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2020 News

SESP faculty group shot

SESP in the Media: December 2020

December 27, 2020

An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.

Steve Boland

As Told To: Bank of America's D. Steve Boland

December 18, 2020

D. Steve Boland, president of retail at Bank of America, talks about his life and career path with SESP undergraduates during professor Regina Logan's class, The Life Story Interview.

Facts and Myths

Spikes Helps Craft Adult Media Literacy Guide

December 18, 2020

Learning Sciences doctoral student Michael Spikes served as a national advisor for the American Library Association’s new initiative to help library staffers respond to misinformation and other media literacy issues.

Ryan Smerek and Michelle Albaugh

ELOC Program Receives Prestigious Accreditation

December 9, 2020

Northwestern University’s Executive Learning & Organizational Change (ELOC) program has been accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), the top certifying body in the continuing education industry.

SESP faculty group shot

SESP in the Media: November 2020

November 30, 2020

An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.

Purvi Shah

Alumna Purvi Shah: Using Law to Create Social Change

November 23, 2020

Purvi Shah (BS02), who majored in social policy and political science at Northwestern, founded the Movement Law Lab to seed a new generation of lawyers who can tackle some of America's toughest justice challenges

Tim Dohrer

Envisioning Education With Tim Dohrer

November 18, 2020

Remote teaching will become a standard tool for educators –a bittersweet end to beloved “Snow Days,” Northwestern University’s Tim Dohrer said during a Northwestern Intersections podcast.

Sara Goldrick-Rab

Loeschner Lecturer Addresses a Growing Crisis: Hunger on College Campuses

November 18, 2020

Temple University professor Sara Goldrick-Rab, whose research inspired the documentary film “Hungry to Learn,” urged universities to collect data on hunger and food insecurity among their students in the latest installment of the School of Education and Social Policy's Nancy and Ray Loeschner Leadership Series at Northwestern University.

Amber Luczak

Alumna Wins Knowles Fellowship

November 5, 2020

School of Education and Social Policy alumna Amber Luczak (MS20), a chemistry and physics teacher at Marshall Metro High School in Chicago, has received a five-year fellowship from the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation.

Jacquelyn Stephens and Emily Hittner

New Research: Being Upbeat Predicts Less Memory Decline

November 3, 2020

Being positive predicts less decline in memory during the aging process, according to a new study co-authored by researchers in the Life-Span Development Laboratory, including Claudia Haase, Emily Hittner, and Jacquelyn Stephens.

Professor Emma Adam

Loneliness and Uncertainty Major Stressors for College Students

November 1, 2020

Stress from COVID-19 — along with stress related to health care, the economy, racism and the presidential election — is seriously threatening the mental health of our country, particularly our youngest generation, according to a new national survey from the American Psychological Association (APA).

SESP faculty group shot

SESP in the Media: September 2020

October 29, 2020

An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.

SESP faculty group shot

SESP in the Media: October 2020

October 29, 2020

An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.

Claudia Haase

From East Germany to Evanston: Haase Promoted to Associate Professor

October 26, 2020

Claudia Haase, a developmental psychologist who studies pathways to happy and healthy development across the life span, was promoted to associate professor of human development and social policy in the School of Education and Social Policy beginning Sept. 1, 2020.

Haoqui Zhang and Eleanor O’Rourke

O'Rourke Develops Cyberlearning Technology

October 22, 2020

Northwestern University professors Eleanor O’Rourke and Haoqi Zhang have received a $750,000 National Science Foundation Cyberlearning grant to help beginning computer science students develop better learning strategies and diversify the field.

Richard Agin

Alumnus Honored as Top High School Math Teacher in Nation

October 21, 2020

Alumnus Richard Agin (JD88, MS09) was one of 20 teachers in the nation–and the only one in Illinois–selected for a national education prize from the Mathematical Association of America American Mathematics Competitions (MAA AMC).

stairwell

SESP Hosts 2020 Alumni Networking Event

October 16, 2020

After graduation, sit down with a piece of paper for 10 minutes and write down what you did for those four years, School of Education and Social Policy alumna Tabitha Bentley (BS10) said during a virtual networking event with undergraduate students.

Students present their work

Learning Sciences PhD Program Expands to 43

October 15, 2020

After nearly two decades teaching literacy and working for equity in Chicago Public Schools, Leslie Russell wanted new tools for change. She’s now pursuing a doctorate in learning sciences at Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy because “schools shouldn’t be places that recreate the inequities that are so common in the rest of society,” she says.

