Wenyang Sun grew up in Qingdao, China, and came to the United States for graduate school more than ten years ago. After obtaining her doctoral degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she joined the Department of Education, Culture & Society at the U as an assistant professor. She and her partner are raising a two-year-old bilingual child.

Publications: HERE

• What is your position at the University of Utah?
  • Assistant Professor of multilingual education in the Department of Education, Culture and Society, College of Education
• I understand that you work with librarians Alfred Mowdood and Donna Ziegenfuss. Can you tell me a little bit about how Alfred and his staff have helped you?
  • Alfred and Donna have been so helpful in assisting me and my collaborators in conducting a systematic literature review project. They both showed us the search strategies and used very professional and effective methods for us to identify the right keywords and databases. We all appreciate their expertise in understanding our needs and providing help that is beyond our expectations.
• Were you surprised to learn that the library has some books in Chinese?
  • I was surprised. Alfred has shown me ways to locate these books. It is really nice to be able to find books in Chinese for me and my child to read. I want my daughter to keep her heritage language, so being able to find books in Chinese means a lot to us.
• Why is the Family Reading Room important to you and your family?
  • I started my job in 2020 in the middle of the pandemic. The Family Reading Room was one of the first spaces our family explored in the library. The Family Reading Room provides a large, safe and bright space for my toddler to read, explore and play. Knowing that her parents are in the same space, she feels safe exploring independently. My partner and I are therefore able to find some time to do our work, without needing to worry about her.
• What is your favorite thing about the Family Reading Room?
  • It has everything we need to work alongside a toddler, such as desks, chairs, computers, TV, books, a restroom with a diaper changing table, a child-size toilet, breastfeeding rooms and more. We are able to stay there for hours without needing to leave the room. It is also safe for children to explore so we do not need to worry about her safety. The vibe is welcoming, airy, bright and fun.
• What is your child’s favorite thing about the Family Reading Room?

• • She enjoys flipping through all the books. She loves to jump on the carpet with the large U.S. map and numbers. She often plays with the kitchen set and the blackboard with the alphabet. There are so many things that she enjoys and it’s hard to find a favorite!

• What is your favorite book to read with your child?
  • The Chinese version of The Color Monster: A Story about Emotions (我的情绪小怪兽)
• Are there any particular resources at the library that you use?
  • I use the interlibrary loan a lot. The librarian who processes my request is wonderful. I almost always get my requested article within a few hours. I really appreciate the anonymous hero who helps me.