arts, Florida State University
MS, Reading Education and Language Arts, Florida State University
MS, Philosophy, Chengdu University of Technology and Science, China
BA, Child, Youth, and Family Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
AA, English Translation, Sichuan International Studies University, China
Selected Publications
Wang, S., Cabell, S. Q, Hadley, E. B., Pentimonti, J., & Leushuis, A. (2025). The frequency of informational text read-alouds in kindergarten and its association with students’ vocabulary and knowledge development. Early Childhood Education Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-025-01885-z
Fundelius, E., Wade, T., Robbins, A., Wang, S., McConomy, M. A., & Fumero, K. (2022). Universal design principles for multimodal representation in literacy activities for preschoolers. Inclusive Practices, 0(0).
Hwang, H., Lupo, S. M., Cabell, S. Q., & Wang, S. (2020). What research says about leveraging the literacy block for learning. Reading in Virginia, 35.
Selected Presentations
Wang, S., Cabell, S. Q., Wong, K. M., DeCoster, J., & Vasile, R. (2025, May). What children are watching at home and its relation to their language skills [Poster presentation]. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Conference 2025. Minneapolis, MN.
Wang, S., Cabell, S. Q., Schatschneider, C., Phillips, B. M., & DeCoster, J. (2025, May). Exploring the impact of shared book reading and video viewing on preschoolers’ vocabulary and knowledge in informational text [Poster presentation]. Biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Conference 2025. Minneapolis, MN.