Students holding "I voted" signs

Understanding the Election: A Big Ten Collaboration

October 2, 2020

Election scholars from across the nation will discuss student voter registration, polling in key states and potential outcomes of the 2020 U.S. Presidential election during a special event open to all Big Ten students and guests.

Cynthia Coburn listening

Coburn Wins Ver Steeg Research Fellowship

September 24, 2020

Education sociologist Cynthia Coburn received Northwestern University’s Dorothy Ann and Clarence L. Ver Steeg Distinguished Research Fellow award for her work improving relationships between education researchers and schools.

Jasmine Tucker and Diane Nash

Jasmine Tucker Wins Campus Partner Award

September 21, 2020

School of Education and Social Policy staff member Jasmine Tucker was named an Outstanding Campus Partner from Northwestern’s annual Student Affairs Awards for supporting colleagues, uplifting students, and facilitating important conversations around social justice.

Jan Schmidt and students

Longtime Practicum Supervisor Retires

September 17, 2020

The thank you cards came pouring in after Jan Schmidt announced her retirement from the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. As one of SESP’s longest and most beloved practicum supervisors, Schmidt served a mentor, leader, teacher, and friend to dozens of Northwestern University students.

Professor David Rapp and students

Meet David Rapp: Director of Undergraduate Education

September 2, 2020

Northwestern University’s David Rapp, who researches language, memory, and why we’re so susceptible to misinformation, is the new director of undergraduate education at the School of Education and Social Policy, Dean David Figlio announced.

SESP faculty group shot

SESP in the Media: August 2020

August 25, 2020

An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community

We Deserve Futures sign at protest

Why STEM Education Shouldn’t Return to ‘Normal’

August 25, 2020

Young people would be better served by STEM education that teaches them to deal with the moral and ethical complexity of problems like pandemics and climate change, University of Illinois-Chicago and Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy education researchers argued in Truthout.

Lauren Levites

These Teachers Added Computational Thinking to Their Classes

August 25, 2020

Sue Juhl is a longtime Chicago Public Schools special education and biology teacher with a self-described “unhealthy fear of computers and any kind of programming.” But after working with Northwestern University’s Computational Thinking in STEM Summer Institute for just four weeks, Juhl unveiled a timely and relevant new curriculum that combines computer models, data, and algorithms with social emotional learning to help students recognize and mitigate the risk of COVID-19.

McAdams book cover with drawing of Trump

SESP Psychologist Explains Trump’s Survival Strategy

August 20, 2020

Donald Trump moves through life as “the episodic man,” viewing each day as a “temporary moment of time,” SESP psychologist Dan McAdams wrote in an opinion piece published in the Los Angeles Times.

Nichole Pinkard

Pinkard's New Grant Helps Create STEAMbassadors

August 13, 2020

Northwestern University professor Nichole Pinkard (PhD98) received a CME Group Foundation grant to launch an ambitious STEAM mentor training program for young adults from underrepresented communities.

Kirabo Jackson

Kirabo Jackson Honored with Public Policy Prize

August 6, 2020

SESP's Kirabo (“Bo”) Jackson has been honored with the David N. Kershaw Award by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management for his path-breaking work on school finance reform and teacher effectiveness.

Mesmin Destin

Inequality and the ‘American Dream’

August 5, 2020

SESP's Kirabo (“Bo”) Jackson has been honored with the David N. Kershaw Award by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management for his path-breaking work on school finance reform and teacher effectiveness.

Cynthia Coburn

Coburn Named to William T. Grant Selection Committee

August 1, 2020

Cynthia Coburn was named to the William T. Grant Scholars Selection Committee, a dedicated group of academics who help younger colleagues with career development, mentoring, and pursuing new research challenges.

SESP faculty group shot

SESP in the Media: July 2020

July 31, 2020

An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.

Sepehr Vakil

Vakil's Award Supports Ethics in Computing Course

July 27, 2020

SESP's Sepehr Vakil and Sarah Van Wart of the McCormick School of Engineering are developing a new ethics in computing class for undergraduate computer science majors with support from a Curriculum Innovation award from The Alumnae of Northwestern University.

Julia Lowenthal

Summer Grant Winners Announced

July 16, 2020

Three undergraduates received grants from The Alumnae of Northwestern University to complete 2020 summer internships, an especially noteworthy experience in the midst of a global pandemic.

Yajaira Gallegos

Alumnae Help Open Doors

July 16, 2020

The summer before her junior year, Yajaira Gallegos (BS19) taught kindergartners in Athens, Greece, about Mexican traditions and culture as part of the country’s nationwide effort to prevent xenophobia in young children.

