January 2010 News Stories
- Policy Briefing Highlights Research on No Child Left Behind
To inform legislators and policy makers preparing to retool No Child Left Behind, SESP professors David Figlio and Thomas Cook will highlight important research findings during a policy briefing on Capitol Hill presented by the Institute for Policy Research on February 22.
1/27/10 - Study by Michael Wolf (MA06) Proposes Easy-to-Understand Medication Labels
Replacing confusing language and icons on standard warning labels for prescription medicine could make a big difference in how well patients understand the instructions that are critical to their health, according to a new study by Michael Wolf (MA06).
1/26/10 - NU Names Two SESP Alums to Athletic Hall of Fame
Northwestern University inducted SESP alumni Grady Hall (BS86) and Heather Hoffman Jenkins (BS97) into its Athletic Hall of Fame on January 22.
1/28/10 - BBC Quotes David Figlio on Effects of Names
In BBC Focus magazine, professor David Figlio comments on the social consequences of names for children, based on his research on the topic.
1/19/10 - Jim Rosenbaum Talks with NPR about Pitfalls of Community Colleges
Professor James Rosenbaum explains some of the pitfalls of community colleges for minority students. Community colleges typically lose half of their students in the first year, Rosenbaum says.
1/12/10 - Junior Meixi Ng Wins Fellowship for Around-the-World Research
Junior Meixi Ng won the 2010 Circumnavigators Club Foundation Around-the-World Travel-Study Grant. She is the first School of Education and Social Policy student to win the fellowship.
1/12/10 - Study Finds No Child Left Behind Raises Math Achievement
A new study by professor Thomas Cook, Manyee Wong and Peter Steiner for the first time establishes a causal link between the No Child Left Behind Act and improvements in student achievement.
1/6/10 - President Schapiro Addresses Higher Education Students
Northwestern University President Morton Schapiro challenged SESP students with thought-provoking issues during a guest lecture in the graduate-level course Budget and Finance in Higher Education. Schapiro is an expert in the economics of higher education.
1/6/10
- Policy Briefing Highlights Research on No Child Left Behind
February 2010 News Stories
- SESP Convocation Speaker Will Be Columbia Provost Claude Steele
Claude M. Steele, the provost of Columbia University, will be the featured speaker at the Convocation for the School of Education and Social Policy on June 19.
2/3/10
- SESP Convocation Speaker Will Be Columbia Provost Claude Steele
March 2010 News Stories
- Elizabeth Votruba-Drzal (PhD04) Wins Fellowship to Study Immigrant Children's School Readiness
HDSP alumna Elizabeth Votruba-Drzal (PhD04), an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, won a highly competitive Young Scholars Award from the Foundation for Child Development.
4/6/10 - Senior Nicole Pauly Named One of 10 Finalists for Lowe's Senior Class Award for Softball
Softball standout Nicole Pauly, a senior in human development and psychological services, is one of 10 finalists for the Lowe's Senior Class Award, which recognizes top college softball players.
4/7/10 - Promote 360 Helps Fifth Graders Aim for College
Promote 360, the SESP student organization dedicated to empowering minority young people, hosted a group of fifth graders on campus on March 12 to inspire them to attend college.
4/6/10 - Washington Post Article on Names Features David Figlio's Research
In a Washington Post article about unusual names, professor David Figlio comments on the relationship between names and education. His research found patterns in children's names that predicted a mother's level of education. He also found that kids with nonstandard names do worse in school; they may be penalized by teachers and peers.
4/6/10 - Erica Halverson (PhD05) Wins Early-Career Award for Learning Sciences
Erica Halverson (PhD05), an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has won the Jan Hawkins Award from the American Education Research Association (AERA).
3/31/10 - Senior Kaitlin Vernon Awarded Economics and Sustainability Internship
Kaitlin Vernon, a senior in social policy, was selected for an internship in economics and sustainability at the Danish Institute for Study Abroad in Copenhagen.
3/31/10 - New Faculty Member Kirabo Jackson Discusses Research on Student Incentives with Newsweek
Kirabo Jackson, a new faculty member who is coming to SESP from Cornell University, tells Newsweek about his research on cash incentives for students' academic performance.
3/30/10 - In Chicago Tribune David Figlio Comments on Class Size Research
In a Chicago Tribune article related to the effect of education cuts, professor David Figlio comments that research on class size does not indicate a detrimental effect for slightly increasing the size of classes.
3/30/10 - Education Week Reviews Tom Cook's Study of No Child Left Behind
An Education Week blog outlines the recent study by professor Tom Cook, Manyee Wong and Peter Steiner that linked No Child Left Behind to progress in fourth-grade mathematics and compared state achievement test results.
