Marie LeJeune, PhD

Dr. Marie A. LeJeune serves as Associate Dean and Head of School for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Education. She holds a PhD in Literacy Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a cognate area in gender studies. Her research areas of interest include culturally sustaining literacy practices, mentoring, clinical practice and teacher induction, teaching reading and writing across the disciplines, and children’s and young adult literature. Prior to working in higher education, Marie was a middle/high school language arts teacher, a PK-12 reading specialist, and coordinated an AmeriCorps site for intensive reading tutoring for elementary and middle school children in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Education

• Doctorate of Philosophy: University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
  Curriculum and Instruction | Major: Literacy; Cognate: Gender Studies
• Masters in Teaching: Whitworth College
  Focus Area: Language Arts Education
• Bachelor of Arts: Gonzaga University.
  Major: English. Minors: Journalism & Religious Studies

Research & Publications

(see Curriculum Vitae for comprehensive list)

Publications in Progress/Review

• Giorgis, C. & LeJeune, M.  (Book, In progress). Expository Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, &  Informational Fiction: Potential and Possibilities.
• LeJeune, M.; Bowden, A.; Kidd, B. (under review, The Social Studies). Readers, Writers, Activists, and Advocates: Reframing Nonfiction Picturebooks in the Classroom via an Inquiry to Activism Continuum.

Publications

Peer Reviewed Journal Articles & Chapters

• LeJeune, M. & Giorgis, C. (Spring 2026, in press) A cinematic performance: Paratextual prologues in picture books. Journal of Children’s Literature.
• Dougherty, J., LeJeune, M., & Olsen, M. (2026). Using bilingual picture books to promote translanguaging and biliteracy. The ORacle Research Journal.
• LeJeune, M., Dougherty, J., & Olsen, M. (2022). Implementation and impact of an embedded clinical experience model for teacher induction. In: Collaborative Approaches to Recruiting, Preparing, and Retaining Teachers for the Field, Maria Peterson-Ahmad, Ed. IGI Global.
• LeJeune, M. (2022). Exploring International Literature with Young Readers: A Spotlight on 2022 Batchelder Award Titles. Oregon Journal of the Social Studies, 10(2), 85-88.