Reena Burt

SESP Students Named Fulbright Finalists

July 14, 2020

Seven undergraduates, including Reena Burt, Elizabeth Cornman, Halimeda Cronin, Ayana Davis, Lillian Guo, Hayley Krolik, and Arzu Singh, were selected for Fulbright Student awards, which support a year of study or research, or projects in the creative or performing arts, or teaching in more than 155 countries worldwide.

Nichole Pinkard, Shirin Vossoughi, Emma Adam

SESP Leads During a Time of Crisis

July 7, 2020

Three School of Education and Social Policy faculty members discussed the innovative ways they’ve adapted their work to address the multiple crises facing society during a recent webinar organized by Northwestern’s office of Alumni Relations and Development.

Book cover

'Provocative’ Book Calls for Feminist Schools

July 3, 2020

How Girls Achieve by Northwestern University’s Sally Nuamah “provides an original lens on gendered educational inequalities and ways of dismantling them,” Rachel Marcus wrote in the journal Gender & Development.

SESP faculty group shot

SESP in the Media: June 2020

June 30, 2020

An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.

Sally Nuamah and Shirin Vossoughi

A Chance to Reimagine America's Schools

June 30, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised urgent questions not only about access to schooling, but also about education’s deeper purposes, challenges and possibilities, School of Education and Social Policy faculty members Sally Nuamah and Shirin Vossoughi said during a recent Northwestern Buffett Institute for Global Affairs webinar.

Sarah Crawford

Graduate Students Honored with Awards, Fellowships

June 26, 2020

Northwestern University alumna Sarah Crawford (MS20), who introduced mindfulness into her eighth-grade Chicago Public Schools’ classroom, received the graduate Alumni Leadership Award for her efforts prioritizing the social and emotional needs of children.

Antoinette White and Susan Olson

SESP Convocation 2020: A Time to Repair and Reimagine

June 23, 2020

There’s no going back to the world we once knew – and therein lies “enormous opportunity to make the world a better place,” SESP convocation speaker Sybil Madison told the Class of 2020 during the first virtual convocation celebration in Northwestern University history.

emily hittner with arms raised

I’m a Doctor! New PhDs Receive Their Charge

June 23, 2020

There’s no going back to the world we once knew – and therein lies “enormous opportunity to make the world a better place,” SESP convocation speaker Sybil Madison told the Class of 2020 during the first virtual convocation celebration in Northwestern University history.

Ayana Davis

SESP Seniors Receive Fulbright Awards, Ryan Prize and More

June 22, 2020

School of Education and Social Policy seniors were recognized by the Northwestern University Division of Student Affairs with a wide range of fellowships and awards, including a School-record seven Fulbright finalist designations.

Sepehr event

Student Films Explore Race, Power, and Technology

June 16, 2020

Three timely documentary films examining the impact of new policing and surveillance technologies on communities in Chicago and Evanston will premiere online in a special event organized by Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) and the Block Museum of Art.

Michael Spikes

Spikes Receives Fellowship to Study News Literacy

June 16, 2020

Learning sciences doctoral student Michael Spikes received a Northwestern University Cognitive Science Advanced Fellowship to study and help others learn how to determine the credibility of a news story.

Julissa Muñiz and Cora Wigger

Rising Scholars Receive NAEd/Spencer Fellowships and Awards

June 14, 2020

Five early career researchers – including doctoral students Julissa Muñiz and Cora Wigger – were among the winners of the prestigious 2020 National Academy of Education (NAEd)/Spencer Postdoctoral and Dissertation Fellowships Awards.

David Rapp and Michael Spikes

News Literacy in an Era of Fake News

June 14, 2020

People are influenced by inaccurate information even when they know better -- and even when they’re warned, professor David Rapp said during a recent webinar on news media literacy.

book covers

Where Do I Begin? Alumna Creates Daily Reading Plan

June 9, 2020

Outraged by the murder of George Floyd and the systems that devastate black, indigenous, and communities of color, alumna Amy Sanchez (BS15) curated a 28-day reading plan that includes accessible news stories, podcasts, and videos on institutional racism, white supremacy, policing, protesting and more.

David Harris

Do You Know What It’s Like?

June 9, 2020

SESP alumnus David Harris (BS91), gives his perspective as a college president and a black man on the events of recent weeks in Minnesota, Central Park and elsewhere in Inside Higher Ed.

Nichole Pinkard

A Path to Greater Equity in Education

June 4, 2020

Northwestern University is celebrating the launch of a revolutionary new initiative by the City of Chicago to connect youth to hundreds of activities in a digital space where they can interact with the friends and mentors.