3/30/10 - David Figlio Honored by American Education Finance Association
Professor David Figlio was recently honored with the Outstanding Service Award of the American Education Finance Association (AEFA).
3/24/10 - James Spillane Receives New Grant to Research School Leadership
Professor James Spillane received a $3.3 million Institute of Education Sciences grant for a major project that will investigate an approach to leadership development that centers on developing leadership practice in schools rather than focusing exclusively on school principals' knowledge and skills.
3/17/10 - A Day with Northwestern Features Talks by Morton Schapiro, Arthur Nielsen
At A Day with Northwestern on April 17, Northwestern University president Morton Schapiro, who is also a SESP faculty member, will illuminate the economics of higher education, and SESP adjunct instructor Arthur Nielsen will explain how to cope with economic stress in a family.
3/18/10 - Chicago Tribune Features Oncofertility Saturday Academy
The Oncofertility Saturday Academy, developed by the Office of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Partnerships at SESP, opens high school girls' eyes to science careers, according to the Chicago Tribune.
3/18/10 - Junior Rebecca Crook Wins Language Grant to Study Kiswahili
Rebecca Crook, a SESP junior majoring in human development and social policy, received a Northwestern University Immersion Language Grant to take Kiswahili classes in Nairobi this summer.
3/11/10 - Online Certificate Offers New Opportunity in Gifted Education
A new five-course certificate in gifted education offered by the School of Education and Social Policy allows educators to expand their knowledge of meeting the needs of high-ability students -- primarily through online course work.
3/10/10 - At Urban Prep, Where Kenneth Hutchinson (BS04) Directs College Counseling, All Seniors Are College-Bound
At Chicago's only public all-male, all-African-American high school, where Kenneth Hutchinson (BS04) is director of college counseling, 100 percent of the first senior class has been accepted to four-year colleges.
3/8/10 - Carol Lee Wins Lifetime Achievement Award
The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education awarded its highest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award, to professor Carol Lee.
3/3/10 - Don't Pull the Plug on That [Video Game/TV/Cell Phone] They're Learning!
Video games are pervasive, controversial and largely ignored in learning research — and that's why professor Reed Stevens chooses to study them, along with other outside-of-school activities like TV watching, texting and how families handle money. His overriding goal is to understand how people learn. As an eminent scholar in the field of learning sciences, he contends that only by studying out-of-school learning can we see the full picture. "Research needs to be based on diverse situations, populations and age groups. Only then will we be in a position to say how people learn," he says.
10/2/13
- Elizabeth Votruba-Drzal (PhD04) Wins Fellowship to Study Immigrant Children's School Readiness
April 2010 News Stories
- David Figlio Explains How Home Prices Are Tied to Test Scores
Yahoo describes professor David Figlio's research on the relationship between house values and school rankings and test scores. Buyers were willing to pay 9 percent more to be in an A school district over a B district, he found.
4/29/10 - Cindy Conlon's Students Visit Supreme Court to Hear Argument
Eight students in Cindy Conlon's Supreme Court course visited the Supreme Court on April 19 to hear argument in the case of City of Ontario, California, v. Quon.
4/28/10 - Senior Nicole Pauly Named Big Ten Softball Player of the Week
Senior Nicole Pauly has been named the Big Ten Player of the Week after helping Northwestern to a trio of conference victories and reaching a historic home run milestone.
4/28/10 - Senior Danielle Spencer Garners Lacrosse Player of the Week Award
After setting a personal-best with eight goals against Vanderbilt to help Northwestern clinch the regular season title, senior Danielle Spencer was named the American Lacrosse Conference Offensive Player of the Week
4/28/10 - Alex Sims Wins Coro Fellowship
Senior Alexandra Sims is a winner of the Coro Fellowship, which provides an intensive nine-month public affairs program in one of seven U.S. cities.
4/22/10 - Faculty and Students Give Presentations at AERA Conference
At the 2010 meeting of the American Education Research Association (AERA) from April 30 to May 4, 46 Northwestern University faculty members and graduate students will give presentations. Professor Carol Lee will deliver the presidential address.
4/21/10 - Center for Talent Development Student Presents Video about Award-Winning 'Green' Invention on ABC-TV
On ABC-TV, Center for Talent Development student Jonny Cohen presents his invention for retrofitting buses with "green shields" to reduce carbon emissions. The Highland Park freshman started with his idea for a CTD aerodynamics project and won a $25,000 grant through Pepsi's Refresh Project.
