Dr. Medina is an Associate Professor in the Department of Literacy, Culture and Language Education at Indiana University. Her research examines literacy/biliteracy as decolonial, social and critical practices, performative pedagogies, and Latinx children's literature. For the past 10 years she has returned to Puerto Rico engaging with children and teachers in critical literacy work as emerging decolonial knowledge production at the intersection of local and transnational social issues.

She is co-author with Dr. Karen Wohlwend of Literacy, Play and Globalization: Converging Imaginaries in Children's Critical and Cultural Performances (2014) and co-editor of the volume Methodologies of Embodiment: Reinscribing bodies in qualitative research (2015) with Dr. Mia Perry.

She has been recipient of the following awards:

• Indiana University Latino Faculty And Staff Council, (2018) Group Initiative Award, De Pueblo a Pueblo: Supporting Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Virgin Islands in the aftermath of natural disasters.
• Research Award (2013), with Dr. Gus Weltsek, from American Alliance for Theatre in Education.
• Virginia Hamilton Essay Award (2005) Sponsored by the Virginia Hamilton Conference on Multicultural Literature.

National Organization Honors:

• Board of Directors, Literacy Research Association, November, 2015-2018.
• Secretary, American Educational Research Association, Division G: Social Context of Education. April 2013-2016.
• Member, Elementary Section Steering Committee, National Council of Teachers of English, 2003 to 2007.