Mathematics and StatisticsThao Vo

Thao Vo

  1. Research Associate
Email Addressthao.vo@wsu.edu

Biography

Thao T. Vo, Ph.D., is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Mathematics and Statistics at Washington State University (WSU). Grounded in her lived experience as an English Language Learner, immigrant, and first-generation scholar- combined with her training as a critical research methodologist- Dr. Vo’s research agenda centers on developing and applying culturally responsive measurement approaches to empower students, families, and educators in their learning and liberation. Her work is driven by a commitment to transformative justice, centering the voices and lived experiences of those most impacted by inequitable assessment systems. This includes her current role in the Validation of the Equity and Access Rubrics for Mathematics Instruction (VEAR-MI) project, providing validity evidence for a measure designed to identify and facilitate classroom practices that actively disrupt marginalization and foster equitable participation in mathematics for elementary and middle-school youth.

Education

Dr. Vo received her quantitative research training through the WSU Learning and Performance Research Center, focusing on advanced statistical and psychometric techniques to examine measurement equity issues for historically and systematically excluded populations. This work spanned across youth risk instruments, neuropsychiatric measures, and large-scale summative assessments and survey data. She has previously served as the Center for Measurement Justice (CMJ) Critical Quantitative Research Methodologist Fellow and as a Research Scientist for the Women in Measurement, providing research support for nonprofit organizations seeking to advance equitable opportunities for marginalized voices.

Select Publications

  • Albano, T., French, B.F., & Vo, T.T. (in press). Traditional vs intersectional DIF analysis: Considerations and a comparison using state testing data. Applied Measurement in Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/08957347.2024.2311935
  • Suchy-Dicey, A., Vo, T. T., Oziel, K., King, R., Barbosa-Leiker, C., Rhoads, K., Verney, S., Buchwald, D., & French, B.F. (in press). Psychometric reliability, validity, and generalizability of 3MSE scores among American Indian adults: the Strong Heart Study. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society.
  • Van Orman, D. S. J., Jackson, J. A., Vo, T. T., & Taylor, D. D. (2024). Commentary: Perspectives of early career professionals on enhancing cultural responsiveness in educational measurement. Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice, Online-first. https://doi.org/10.1111/emip.12628
  • Vo, T.T., Dai, S., & French, B.F. (2024). Examining Black Girls’ mathematics and science dispositions using large-scale assessment and survey data: A QuantCrit framework. Methods in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metip.2024.100158 
  • Vo, T.T., Demir, C., French, B. F., Austin, B., & Strand, P. (2023). Latent profile similarity of middle and high school youth risk and needs. Journal of School Psychology, 99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2023.04.006