4/21/10 - Civic Engagement Students Win Alumnae Grant
Eight students in the SESP Civic Engagement Certificate Program received a grant of $3,720 from the Alumnae of Northwestern to support an innovative outreach initiative they designed for their capstone project. The project initiates a leadership program at Evanston Township High School.
4/20/10 - SESP Ranks Number 8
Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) ranks number eight in the nation, according to the new 2011 ranking of graduate schools of education by U.S.News & World Report.
4/15/10 - David Figlio's Study on Merit Pay Cited in News Coverage of Florida's New Law
After Florida passed legislation tying teachers' pay to student performance, news reports cite professor David Figlio's study showing students tend to do better in schools with merit pay. He says the research is not conclusive.
4/18/10 - Junior Claire Lew Elected Associated Student Government President
Earning 67 percent of the vote, SESP junior Claire Lew was elected president of Associated Student Government on April 14.
4/15/10 - Center for Talent Development Student Wins $25,000 for 'Green' Invention
Starting with an idea he had for a Center for Talent Development aerodynamics project, Highland Park High School freshman Jonny Cohen won a $25,000 grant through Pepsi's Refresh Project to develop his invention for a shield against bus exhaust emissions.
4/13/10 - Daily Northwestern Features Senior Lacrosse Star Danielle Spencer
One of the best players to go through the lacrosse program, senior Danielle Spencer has contributed to the Wildcats’ last three championships and won’t accept anything less than winning one more to conclude her Northwestern career, according to the Daily Northwestern.
4/13/10
- David Figlio Explains How Home Prices Are Tied to Test Scores
May 2010 News Stories
- Professor Thomas Cook Leads New MacArthur Network on Housing Impacts
Researchers led by professor Thomas Cook received a $3.9 million grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to establish a research network for a major longitudinal study of how housing affects children.
5/27/10 - Professor Uri Wilensky's NetLogo Software Selected for National Science Olympiad
As top science students competing in the National Science Olympiad tournament created computer models for their event, they relied on software created by School of Education and Social Policy professor Uri Wilensky.
5/21/10 - MSLOC Projects Encourage Local and Organic Foods in Illinois Schools
Four projects led by graduate students in the Master of Science in Learning and Organizational Change program are benefiting organizations working to increase locally grown and organic foods in Illinois schools.
5/20/10 - Junior Meixi Ng Wins Humanitarian Award
SESP junior Meixi Ng, whose humanitarian advocacy on campus, locally and abroad belies her young age, is the first recipient of the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Prize for Community Service.
5/19/10 - Seven Faculty, Staff Members Voted to Honor Roll
Seven School of Education and Social Policy faculty and staff members were named to the 2010 Faculty Honor Roll. Undergraduate students voted in a campus-wide election held by Associated Student Government.
5/19/10 - SESP Undergrads Lead Student Organizations
Numerous SESP students are at the helm of major organizations at Northwestern University.
5/19/10 - SESP Honors 2009 Golden Apple Fellows at Reception
Ten Golden Apple Fellows had a sabbatical at Northwestern this spring, as a special feature of winning the Golden Apple Award for Teaching Excellence in 2009. The School of Education and Social Policy honored the fellows at a reception in Annenberg Hall on May 6.
5/19/10 - New York Times Cites Jim Rosenbaum, Morton Schapiro on Value of Alternatives to College
A New York Times article outlines professor Jim Rosenbaum's view that for some students vocational training is better than college. Northwestern president Morton Schapiro presents the economic argument for the value of a college education.
5/16/10 - NU-TEACH Grad Rosalind Kline-Thomas Wins Golden Apple Award
Rosalind Kline-Thomas, a graduate of the School of Education and Social Policy's NU-TEACH alternative certification program and a current student in the Master of Science in Education program, won the Golden Apple Award for Teaching Excellence.
5/12/10 - David Rapp Embarks on Project to Research Teaching with Comic Books
Assistant professor David Rapp is researching the use of comic books in the school curriculum, in partnership with the organization Reading with Pictures. The project is outlined in Chicagoist.
5/15/10 - Two PhD Students Win Spencer Dissertation Fellowships
Melissa Luna, a doctoral student in the Learning Sciences program, and Cassandra Hart, a doctoral student in the Human Development and Social Policy program, both won Spencer Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships.
5/11/10 - iLabs Wins Award as National Example in Science Education
The Center for Excellence in Education presented an award to the Office of STEM Education Partnerships in April for its contribution to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning.
