Adam, Emma
Associate Professor, Education and Social Policy
Faculty Fellow, Institute for Policy Research
- MA, Public Policy, University of Chicago, 1998
- PhD, Child Psychology, University of Minnesota, 1998
- MA, Applied Developmental Psychology, University of Toronto, 1992
- BS, Psychology, University of Toronto, 1990
Research Interests
Social influences on emotional and physiological stress and sleep quality in children and adolescents and their parents; effects of stress and sleep on emotional and physical health and academic outcomes.
Brazdil, Linda
Research Associate Professor, Learning Sciences
- PhD, Physical Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, 1985
- MS, Physical Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, 1983
- BS, Notre Dame College of Ohio, 1978
Research Interests
Effects of planning and grading practices on student learning in science, urban science education, systemic initiatives' effects on student learning in science, effects that conducting STEM research has on high school teachers and students.
Chase-Lansdale, P. Lindsay
*ON LEAVE 1/ 2012 - 12/ 2012 *
*ON LEAVE 1/ 2012 - 12/ 2012 *
Professor, Human Development and Social Policy
Faculty Fellow, Institute for Policy Research
- PhD, Developmental Psychology, The University of Michigan, 1981
- BA, Social Relations, Harvard University, Radcliffe College, 1974
Research Interests
Public policy and child and adolescent development; family functioning; health disparities; consequences of poverty and welfare reform on children and families.
Collins, Allan
Professor Emeritus, Learning Sciences
- PhD, Cognitive Psychology, University of Michigan, 1970
- MA, Communication Sciences, University of Michigan, 1961
Research Interests
Technology and education, teaching and learning, scientific inquiry.
Colyvas, Jeannette
Assistant Professor, Human Development and Social Policy
Assistant Professor, Learning Sciences
- PhD, Stanford University, 2007
- MA, Sociology, MA, East Asian Studies, Stanford University
Research Interests
Organizations and entrepreneurship; institutions and networks; comparing public, private, and non-profit forms of organizing; university-industry interfaces; public and private science.
Cook, Fay
Professor, Human Development and Social Policy
Director and Faculty Fellow, Institute for Policy Research
- PhD, Social Welfare Policy, University of Chicago, 1977
- MA, Social Welfare Policy, University of Chicago, 1972
- MA, English Literature, University of North Carolina, 1968
- BA, English, Millsaps College, Jackson, Mississippi, 1965
Research Interests
The interrelationships between public opinion and social policy; the politics of public policy; the effects of public deliberation on political knowledge and participation; and the dynamics of public support for older Americans.
Cook, Thomas
Joan and Sarepta Harrison Chair in Ethics and Justice
Professor, Human Development and Social Policy
Professor, Psychology
Professor, Sociology
- PhD, Stanford, 1967
- BA, Oxford, 1963
Research Interests
Social science methodology, evaluation, educational policy.
Cytrynbaum, Solomon
Professor Emeritus, Education
Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Associate Director for Education, The Center for Applied Psychological and Family Studies, Psychology Graduate Program
- PhD, Psychology, University of Michigan, 1971
- MA, Child Development and Family Relations, Cornell University, 1962
- BA, Arts and Sciences, McGill University, 1959
Research Interests
Group dynamics, organizational assessment and change, family systems, gender and authority in group and organizational life, organizational consultation, evaluation of school reform and school academic/technology systems, research methods, application of group and systems theory and research to school change.
Destin, Mesmin
Assistant Professor, Human Development and Social Policy
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology
- PhD, Social Psychology, University of Michigan, 2010
- BA, Psychology and Sociology, Northwestern University, 2005
Research Interests
Psychological processes underlying associations between socioeconomic circumstances and behaviors/outcomes, such as academic motivation and achievement; effects of financial assets on goals and behavior; small classroom-based interventions to improve school outcomes for low-income and minority youth.
