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Learning and Leading with Purpose

Our students, faculty, and community are committed to improving lives and transforming society.

SESP students become

We value interdisciplinary training and hands-on experiences.

Join us and explore all you can do.

Programs

Get to Know Us

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Since 1926, our school has been a close-knit community of students, faculty, and staff committed to improving lives. See what makes us special.

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Ranked Education School, U.S. News & World Report
Faculty members elected to the National Academy of Education
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Undergraduates employed or completing graduate school or fellowships after graduation
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Service hours provided to local communities through the Civic Education Project

Making an Impact

At SESP, we partner with the community to maximize the impact of our research findings. These collaborations allow us to test new ideas, develop better practices, and share discoveries to benefit as many people as possible.

Student walking in Chicago by train

Morton Schapiro Northwestern Academy for Chicago Public Schools

The Morton Schapiro Northwestern Academy for Chicago Public Schools enhances access and successful matriculation for academically motivated students. Thanks to the Academy, these talented individuals are on track to attend top-tier colleges and universities. To date, graduates have enrolled in more than 115 institutions, including Northwestern, Harvard, Yale, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Nichole Pinkard working with student

STEAMbassadors

STEAMbassadors trains college-bound 18 to 24-year-olds from under-resourced communities to work with youth in neighborhoods lacking learning opportunities and role models in computer science, engineering, and the arts. They are assigned to local organizations partnering with the Chicago Department of Family Support Services in parks, libraries, and schools to create an out-of-school learning ecosystem across the city.

Evanston Township High School Partnership Office

Northwestern-Evanston Township High School (ETHS) Partnership Office

The Northwestern/ETHS Partnership Office is part of the Good Neighbor, Great University Initiative, supported by Neighborhood and Community Relations and the Office of Community Education Partnerships in the School of Education and Social Policy. Northwestern has more than 100 significant partnerships with Evanston Township High School. This relationship spans disciplines, encompassing academics, athletics, health and wellness, identity and social consciousness, college and career education, cultural events, mentoring, the arts, and community engagement.

Featured News

News and Events

Bryan Brayboy

Brayboy Champions Abundance Over Scarcity in AERA Lecture

April 10, 2026 5:38 PM

The history of American schooling is tied to the forced removal of Indigenous peoples — and U.S. institutions must confront that legacy to build a fairer, more just future, School of Education and Social Policy Dean Bryan McKinley Jones Brayboy said during the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Distinguished Lecture, one of the signature events of the 2026 Annual Meeting.

Tim Huff

Undergraduate Named Student Worker of the Year

April 10, 2026 1:48 PM

School of Education and Social Policy senior Timothy Huff was named a Northwestern University Student Employee of the Year in Community and Belonging for his leadership work with Black Men LEAD, a mentoring program at Evanston Township High School.

Shark Tank

SESP Grad Wins $100,000 on Shark Tank

April 9, 2026 11:45 AM

Alumna Sloane Barry (BS22) and partner Brennan Hellmers appeared on Shark Tank, pitching SOMNIA+, a bed expander kit designed to make narrow dorm beds more functional and comfortable without replacing the mattress or using tools.

SESP Ranked No. 2 by U.S. News

April 6, 2026 10:18 AM

Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) has earned its highest-ever ranking — No. 2 among graduate schools of education in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Sepehr Vakil

Vakil Helps Shape National AI Curriculum

March 31, 2026 12:58 PM

Northwestern University Professor Sepehr Vakil contributed to a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine that offers strategies for integrating data and computing into K-12 education.

Events

Apr
16
2026

Family Action Network (FAN) - An Objective Look at Meditation Methods and Enlightenment

7:00 PM
For this event, clinical and research psychologist Elaine Aron, author of the international bestseller The Highly Sensit...
Apr
17
2026

MSLOC Master's Degree Information Session

12:00 PM
Join MSLOC community members and student affairs staff for a virtual information session. During this information sessio...
Apr
18
2026

TEDxNorthwestern: SESP Profesor Claudia Haase

2:00 PM Lutkin Memorial Hall, 700 University Place
Professor Claudia Haase, associate dean of wellbeing, is one of six TEDxNorthwestern speakers. This year's theme is the ...
Apr
20
2026

IPR Colloq.: E. Chen (IPR/Psych.) - Health Disparities: The Role of Social Relationships

12:00 PM Deering Library, 1937 Sheridan Road
Title: Health Disparities: The Role of Social Relationships By Edith Chen, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Chair, Pro...
Apr
21
2026

MS in Education and Social Policy Program General Info Session

12:00 PM
Attend a livestreamed information session about the Master of Science in Education and Social Policy Program. Presentati...
Apr
22
2026

MSLOC Leading AI-Powered Organizational Change Certificate Information Session

12:00 PM
Join MSLOC community members and student affairs staff for a virtual information session. During this information sessio...