5/12/10 - PhD Student Michelle Wilkerson-Jerde Wins Award for Best Paper
Michelle Wilkerson-Jerde, a PhD student in Learning Sciences, won the award for Best Student Paper from the American Education Research Association's Special Interest Group in Learning Sciences and Advanced Technologies in Learning.
5/11/10 - Senior Sam Nayman Wins Coro Fellowship
Senior Sam Nayman is a winner of the Coro Fellowship, which provides an intensive nine-month public affairs program in one of seven U.S. cities.
5/6/10 - National Conference on May 21 Looks at Research Data on Students
The Multidisciplinary Program in Education Sciences is hosting a conference on May 21 to address the topic of administrative data on students. It brings scholars from across the nation to Northwestern.
1/7/10 - Heather Langerman (BS09) Capitalizes on Sports for Social Change
Heather Langerman (BS09) is contributing to solving urban issues through her work with a small nonprofit called Up2Us, which uses sports as a tool for youth development.
5/5/10 - Sophie Haroutunian-Gordon Inspires Teachers, Students with Interpretive Discussion
Sophie Haroutunian-Gordon visits Abington Friends School in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, where her former student Jenny Burkholder teaches, to demonstrate interpretive discussion.
5/4/10
- Professor Thomas Cook Leads New MacArthur Network on Housing Impacts
June 2010 News Stories
- USA Today Features James Rosenbaum's Study on Coaching Students to Aim for College
An article in USA Today discusses professor James Rosenbaum's research on a Chicago Public Schools advising model that can help qualified students aim for college. "Coaches help make explicit the knowledge that is implicitly known by many middle-class families and students," says Rosenbaum.
6/30/10 - Carol Lee Leads Major Reading for Understanding Project for Northwestern
Northwestern University is a member of a multi-institutional research team awarded a $19.2 million grant from the Institute of Education Sciences to study and improve reading comprehension among middle school and high school students. Professor Carol Lee is leading the project for Northwestern.
6/27/10 - Meixi Ng (BS10) Blogs about Around-the-World School Study
Meixi Ng (BS10), the winner of the Circumnavigator Club Foundation’s Around-the-World Study Grant, posts a continuing blog about her travels to observe transformative education in marginalized communities around the world.
6/23/10 - Largest SESP Convocation in History Features Talk by Claude Steele
The Convocation of the School of Education and Social Policy on June 19 offered a celebration and send-off for 221 graduates, the largest graduating class in the history of the School. The ceremony featured a speech by prominent social psychologist Claude Steele.
6/22/10 - Civic Engagement Students Present Capstone Projects
Students completing SESP's Certificate in Civic Engagement program in 2010 presented posters of their capstone projects at a reception on June 4.
6/16/10 - Wall Street Journal Quotes David Figlio on the Need for Experimentation in Education
In an article detailing schools' financial struggles, the Wall Street Journal quotes SESP professor David Figlio, who encourages experimentation in education to see what works.
6/23/10 - Donor Challenge Supports SESP
If 100 donors contribute to the School's Annual Fund by June 30, SESP parents Valerie and Marten Hoekstra will donate $250 for each donor to the School of Education and Social Policy.
6/23/10 - MSLOC Student Jake Elster Starts Go Local Chicago Initiative
The Chicago Tribune features entrepreneur Jake Elster, a student in the Master of Science in Learning and Organizational Change program and founder of Crop to Cup coffee company. He co-founded an initiative called Go Local Chicago to promote local products to corporations interested in being "green."
6/16/10 - Christian Science Monitor: Professor David Figlio Comments on How Names Impact Children
A name has long-lasting effect on a child's behavior, academic course work, treatment and self-esteem, according to research by professor David Figlio.
6/14/10 - Senior Honors Students Present Research
Twelve School of Education and Social Policy seniors in the undergraduate honors program presented posters of their research projects on June 4 at Annenberg Hall.
6/9/10 - NU-TEACH Grad Paul Karafiol Receives Presidential Teacher Award
President Obama named Paul Karafiol, a graduate of the NU-TEACH alternative certification program, a recipient of the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
6/9/10 - Superdawg Owner Florence Berman (BS47) Discusses 62 Years of Success
For 62 years Florence Berman (BS47) and her husband have run Superdawg, a successful family business and a Chicago landmark. Berman talks with a group of SESP undergraduates on a visit through the learning and organizational change program.
6/9/10 - Senior Lindsey Kundel Wins English Prize
Lindsey Kundel, a senior majoring in secondary teaching, received two prizes from the English Department at a departmental honors ceremony on May 28.
6/8/10 - Rosemary Russ Selected as NAE/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellow
Research assistant professor Rosemary Russ is one of 20 education scholars nationwide chosen to be National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellows.