Easterday, Matthew
Assistant Professor, Learning Sciences
- PhD, Human-Computer Interaction, Carnegie-Mellon University, 2010
- MS, Human-Computer Interaction, Carnegie-Mellon University, 2004
- BA, Psychology and Mathematics, Reed College, 1999
Research Interests
Technology for the new civics – producing scientifically supported educational technology to create informed and engaged citizens who can solve the serious policy problems facing society such as poverty, global warming and militarism. Training such citizens requires us to understand how competent citizens analyze policy, communicate issues, and organize to make change. It also requires us to design more effective educational technology that can teach the knowledge, skills and dispositions citizens need.
Figlio, David
Faculty Fellow, Insitute for Policy Research
Orrington Lunt Professor of Education and Social Policy
Professor, Human Development and Social Policy
- PhD, Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1995
- MS, Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1992
- BS, Business Economics and Public Policy, George Washington University, 1991
Research Interests
Accountability policy; economics of education; teacher quality; teacher labor markets; anti-poverty policy; intergenerational transmission of human capital; evaluation design.
Forbus, Kenneth
Professor, Education
Professor, Computer Science
- PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1984
Research Interests
Artificial intelligence, specifically qualitative reasoning, spatial reasoning, analogical reasoning and learning, and inference engine design; in cognitive science, understanding how analogy and similarity work; in education, using AI techniques to create educational software and activities; in human-computer interaction, the use of sketching as an interface modality; the role of AI in computer game design.
Gardner, Wendi
Associate Professor, Social Psychology
Associate Professor, Learning Sciences
- PhD, Ohio State University, 1996
Research Interests
The centrality of social inclusion to the self.
Gentner, Dedre
Professor, Learning Sciences
Professor, Psychology
- PhD, University of California, San Diego, 1974
Research Interests
Learning, reasoning, and conceptual change in adults and children, especially processes of similarity; metaphor, and analogy; mental models; acquisition of meaning.
Gerber, Elizabeth
Assistant Professor, Learning Sciences
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
- PhD, Stanford University, 2007
- MS, Stanford University, 2003
- BA, Dartmouth College, 1998
Research Interests
Design and innovation work practices.
Guryan, Jonathan
Associate Professor, Human Development and Social Policy
Faculty Fellow, Institute for Policy Research
- PhD, Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2000
- AB, Economics, Princeton University, 1996
Research Interests
Understanding the sources and consequences of racial inequality and the economics of education.
Haroutunian-Gordon, Sophie
Director, Master of Science in Education
Professor, Education and Social Policy
- PhD, Philosophy of Education, University of Chicago, 1976
- MA, Curriculum and Instruction, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1966
- BA, Music, Religion/Philosophy, Cornell College, 1965
Research Interests
Philosophy of education, teacher education, interpretive discussion, philosophy of psychology.
Hedges, Larry
Board of Trustees Professor of Statistics and Social Policy
Faculty Fellow, Institute for Policy Research
- PhD, Mathematical Methods in Educational Research, Stanford University, 1980
- MA, Statistics, Stanford University
- BA, Mathematics, University of California at San Diego
Research Interests
Development and application of statistical methods for the social, medical, and biological sciences; evaluation research.
Hespos, Susan
Associate Professor, Psychology
Associate Professor, Learning Sciences
- PhD, Developmental Psychology, Emory University, 1996
- MA, Cognitive Psychology, Emory University, 1993
- BA, Psychology, Reed College, 1990
Research Interests
Object representation, number and spatial relationships.
Hirsch, Barton
Professor, Human Development and Social Policy
- Postdoctorate, Social Ecology, Stanford University, 1981
- PhD, Psychology, University of Oregon, 1979
- BA, Philosophy, University of Wisconsin, 1971
Research Interests
After-school programs; soft skills and the school-to-work transition; program development, implementation, and evaluation, particularly with respect to positive youth development; social relations during adolescence, with an emphasis on gender, race and social system influences.
Horn, Michael
Assistant Professor, Learning Sciences
Assistant Professor, Computer Science
- PhD, Computer Science, Tufts University, 2009
- MS, Computer Science, Tufts University, 2006
- ScB, Computer Science, Brown University, 1997
Research Interests
Design of educational technology, learning in museums, computer programming, tangible interaction.