Sally Nuamah

How Closing Schools Impacts Democracy

June 4, 2020

Chicago closed a record-high 50 public schools in 2013. But more will likely be permanently shuttered in the wake of a COVID-19 pandemic-related budget crisis, Northwestern University political scientist Sally Nuamah predicted in an interview with Citylab.

SESP faculty group shot

SESP: A Catalyst During Crisis

June 3, 2020

When SESP Dean and economist David Figlio created the syllabus for his popular undergraduate class, he had no idea he’d be teaching it during the worst economic crisis of anyone’s lifetime.

SESP faculty group shot

SESP in the Media: May 2020

May 31, 2020

An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.

pregnant woman holding belly

Why Pregnant Women Can Be 'Cautiously Optimistic'

May 29, 2020

Pregnant women and their children should fare much better during the COVID-19 pandemic than their counterparts who experienced the 1918 Spanish Influenza, a Northwestern University report suggests.

person packing food box

COVID Impacts Leave More Families Hungry

May 21, 2020

The amount of economic distress families are facing requires “an urgent and sustained response from the federal government,” according to a new analysis of food insecurity by Northwestern University professor and economist Diane Schanzenbach and research analyst Abigail Pitts.

Joseph Brysiewicz

Senior Pays Tribute to Extraordinary Educator

May 10, 2020

Senior Jack Benjamin calls his high school teacher Joseph Brysiewicz a “personal hero.” Drawn to his lively and fast-paced European history lectures, Benjamin said “Bryz,” as he’s affectionally called by students, “has an encyclopedic knowledge of world history and current events alike.”

adults and children looking at a screen

Online Enrichment in a Crisis

May 7, 2020

Within days of schools closing in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Learning Sciences professor Nichole Pinkard was inundated with calls from her family and friends, asking how they could keep their children engaged at home. Pinkard was in a unique position to help.

SESP faculty group shot

SESP in the Media: April 2020

April 30, 2020

An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.

Christian Wade and Amy Drake

Undergrads Named Little Joe Ventures Fellows

April 28, 2020

School of Education and Social Policy undergraduates Amy Drake and Christian Wade were among five students selected for the Little Joe Ventures (LJV) Fellowship in Entrepreneurship, a program designed by The Garage to support promising, entrepreneurially minded undergraduates across different schools at Northwestern.

students seated at commencement

Northwestern Commencement To Be Virtual

April 22, 2020

Northwestern’s commencement ceremony will be held virtually, President Morton Schapiro announced, marking the first time in 162 years the ceremony will not be held in person. In a letter to the University community earlier today, Schapiro also announced that Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, a key voice — and face — of social distancing, will deliver the commencement address at the June 19 ceremony.

Hannes Schwandt

What Happens When You Start Work During a Recession?

April 22, 2020

Recent graduates who are unlucky enough to join the workforce during a recession will likely see a loss in income and negative health effects over their lifetime, Northwestern University economist Hannes Schwandt told political analyst Amy Walter, host of The Takeaway, Fridays.

Alan Perez and Georgia Caras

Final Exam: Presenting to the Governor’s Office

April 12, 2020

In one of his last class assignments before the coronavirus COVID-19 changed the nature of schooling, Northwestern University undergraduate Alan Perez and his team offered early education policy recommendations to state officials at the office of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker in Chicago.

SESP faculty group shot

SESP in the Media: March 2020

March 31, 2020

An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.

illustration of a house

How to Get Your Parents To Stay Home

March 29, 2020

Anger, anguish, and anxiety. This is what your emotional life may look like in the time of COVID-19. Then you call your parents and realize — some of them are going out, visiting friends, and now they want to travel and see their grandchildren. Is there anything you can do?

mother and two children looking at laptop screen

CTD's 10 Tips for Getting Started Online

March 29, 2020

Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development, which offers more than 200 online courses designed for advanced learners, has provided innovative distance and online learning for more than three decades.

Terri Sabol working with children

Sabol Offers Advice for Caregivers During COVID-19

March 23, 2020

Making a daily schedule can help both parents and children adjust to learning at home during the coronavirus pandemic, said School of Education and Social Policy assistant professor Terri Sabol, an expert in early childhood development.

Julie Romeo

'Listen, Don't Lecture' and Other Homeschool Secrets

March 23, 2020

Alumna Julie Romeo (MS89) often felt overwhelmed while homeschooling her two children. But she resisted the urge to quit. And now that schools are closed, she's with us to offer encouragement sprinkled with a little advice, based on her experience.