6/4/10 - Chicago High School Scientists Showcase Projects, Meet President
Science projects ranging from custom-designed roller coasters to habitat-sensitive buildings were on display at a project showcase for Chicago high school students hosted by SESP on May 24, where Northwestern University President Morton Schapiro addressed the 175 students from seven high schools.
6/3/10 - St. Pete Times Cites Professor David Figlio's New Study on School Vouchers
Professor David Figlio's new study of Florida's school voucher system for low-income students shows that competition from private-school vouchers has led to small improvements in public schools.
6/2/10 - Center for Talent Development Holds Family Conference June 26
SESP's Center for Talent Development is hosting a conference for gifted students and their families called "Opportunities for the Future" on Saturday, June 26, from 1 to 5:15 p.m.
6/3/10 - Northwestern Magazine: Outstanding Seniors Meixi Ng, Carla Argueta
Northwestern Magazine profiles two social policy majors who are human rights activists. Meixi Ng co-founded Amber Initiative, dedicated to fighting human trafficking, and Carla Argueta does volunteer service in Latin and South America.
6/3/10 - Senior Nicole Pauly Selected for National Pro Fastpitch Team
The Chicago Bandits National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) team signed senior Nicole Pauly, a Wildcat softball star, after a spectacular performance at tryouts.
6/2/10
- USA Today Features James Rosenbaum's Study on Coaching Students to Aim for College
July 2010 News Stories
- New York Times: Diane Schanzenbach’s New Study Shows Long-Term Payoff for Good Start in School
A new study by Diane Schanzenbach and colleagues at Harvard and University and California-Berkeley found that students with better teachers learned more in kindergarten — and earned more as young adults. Their study of almost 12,000 children discovered the legacy of kindergarten in adulthood.
7/28/10 - Reach for the Stars Puts Scientists in Classrooms
Northwestern University graduate scientists will spend a year teaching in area schools and sharing cutting-edge research, thanks to a $2.7 million National Science Foundation grant. SESP research associate professor Kemi Jona is co-principal investigator on the grant.
7/28/10 - MSEd Alumni Panel Highlights Interpretive Discussion in Classroom, Workplace
At an alumni event for the Master of Science in Education program on July 14, four alumni shed light on the effectiveness of interpretive discussion in schools and the workplace.
7/20/10 - Workforce Solutions: MSLOC Instructor Aaron Olson Discusses Learning Program Effectiveness
Learning professionals often overlook the role of governance in ensuring program effectiveness, according to Aaron Olson, global director of talent programs at Hewitt Associates and adjunct faculty in the MSLOC program. Olson’s analysis of this topic appears in Workforce Solutions Review.
7/20/10 - New Motorola Grant Fosters High School Research in Math and Science
Growing students into science leaders is the ultimate aim of a new grant from the Motorola Foundation for the Office of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education Partnerships (OSEP) to develop a research program for high school students.
7/15/10 - Two Seniors Win Summer Undergraduate Research Grants
Seniors Talia Seidman and Kate Stephensen have been awarded 2010 Summer Undergraduate Research Grants from the Office of the Provost.
7/15/10 - Doctoral Student Vivian Wong Selected as IES Outstanding Predoctoral Fellow
In recognition of her research work at Northwestern, Vivian Wong, a doctoral student in the Human Development and Social Policy program, was named the Institute of Education Sciences 2010 Outstanding Predoctoral Fellow.
7/14/10 - Vancouver Sun Features Assistant Professor Mesmin Destin's New Study on Motivating Students
Students who see the link between college education and income are more likely to do homework in school, assistant professor Mesmin Destin found in a recent study of Detroit youth. The Vancouver Sun features the study in their story "Show Them the Money."
7/13/10 - David Figlio Finds Video Lectures Don't Quite Measure Up for Student Learning
A study led by professor David Figlio found evidence that students who watched video lectures instead of live lectures performed slightly worse in a college course.
7/7/10
- New York Times: Diane Schanzenbach’s New Study Shows Long-Term Payoff for Good Start in School
August 2010 News Stories
- Center for Talent Development to Host Educator Workshop on October 16
The Center for Talent Development will host a daylong educator workshop on differentiated instruction for gifted learners featuring Joyce VanTassel-Baska, professor emerita at the College of William and Mary.
8/31/10 - Meaningful Science Project Receives Boeing Grant for Lesson Planning, Leadership
With a recent grant from Boeing, the Meaningful Science Consortium (MSC) is developing an enhanced lesson planning tool and leadership development workshops for the Chicago public high schools that use its science curriculum.