Ispa-Landa, Simone
Assistant Professor, Human Development and Social Policy
- PhD, Sociology, Harvard University, 2011
- AM, Sociology, Harvard University, 2007
- AM, Regional Studies, Russia, Eastern Europe, Central Asian Studies, Harvard University, 2003
- BA, Literary Journalism and Russian, Hampshire College, 1999
Research Interests
Qualitative methods, race and ethnic relations, social identity, education, gender, American family, intersectionality theory, micro-macro links.
Jackson, Kirabo
Assistant Professor, Human Development and Social Policy
Faculty Fellow, Institute for Policy Research
- PhD, Economics, Harvard University, 2007
- AM, Economics, Harvard University, 2005
- BA, Ethics, Politics and Economics, Yale University, 2002
Research Interests
Economics of education, labor economics, public finance, applied econometrics, development.
Jona, Kemi
Research Professor, Learning Sciences and Computer Science
Director, Office of STEM Education Partnerships (OSEP)
- PhD, Computer Science, Northwestern University, 1995
- BS (Honors), Computer Science and Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1988
Research Interests
Online learning, virtual schools, technologies to support online learning and collaboration, online laboratory science course design, corporate e-learning strategy and design.
Kretzmann, John
Research Associate Professor, Learning Sciences
Research Associate Professor, Human Development and Social Policy
Research Interests
Community development, asset building in communities.
Lam, Eva
Associate Professor, Learning Sciences, Asian American Studies
- PhD, Education in Language, Literacy, and Culture, University of California, Berkeley, 2003
Research Interests
Multilingualism and cultural diversity in education, second language and literacy development, digital literacy and learning, language and identity, language socialization.
Lee, Carol
Edwina S. Tarry Professor of Education and Social Policy
Professor, Learning Sciences
Professor, African American Studies
- PhD, Education (Curriculum and Instruction), University of Chicago, 1991
- MA, English, University of Chicago, 1969
- BA, The Teaching of Secondary School English, University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, 1966
Research Interests
Cultural contexts affecting learning broadly and literacy specifically; teacher preparation and development; classroom discourse; urban education.
Lewis, Dan
Professor, Human Development and Social Policy
Faculty Fellow, Institute for Policy Research
- PhD, History of Consciousness, University of California at Santa Cruz, 1980
- BA, Political Science, Stanford University, 1968
Research Interests
Lewis currently heads a large-scale university consortium to study welfare reform efforts in Illinois. In another current project he is developing a new Suburban Action Research Project that will deliver technical assistance to suburbs struggling with social problems. It will concentrate on issues of homelessness and crime prevention in its initial phase.
Light, Gregory
Associate Professor, Education
Director, Searle Center for Teaching Excellence
- PhD, Education, University of London, UK, 1995
- BA Specialist Degree, Philosophy, University of Toronto, 1975
- BA, Philosophy and English, University of Toronto, 1974
Research Interests
Logan, Regina
Research Assistant Professor, Foley Center for the Study of Lives
- MA, French Language and Literature, University of Wisconsin, 1971
- AB, French Language and Literature, University of Michigan, 1970
- PhD, Human Dev & Social Pol, Northwestern University, 1993
- MA, Teaching & Learning Processes, Northwestern University, 1984
Research Interests
Stability and change over time in adulthood, especially during midlfe and beyond: wisdom, regret and life themes; gender differences in these areas.
Mandara, Jelani
Associate Professor, Human Development and Social Policy
- PhD, Social/Personality Psychology, University of California, Riverside, 2002
- BS, Psychology, California State University, Long Beach, 1997
McAdams, Dan
Professor, Human Development and Social Policy
Professor, Psychology
Director, The Foley Center for the Study of Lives
- PhD, Psychology and Social Relations, Harvard University, 1979
- BS, Psychology and Humanities, Valparaiso University, 1976
Research Interests
Narrative psychology; the development of a life-story model of human identity; generativity and adult development; themes of power, intimacy, and redemption in human lives; modernity and the self; autobiographical memory; psychological biography.