Shirin Vossoughi

Vossoughi Wins Ver Steeg Award

March 20, 2020

Northwestern University’s Shirin Vossoughi, assistant professor of learning sciences, has received The Graduate School’s 2019–20 Ver Steeg award for her outstanding work supporting and mentoring graduate students.

The Strange Case of Donald J. Trump cover and Dan McAdams

The Strange Case of Donald J. Trump: A Psychological Reckoning

March 8, 2020

In his latest book, The Strange Case of Donald J. Trump: A Psychological Reckoning, Dan McAdams asserts that Donald Trump may be the rare person who lacks any inner story, something most people develop to give their lives unity, meaning, and purpose.

Veronica Burton

Northwestern Women's Basketball Wins Big Ten Title

March 8, 2020

The college basketball season is a long, bumpy road. Even for the Big Ten champion Northwestern women’s team, which boasts five scholar-athletes enrolled in the School of Education and Social Policy, including sophomore Veronica Burton (Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, second-team All-Big Ten); Abi Scheid (First-team All-Big Ten); Bryana Hopkins; Byrdy Galernick; and Amber Jamison.

student wearning gloves working with materials

Digital Youth Divas Join STEM Ecosystem

March 8, 2020

Digital Youth Divas, Nichole Pinkard's after-school STEM program for middle school girls, goes far beyond project-based learning, The goal is to create a full “learning ecosystem” with mentors, parental resources and community support.

Amy Drake and Hannah Caplan

SESP Students Selected For Clinton Global Initiative

March 5, 2020

School of Education and Social Policy undergraduates Amy Drake and Hannah Caplan were among nine Northwestern University students selected for the 12th annual Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) program, a year-round curriculum that includes attending an international conference.

students working together

Digital Divas Connects Girls to STEM

February 25, 2020

Digital Youth Divas is a free program started by SESP's Nichole Pinkard to get middle school girls involved in STEM activities. The program begins in the fourth grade and tracks the outcomes through high school.

Cynthia Coburn and Kirabo Jackson

Coburn, Jackson Elected to National Academy of Education

February 21, 2020

Cynthia Coburn and economist Kirabo Jackson were among fifteen exceptional scholars elected to the esteemed National Academy of Education (NAEd) in recognition of their outstanding contributions to education research. Northwestern was the only institution to have two inductees this year.

Jolie Boulos

Undergrads Secure Research Grants

February 21, 2020

Seven students received 2019-20 Academic Year Undergraduate Research Grants (AYURG) to study everything on issues of identity to the effectiveness of an Argentinian organization that supports women seeking abortions.

Paula Olszewski-Kubilius and Sally Nuamah

Two Faculty Books Named Finalists for PROSE Award

February 20, 2020

Northwestern University professors Paula Olszewski-Kubilius and Sally Nuamah and have been named finalists for the 2020 Professional and Scholarly Excellence (PROSE) Awards, which honor scholarly books, journals and electronic content.

SESP faculty group shot

SESP in the Media: February 2020

February 17, 2020

An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.

students gazing up

OpenSciEd Releases Free Science Teaching Materials

February 7, 2020

OpenSciEd is a collaborative effort to develop free, high-quality classroom materials for teachers nationwide. Co-created by Northwestern University’s Brian Reiser and his team of learning scientists, the free and downloadable units are aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and lay the groundwork for the future of science education.

Yang Qu

SESP Psychologist Named ‘Rising Star’

January 28, 2020

Northwestern University developmental psychologist Yang Qu was named a 2020 Rising Star by the Association for Psychological Sciences for his interdisciplinary work examining the role of sociocultural contexts in adolescent development.

Emma Adam

Emma Adam Named APS Fellow

January 28, 2020

Emma Adam, Edwina S. Tarry Professor of Education and Social Policy, was named a fellow of the Association for Psychological Science for her outstanding contributions to the field of developmental psychobiology of stress and sleep.

Cynthia Coburn

Coburn Receives Honorary Doctorate

January 18, 2020

SESP's Cynthia Coburn received an honorary doctorate from Universite Catholique de Louvain (CU Louvain) for her research uncovering the complicated factors and relationships that affect how educational policy is implemented in urban school systems.

Kirabo Jackson

Kirabo Jackson: Invest in Education Early and Often

January 15, 2020

Educational investments are most cost-effective when they start early and are sustained throughout childhood, Northwestern University’s Kirabo Jackson said during the Education Policy Institute’s (EPI) Annual Lecture in London’s City Hall.

Sybil Madison

Researchers Begin Developing Computer Science Ecosystem

January 14, 2020

Chicago has a rich community of informal computer science educators, but the providers often work in isolation and the programs lack cohesion, according to the first study to comprehensively map the city’s computer science landscape.