8/19/10 - Five Outstanding Scholars Join SESP Faculty
The School of Education and Social Policy is pleased to welcome five new professors, Mesmin Destin, Matt Easterday, Jonathan Guryan, Kirabo Jackson and Diane Schanzenbach.
8/11/10 - Two Alums Start Higher Education Professional Development Organization
Adam Cebulski (MS10) and Meghan Beltmann (MS09) founded a new organization, AHEAD@NU, to provide professional development and a wider institutional context for Northwestern staff members.
8/17/10 - Staffer Megan Redfearn Selected as a Fellow at Northwestern's Center for Leadership
Megan Redfearn, the adviser for learning and organizational change students, was named a fellow in Northwestern's selective Center for Leadership, participating in University outreach for the coming year.
8/11/10 - Three SESP Grads Chosen as NUPIP Fellows
Three 2010 graduates of SESP, Aaron Beswick, Zoya Kolkin and Rachael Suffrin, were selected as fellows of the Northwestern University Public Interest Program.
8/3/10
- Center for Talent Development to Host Educator Workshop on October 16
September 2010 News Stories
- Office of STEM Education Partnerships Awarded HP Grant for Online Education in Science
Northwestern University has received a grant to participate in HP’s Catalyst Initiative, a global social innovation program designed to develop more effective approaches to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.
9/28/10 - MSLOC Student Rashaun Sourles Wins Entrepreneur Award for Green Business
Rashaun Sourles, a student in the Master of Science in Learning and Organizational Change (MSLOC) program, won an entrepreneur award for an environmental start-up business that clarifies pond water.
9/28/10 - Neugarten Lecture Features Tom Schuller on October 5
“Learning across the Life Span: New Century, New Challenges” will be the topic when the Human Development and Social Policy program presents the Bernice Neugarten Memorial Lecture at 5 p.m. on October 5 in Annenberg Hall. The featured speaker will be Tom Schuller, author of 15 books and director of Longview, a London think tank promoting life course research.
9/22/10 - New Study Finds Good Preschools Prevent Problems for Low-Income Kids
Children from low-income families who attend high-quality preschool programs are less likely to develop behavior problems later in childhood, according to a new study by Elizabeth Votruba-Drzal (PhD04), SESP professor Lindsay Chase-Lansdale, Christine Li-Grining (PhD06) and other researchers.
9/21/10 - Senior Claire Lew, Professor Dan Lewis Address New Students at President's Convocation
Along President Morton Schapiro, Claire Lew, president of Associated Student Government, and Dan Lewis, chair of the One Book, One Northwestern project, spoke to new Northwestern students at the convocation that wrapped up Wildcat Welcome.
9/21/10 - Project Excite Graduate Enrolls at Northwestern
Northwestern freshman Chance Carter, who graduated from the Project Excite program that advances the science and mathematics skills of gifted minority students in Evanston schools, is the first student from Project Excite to enroll at the University.
9/16/10 - New York Times Cites Professor Jonathan Guryan on Rising Wages for African Americans
A New York Times article explaining the rise in happiness for African Americans over the past three decades summarizes professor Jonathan Guryan's research showing that the black-white pay gap has lessened slightly.
9/15/10 - Paula Olszewski-Kubilius Comments on Potential of Child Prodigies
In a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article, Center for Talent Development director Paula Olszewski-Kubilius comments on why the transition from child prodigy to virtuoso is rare.
9/14/10 - Rx for Social Disparities in Health
From the womb to the classroom and beyond, research at the School of Education and Social Policy and Northwestern University is exploring ways to overcome the negative impact of social disparities on health and well-being. Professor Lindsay Chase-Lansdale is founding director of Cells to Society, which seeks to understand how social differences impact health. Associate professor Diane Schanzenbach is examining critical links between education and health, such as those involving school lunches and recess.
10/2/13 - Wildcat Coach Pat Fitzgerald (BS97) on a Roll as 'Mr. Intensity'
Northwestern magazine profiles Pat Fitzgerald (BS97), a SESP organizational development graduate who is leading Northwestern football to great heights. Under "Mr. Intensity," the Wildcats have won 17 games over their last two seasons and are gunning for an unprecedented third consecutive bowl berth.
9/14/10 - New York Times Cites Professor Jonathan Guryan's Study of For-Profit Colleges
Associate professor Jonathan Guryan's research on for-profit colleges indicates that a proposed government regulation would have unintended consequences disproportionately affecting poor, black and Hispanic students, who attend for-profits at higher rates.