McDade, Thomas
Associate Professor, Human Development and Social Policy
Faculty Fellow, Institute for Policy Research
Director, Laboratory for Human Biology Research
- PhD, Emory, 1999
Research Interests
Human biology, biocultural perspectives on health and human development, medical anthropology and global health, ecological immunology, stress, health disparities, laboratory methods.
McGee, Steven
Research Associate Professor, Learning Sciences
- MBA, Wheeling Jesuit University, 2000
- PhD, Learning Sciences, Northwestern University, 1995
- BS, Human Dev & Social Pol, Northwestern University, 1988
Research Interests
Science education, urban education reform, assessment, educational technology, curriculum design.
Medin, Douglas
Professor, Education
Professor, Psychology
Co-Director, Program in Cognitive Studies of the Environment
Director, Program in Culture, Language and Cognition
- PhD, University of South Dakota, 1968
Research Interests
Learning, reasoning, and conceptual change in adults and children, mental models; acquisition of meaning, culture and education.
Olszewski-Kubilius, Paula
Professor, Education and Social Policy
Director, Center for Talent Development
- PhD, Educational Psychology, Northwestern University, 1983
- MA, Educational Psychology, Northwestern University, 1981
- BA, Elementary Education, St. Xavier University, 1977
Research Interests
Talent development, accelerated educational programs, needs of special populations of gifted children.
Ortony, Andrew
Professor, Learning Sciences
Professor, Psychology, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Professor, Computer Science, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
Coordinator, Master's Program in Learning Sciences
- PhD, Computer Science, University of London, 1972
- MA, Philosophy, University of Edinburgh, 1966
Research Interests
Emotion and cognition; knowledge representation and figurative language comprehension; human-computer interaction and interface design.
Peterson, Penelope
Eleanor R. Baldwin Professor, Education
Dean, School of Education and Social Policy
Professor, Human Development and Social Policy
Professor, Learning Sciences
- MA, Psychological Studies in Education, Stanford University, 1976
- PhD, Psychological Studies in Education, Stanford University, 1976
- BS, Psychology and Philosophy, Iowa State University, 1971
Research Interests
Learning and teaching in schools and classrooms, particularly in literacy and mathematics; student and teacher learning in reform contexts; relations among educational research, policy and practice.
Pugh, Carla
Associate Professor, Learning Sciences
Associate Professor, Feinberg School of Medicine
- PhD, Stanford University School of Education, 2001
- MD, Howard University College of Medicine, 1992
- BA, University of California, Berkeley
Research Interests
Surgery and surgical education; the use of technology for medical and surgical education.
Puntenney, Deborah
Research Associate Professor
- Bachelor of Arts, California State University at Humboldt, 1982
- MA, Human Dev & Social Pol, Northwestern University, 1992
- PhD, Human Dev & Social Pol, Northwestern University, 1997
Research Interests
Community engagement and community development, examining the application of asset-based community development principles and practices in local development efforts for the broader lessons specific projects produce.
Rapp, David
*ON LEAVE 9/ 2011 - 8/ 2012 *
*ON LEAVE 9/ 2011 - 8/ 2012 *
Associate Professor, Learning Sciences
Coordinator, Learning Sciences PhD Program
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology
- PhD, Experimental Psychology, State University of New York, Stony Brook, 2000
- MA, General Psychology, New York University, 1996
- BA, Psychology, State University of New York, Albany, 1994
Research Interests
Reading comprehension; narrative and expository experiences; updating prior knowledge; mental and situation models; translation of cognitive science research to educational settings; multimedia learning; visualizations as learning tools.
Reiser, Brian
Professor, Learning Sciences
- PhD, Cognitive Science, Yale University, 1983
- MA, Psychology, New York University, 1979
- BA, Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, 1977
Research Interests
The design of learning environments and curriculum materials for science that support authentic practices including explanation, argumentation, and designing investigations. His research examines the cognitive and social interaction aspects of scientific inquiry, principles for scaffolding practices in software and curriculum materials, teaching pratices, and curriculum design frameworks.
