Born and raised in the Bay Area, California, Erica Caasi is a PhD candidate in the School of Education with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction in literacy and teacher learning research practice (TLRP). Her work focuses on bringing a critical embodiment approach and critical literacy lens to understanding the intersections of gender, race, sport, and children’s texts. She is working to develop alternative spaces for adolescent girls to have conversations around sport and sport culture. Erica also holds a BA in Psychology, MA in Teaching emphasis in elementary education, and has worked as an elementary school teacher in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade. Outside of academia, she is a competitive powerlifter having competed both locally and nationally.