9/9/10 - New York Times Discusses Professor David Figlio's Study of Online Education
The New York Times discusses an experimental study by professor David Figlio comparing online lectures with face-to-face teaching. The research found students in online lectures performed slightly worse, especially certain groups of students.
9/9/10 - SESP Welcomes New Students as School Year Begins
The School of Education and Social Policy will welcome 45 new undergraduates and 134 new graduate students this fall.
9/1/10 - Beating the Odds: Overcoming Social Disparities in Education
Jonathan Guryan, Kirabo Jackson and Mesmin Destin, all faculty members in the Human Development and Social Policy program, bring fresh approaches to studying social disparities in educational outcomes. Their explorations suggest that educators would do well to consider a variety of factors — community and cultural settings and technology, just to name a few — in looking for possible solutions.
10/16/13
- Office of STEM Education Partnerships Awarded HP Grant for Online Education in Science
October 2010 News Stories
- New York Post: Professor David Figlio Discusses Consequences of Baby Names
Professor David Figlio has researched the effects baby names have on children, such as their school behavior and degrees earned. New York Post reports his comments in "What's in a Name."
10/28/10 - SESP Grad Corbin Bryant (BS10) Finalist for Sportsmanship Award
SESP graduate Corbin Bryant (BS10) is one of 10 finalists for the sixth annual Awards and Recognition Association sportsmanship award, given to one outstanding NCAA Division I collegiate football player who best personifies the spirit of sportsmanship. A "redshirt senior," he is playing for the Wildcats this season.
10/28/10 - Introducing Teacher in Residence Paula Millerd
This year's Teacher in Residence is Paula Millerd, a sixth-grade teacher in the Omaha Public Schools system. Each year, the School of Education and Social Policy awards an academic-year sabbatical to a mathematics or science teacher to become part of the School's teaching and learning community.
10/28/10 - Aurora School District Applauds BLAST Saturday Enrichment Program
West Aurora High School applauds the Center for Talent Development's Saturday enrichment program in mathematics and science called Building Learning Achieving Succeeding Today — or BLAST.
10/26/10 - Wall Street Journal: Jonathan Guryan's Research on Lotteries to Get Poor to Save More
Prize Linked Savings Accounts - bank accounts that that incorporate a lottery to give savers a chance to win cash - could be a good way to get low-income Americans to save more money, according to associate professor Jonathan Guryan's research published by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
10/19/10 - Alums Featured in Sun-Times for Payton Prep $175K Math Award
Scott Galson (MS06) teaches AP math and P.J. Karafiol is department chair at Walter Payton High School, which won the Intel Star Innovator Award, given to the school that “best exemplifies innovative math and/or science programs.” Payton won $175,000 in grants, software and technology. Both Galson and Karafiol are NU-TEACH graduates.
10/18/10 - Discovery News: David Figlio Comments on Drawbacks of Online Classes
In a Discovery News article about online learning, professor David Figlio comments on his research showing that the Internet-based delivery of traditional classes has different effects on different types of students.
10/19/10 - Accomplished Educator Carrie Kamm (MS98) Collaborates on 'Teacherpreneur' Book
Carrie Jenkins Kamm (MS98) has collaborated on a new book about to be published by Teachers College Press, Teaching 2030: What We Must Do for Our Students and Our Public Schools — Now and in the Future. A “teacherpreneur,” she works to help struggling Chicago public schools through the Academy of Urban School Leadership and is a member of the TeacherSolutions 2030 Team, a group of accomplished educators assembled by the nonprofit Center for Teaching Quality.
10/19/10 - Project Excite Teacher Lisa Bernstein Wins Award for Math Teaching
Lisa Bernstein, a longtime Project Excite teacher at Bessie Rhodes Magnet School won the Excellence in Elementary Mathematics Teaching Award from the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
10/19/10 - Professors Lee and Rosenbaum Lead Commentary on Waiting for Superman
At a School of Education and Social Policy film showing and panel discussion of Waiting for Superman on October 12, SESP professors James Rosenbaum and Carol Lee offered comments to put the film into perspective.
10/13/10 - Newsweek: Professor David Figlio's Study Links Accountability to Teachers Quitting
According to a new study of accountability in Florida schools, professor David Figlio found that in 60 schools labeled failing, 30 percent of the teachers quit, usually for higher-achieving schools. Figlio comments in Newsweek.
10/11/10 - Daily Northwestern Features Project Excite's First Wildcat
"Ten Years in the Making" tells the story of Northwestern freshman Chance Carter, the first graduate of SESP's Project Excite to attend the University. This program of the Center for Talent Development advances the mathematics and science skills of gifted minority students in Evanston schools.