Riesbeck, Christopher
Associate Professor, Learning Sciences
Associate Professor, Computer Science
- PhD, Stanford University, 1974
Research Interests
Natural-language understanding, case-based reasoning, authorable learning-by-doing environments, critiquing tools for education.
Rosenbaum, James
Professor, Human Development and Social Policy
Professor, Sociology, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Fellow, Institute for Policy Research
- PhD, Sociology, Harvard University, 1973
- MA, Sociology, Harvard University, 1968
- BA, Culture and Behavior, Yale University, 1966
Research Interests
Poverty and housing; welfare reform; high school to work transition.
Russ, Rosemary
Research Assistant Professor, Learning Sciences
- PhD in Physics, University of Maryland, 2006
- BS in Physics, North Carolina State University, 2002
- BS in Statistics, North Carolina State University, 2002
- BS in Applied Mathematics, North Carolina State University, 2002
Research Interests
Student thinking and learning in science, scientific reasoning and explanation, models of cognition and epistemology, discourse analysis.
Schanzenbach, Diane
Associate Professor, Human Development and Social Policy
Faculty Fellow, Institute for Policy Research
- PhD, Economics, Princeton University, 2002
- MA, Economics, Princeton University, 1999
- AB, Economics and Religion, Wellesley College, 1995
Research Interests
Early childhood education; accountability policy; economics of education; obesity; anti-poverty policy; education and health.
Schapiro, Morton
Professor
President, Northwestern University
- PhD, Economics, University of Pennsylvania, 1979
- MA, Economics, University of Pennsylvania, 1976
- BS, Economics, Hofstra University, 1975
Research Interests
Economics of higher education, with particular interest in the area of college financing and affordability and on trends in educational costs and student aid.
Scott, Kimberly
Director, Master's Program Learning & Organizational Change
Assistant Professor, Master's Program in Learning and Organizational Change
- PhD, Business Administration, Organizational Behavior, The Ohio State University, 1995
- MA, Business Administration, The Ohio State University, 1994
- BA, Psychology, University of Cincinnati, 1991
Research Interests
Improving workplace environments and practices that foster employee wellness, learning and success; relationships between organizational practices and individual engagement and well-being; transitions of individuals into leadership roles and how learning techniques can be designed to accelerate leadership development.
Sherin, Bruce
Associate Professor, Learning Sciences
- PhD, Science and Mathematics Education, University of California, Berkeley, 1996
- MA, Physics, University of California, Berkeley, 1989
- BA, Physics, Princeton University, 1985
Research Interests
Conceptual change in science; computational linguistics applied to natural language data; programming environments for learning; external representations in science and mathematics.
Sherin, Miriam
Professor, Learning Sciences
Director of Undergraduate Education, School of Education and Social Policy
- PhD, Science and Mathematics Education, University of California, Berkeley, 1996
- MA, Mathematics, University of California, San Diego, 1987
- BA, Mathematics, University of Chicago, 1985
Research Interests
Mathematics teaching and learning; teacher cognition and teacher education.
Smith-Demuth, Sylvia
Assistant Professor, SESP
Director, Alternative Certification Program
- PhD, Curriculum and Instruction in Mathematics, University of Chicago, 2005
- MEd, Curriculum and Instruction, Mathematics, Loyola University, 1979
- BA, Mathematics, English, Loyola University, 1976
Research Interests
Mathematics achievement; mathematics teaching and learning - cognition; social context of education; opportunity to learn.
Spencer, Bruce
Professor, Statistics
Professor, Human Development and Social Policy
Faculty Fellow, Institute for Policy Research
- PhD, Yale University, 1979
Research Interests
Statistics and public policy with a special focus on the design and evaluation of large-scale statistical data programs.
Spillane, James
Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Professor in Learning and Organizational Change
Chair and Professor, Human Development and Social Policy
Professor, Learning Sciences
Faculty Associate, Institute for Policy Research
- PhD, Curriculum, Teaching and Education Policy, Michigan State University, 1993
- BA, Education and Geography, St. Patrick's College, National University of Ireland, 1984
Research Interests
Policy implementation; educational policy; organizational change; school leadership; relations between policy and teachers' and administrators' practice.
