Faculty

Our faculty are drawn not only from the ranks of SESP – but also from other prestigious schools and departments at Northwestern. The faculty's commitment to both teaching and working as higher education practitioners enables them to present theories alongside relevant case studies. This enlivens lectures, deepens discussions, and adds significance and context to what students learn in the classroom. Faculty and students form an intellectual and professional community that examines the meaning and implications of contemporary higher education and that integrates inquiry and theory with practice. Learn more by viewing our faculty profiles below.

Eugene Lowe, teaching associate and assistant to the president, leads a History and Philosophy of Higher Education class using state-of-the-art technology.

Lois Trautvetter, assistant professor and associate director of higher education administration and policy, draws out students’ passion for their research interests and leads them through the research course sequence.

Jake Julia, associate vice president and associate provost of academic initiatives, makes budget and finance come alive with real-world cases and relevant assignments.

Faculty "Walk the Talk"
"One aspect that I find particularly instructive is that most of the courses are taught by current or former higher education administrators. Their real-world examples and experience instigate enlightening, interactive discussions."
~Nancy Dunham (MS05)

Faculty Love Their Work
“I find significant fulfillment in teaching students as bright and enthusiastic as those in this program. They are engaged and intelligent, and challenge me every class to help them best learn about budgeting and finance in higher education. I leave each class session exhilarated.”
~John Julia, Teaching Associate and Associate Vice President, Change Management, Northwestern University

"I like the Northwestern program’s 'liberal arts' approach, which prepares [students] for reflective leadership in whatever career paths they pursue."
~Grier Davis, Teaching Associate and former Director of Government Relations, Northwestern University

"I really enjoy teaching in the Higher Education program at Northwestern. The students are top-notch, and our class discussions wonderful."
~Stephanie Graham, Teaching Associate and General Counsel, Northwestern University

"I enjoy being a part of the research sequence here at Northwestern University. The thrill of seeing students develop and refine their research questions, collect existing and new data, and interpret and integrate this knowledge into a final master's project is very rewarding for both the students and me!"
~Lois Trautvetter, Associate Director of Higher Education Administration and Policy Program and Assistant Professor, School of Education and Social Policy

Faculty Profiles

Banis, William

Vice President for Student Affairs , Northwestern University

Instructor, MSED 451 "Strategic Management in Student Affairs"

B.S. Vocational Rehabilitation and Business , Penn State University , 1969
M.A. Communication, Counseling and Higher Education Administration , Penn State University , 1974
Ph.D. Public Adminstration/Management with Cognate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology , Old Dominion University , 1993

Davis, Grier

Instructor, MSED 468 "Higher Education Policy"

BA, English , Davidson College , 1958
PhD, Classics , University of North Carolina , 1966
MS, Counseling Psychology , Northwestern University , 1995

Desler, Mary

Former Associate VP of Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Northwestern University

Instructor, MSED 462 "The College Student"

Graham, Stephanie

Teaching Associate

Haroutunian-Gordon, Sophie

Professor , Education and Social Policy

Director , Master of Science in Education

BA, Music, Religion/Philosophy , Cornell College , 1965
MA, Curriculum and Instruction , University of Wisconsin-Madison , 1966
PhD, Philosophy of Education , University of Chicago , 1976

Hayford, Elizabeth

Former President of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest

Instructor, MSED 484 "Higher Education Seminar"

Instructor, MSED 451 "Organization, Governance & Leadership in Higher Ed"

Julia, Jake

Instructor, MSED 466 "Budgeting & Finance in Higher Ed"

Associate Vice President , Change Management, Northwestern University

BA, History , Plymouth State University , 1981
MA, Higher Education Administration , University of Michigan , 1993
PhD, Higher Education Administration , University of Michigan , 1996

Light, Gregory

Associate Professor

Director , Searle Center for Teaching Excellence

BA, Philosophy and English , University of Toronto , 1974
BA Specialist Degree, Philosophy , University of Toronto , 1975
PhD, Education , University of London, UK , 1995

Lowe, Eugene

Senior Lecturer , Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

Instructor, MSED 460 "Proseminar in Higher Ed"

Instructor, MSED 467 "History & Philosophy of Higher Ed"

BA, Religion , Princeton University , 1971
Master of Divinity , Union Theological Seminary , 1978
PhD , Union Theological Seminary , 1987

Mandara, Jelani

Associate Professor, Human Development and Social Policy

BS, Psychology , California State University, Long Beach , 1997
PhD, Social/Personality Psychology , University of California, Riverside , 2002

Melton, Bruce

Instructor, MSED 465 "Law & Ethics in Higher Ed"

BPhil, Politics, Philosophy, and Economics , Cornell College , 1982
JD , University of Chicago Law School , 1986

Trautvetter, Lois

Assistant Professor, Education

Associate Director , Higher Education Administration and Policy Program

BA, Chemistry , College of Wooster , 1982
MS, Polymer Chemistry , Carnegie Mellon University , 1986
PhD, Higher Education Administration , University of Michigan , 1991