Ambika Gopal Raj is a Professor of Language Arts and Literature in the Division of Curriculum & Instruction at California State University, Los Angeles. She received her Ph.D. in Education from Ohio State University in 2001 specializing in culturally relevant pedagogy and educational drama. Specifically, her research interests include cultural-historical identities and how these are shaped by storying our critical and performative selves. Currently, Dr. Raj serves as an adviser at the graduate and doctoral levels in various programs such as Creative Literacies, Early Childhood Education, Curriculum, and Instruction. She has taught at all levels, from Pre-K through doctoral-level courses, always incorporating concepts of story, creativity, and educational drama to enhance learning and enrich the classroom experience. She is the author of two books – Multicultural Children’s Literature: A Critical Issues Approach (2010) SAGE (published under her previous last name 'Gopalakrishnan') and The Storying Teacher: Processes and Benefits for the Classroom and Beyond (2019). Additionally, she is working on a book (under contract with Palgrave-Macmillan) on Storying as Pedagogy, forthcoming 2022.