My scholarship focuses on the relationship between individual choices, rights and interests in education, and how these intersect with the public goods of education, including equity, justice and democratic participation. My work connects philosophy to pressing questions in education policy, asking both conceptual (e.g., what is “the public” in public education?) and normative questions (e.g., what identities should be recognized in school choice?). I am currently working on three main areas of research: (1) philosophical questions about school choice, differentiation and justice, (2) organizational contexts of choice, (3) and broader tensions between individual rights and the public aims of education, including questions raised by refusing or “opting out” of public education. Across these strands, I aim to develop a better understanding of the distinctly public aims of education, and how policy might best further those aims.
keywords
Philosophy of education, educational policy and politics (school choice, desegregation efforts, family engagement, community organizing, parent and student rights), qualitative methods, foundations of educational research
EDUC 5014 - Ethical Dilemmas in Higher Education
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Summer 2018 / Summer 2020 / Summer 2022
Examines ethical issues involved in higher education and student affairs administration. Uses real and fictional ethical cases to bring to light various moral and ethical tensions relevant for higher education and student affairs professionals.
EDUC 5726 - Introduction to Disciplined Inquiry
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Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Fall 2020 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2023
Considers various research approaches and methodologies included in education including experimental and quasi-experimental methods; anthropological and case study methods; evaluative research and field studies; correlational; and sociological, historical, and philosophical research. Topics include library research, research criticism, research design, and proposal writing.
EDUC 6804 - Special Topics
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018
May be repeated up to 12 total credit hours.
EDUC 6945 - MA Capstone Seminar in Foundations of Education
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2019 / Spring 2022
Supports students completing a summative writing assignment for their Masters degree requirements. Writing assignments will be designed around the professional and academic goals of each student, in collaboration with the student's academic advisor. Students will analyze research studies across different disciplinary and methodological approaches. Through instructor coaching and peer review exercises, students will draft and refine a final assignment.
EDUC 7055 - Philosophy of Education
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2019 / Spring 2021
Examines exemplars of educational philosophy from ancient times to the present day, emphasizing their relevance and application to current controversies in education (e.g., free speech, multiculturalism, and affirmative action). Formerly EDUC 5055.
EDUC 7446 - Policy Issues in Education
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Spring 2020 / Spring 2023
Explores major policy issues confronting U.S. education and examines the nature and undertaking ofeducational policy studies. Learn to approach policy issues from a contextual perspective that highlights systemic forces and analyzes and applies differing policy instruments. While a wide variety of policies are covered in the course, it particularly emphasizes issues of educational equity.
EDUC 8055 - Theoretical Issues in Education Policy
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2021
Provides students with an examination of the theories behind education policy analysis. Takes a thematic approach to the study of policy in order to understand how policy agendas are set; how democratic deliberation should be linked with research and policy; and the relationship between politics, media, social structures, research and policies.
EDUC 8220 - Introduction to Educational Research and Policy
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2020 / Spring 2021
Introduces conceptual and empirical issues and controversies in educational research and policy. Complements other EDUC doctoral courses in quantitative and qualitative methodology.
