Dr. Irasema Salinas-González is an Associate Professor of Early Care/ Early Childhood Studies at The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). As a teacher of young children in preschool and kindergarten, a teacher of college students, and a teacher of in-service teachers, she has served in various capacities as a bilingual early childhood education professional for over 30 years. Her work on developmentally and culturally appropriate practices for emergent bilingual learners focuses on play-based learning within authentic spaces. She serves as Chair of the Early Head Start CCP Board/Advisory Council and is a former Advisory Board Member for Hidalgo County Head Start. She also coordinates the Early Care and Early Childhood Studies program at UTRGV. Dr. Salinas-González is married to Gilberto González. They reside in Mission, Texas, but travel often to visit their two adult children, Brianna and Gil.