Alisha Interviewed by VoyageMinnesota

Dr. Alisha Wackerle-Hollman has built her career at the intersection of early childhood, equity, and community. Beginning as a preschool teacher and community mental health therapist, she witnessed firsthand the systemic barriers faced by bilingual and marginalized families. These experiences led her to pursue school psychology and join the IGDILab, where she develops equity-informed assessments for multilingual and diverse learners. Beyond research, she co-created Family Academy with the Northside Achievement Zone, supporting caregivers from pregnancy through high school. Today, she leads IGDILab, challenging traditional assessment practices and ensuring tools reflect children’s identities, strengths, and developmental contexts.