Stevens, Reed
Professor, Learning Sciences
- PhD, Cognitive Studies in Education , University of California at Berkeley, 1999
Research Interests
Learning and activity in a wide range of places and situations; design of learning tools — curriculum, activities, and technologies.
Taylor, Edd
Assistant Professor, Learning Sciences
- PhD, University of California-Berkeley, 2005
Research Interests
Culture and mathematical thinking, informal learning/out-of-school practices, elementary and middle school mathematics instruction, early childhood education, teacher development, mathematical representation.
Teplin, Linda
Owen L. Coon Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Clinical Psychology
Director of the Psycho-Legal Studies Program, Northwestern University Medical School
- PhD, Northwestern University, 1975
Research Interests
Epidemiologic studies of psychiatric disorders, juvenile justice, drug abuse, public health policy, HIV/AIDS risk behaviors, correlates of violence (victimization and perpetration).
Trautvetter, Lois
Director, Higher Education Administration and Policy
Assistant Professor, Education
- PhD, Higher Education Administration, University of Michigan, 1991
- MS, Polymer Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 1986
- BA, Chemistry, College of Wooster, 1982
Research Interests
- Engineering education research including retention and recruitment of female and underrepresented undergraduate students and faculty, interdisciplinary skills, contextual competence skills, and design and problem solving skills; faculty research that includes productivity, enhancing research and teaching, motivation, enhancing faculty-student interaction, and new and junior faculty issues; student development research that includes holistic and spiritual development of undergraduates; professional development for K-12 teachers; gender issues; females in science
Urzua, Sergio
Assistant Professor, Economics
- PhD in Economics, The University of Chicago, 2005
- Master of Arts in Economics, The University of Chicago, 2003
- Master of Arts in Economics, Universidad de Chile, 2001
- B.A. in Economics , Universidad de Chile, 2000
Research Interests
Labor economic, microeconometrics, the role of cognitive and noncognitive abilities, and uncertainty as determinants of schooling decisions, labor market outcomes and social behavior.
Uttal, David
Professor, Education
Professor, Psychology
- PhD, University of Michigan, 1989
Research Interests
Mental representation, cognitive development, spatial cognition, early symbolization.
Wakschlag, Laurie
Professor, Medical Social Sciences and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Professor, Human Development and Social Policy
- PhD, Psychology, University of Chicago, 1992
- MA, Social Work, University of Chicago, 1983
- BA, Psychology, Barnard College, 1980
Research Interests
Translational approaches to elucidating mechanisms and phenomenology of early emerging disruptive behavior.
Wartella, Ellen
Professor, Human Development and Social Policy
Professor, Communication and Psychology
- Postdoc, Developmental Psychology, University of Kansas
- MA, Mass Communication, University of Minnesota
- BA, Communication, University of Pittsburgh
- PhD, Mass Communication, University of Minnesota
Research Interests
Effects of media on children and adolescents, impact of food marketing in the childhood obesity crisis.
Waxman, Sandra
Professor, Learning Sciences
Professor, Psychology
- PhD, University of Pennsylvania, 1985
- MA, Johns Hopkins University, 1981
- BS, University of Pennsylvania, 1976
Research Interests
Language and conceptual development, early cognitive development, language and thought.
Wilensky, Uri
Professor, Learning Sciences
Professor, Computer Science
Director, Center for Connected Learning & Computer-Based Modeling
- PhD, Media Arts and Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1993
- MA, Mathematics and Philosophy, Brandeis University, 1977
- BA, Mathematics and Philosophy, Brandeis University, 1977
Research Interests
Mathematics and science education in the context of computation, connected learning, constructionism, computer-based modeling, agent-based modeling and complex systems and education.
Wolf, Michael
Assistant Professor, Learning Sciences
Faculty, Feinberg School of Medicine
- MPH, Northwestern University
- PhD, University of Illinois
- BA, Valparaiso University