10/6/10 - SESP Goes to the Movies to See Waiting for Superman
Students, faculty and staff of the School of Education and Social Policy are going on an outing to see the new documentary film on education called Waiting for Superman on October 12.
10/5/10 - NPR Interviews Professor Jim Rosenbaum about Community Colleges
On the occasion of the first White House summit on community colleges, National Public Radio interviews professor James Rosenbaum, who comments that community colleges need to do a better job of giving students job credentials.
10/5/10 - New York Times Quotes Dan McAdams in Commentary on Why Indiscretions Appear Youthful
"Why All Indiscretions Appear Youthful" by Benedict Carey in The New York Times quotes professor Dan McAdams on redemption as a thematic staple of the life stories that contented American adults tell about themselves.
10/5/10
- New York Post: Professor David Figlio Discusses Consequences of Baby Names
November 2010 News Stories
- Chicago Tribune: John McKnight Advises How to Build Community
Retired SESP professor John McKnight, who recently co-wrote The Abundant Community: Awakening the Power of Family and Communities, a primer about building community, advises how to connect with neighbors in a Chicago Tribune article.
11/3/10 - Baldwin Learning Studio Will Be Dedicated on November 19
A dedication ceremony for the Baldwin Learning Studio will be held at 3:30 p.m. on November 19. The program includes a demonstration of the new features.
11/2/10 - Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky Visits 'Reach for the Stars' Classrooms
Illinois Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky visited Evanston Township High School to observe the Reach for the Stars project that puts Northwestern graduate scientists into K-12 classrooms. SESP faculty member Kemi Jona is co-principal investigator for the project.
11/4/10 - New York Times Reports David Figlio's Study of Online Learning
Professor David Figlio's study for the National Bureau of Economic Research comparing learning from online lectures and face-to-face lectures found that certain groups of online students did notably worse, especially Hispanics and males.
11/5/10 - SESP Researchers Use New Tools for Understanding Education Policy
Northwestern University’s pioneering work in applying a complex systems approach to education policy was highlighted in the latest issue of Science magazine. SESP professor Uri Wilensky and PhD alumnus Spiro Maroulis are two of the key researchers.
11/5/10 - Washington Post: Dan McAdams Blogs about What Bush Left Out of His Book
Professor Dan McAdams, whose new book is George W. Bush and the Redemptive Dream, blogs in the Washington Post about the former president's story of redemption and the key elements of "real drama" that he left out of Decision Points.
11/17/10 - Study of Illinois Teacher Education Programs Rates SESP Highest
Northwestern University rates highest of all 111 teacher education programs at 53 institutions in Illinois, based on a comprehensive new study conducted by the National Council on Teacher Quality. Northwestern’s grade of A- contrasts with the average score for the state’s teacher education programs of C-.
11/9/10 - Four Seniors Win Undergraduate Research Grants
SESP seniors Zhen Cheng, Rebecca Crook, Julie Kornfeld and Meixi Ng were awarded $1,000 Undergraduate Research Grants from the Northwestern University Office of the Provost.
11/18/10 - Alumnae Honors Founder of Guatemala Food Program Sandy Neville Haggart (BS65)
Sandy Neville Haggart (BS65), an international volunteer whose Feed the Dream program serves 1,000 Guatemalans each day, was honored with the 2010 Northwestern University Alumnae Award.
11/23/10 - ‘Freezing Time’ Project Studies Teachers’ Attention
In the Freezing Time project, Miriam Sherin and Bruce Sherin are examining the ways teachers attend to the complexity of classroom interactions and are supporting teachers in learning to attend to consequential events that take place in the classroom through the use of video reflection.
12/8/10 - Education Week: Diane Schanzenbach Explains Long-Term Impact of Small Classes
In an Education Week article on class size, SESP associate professor Diane Schanzenbach cites research showing that students who had been in small classes in their early years had better academic and personal outcomes throughout their school years and beyond.
11/24/10 - New Yorker Review of Bush's Memoir Cites Dan McAdams's New Book
George Packer's review of Decision Points in the New Yorker points out that professor Dan McAdams's new book George Bush and the Redemptive Dream portrays September 11 experience as the geopolitical version of Bush's personal story of redemption and mission.
11/29/10
- Chicago Tribune: John McKnight Advises How to Build Community
December 2010 News Stories
- Northwestern Lab Day Immerses Evanston Students in Science
The Office of STEM Education Partnerships hosted Evanston Township High School science students for a Lab Day featuring visits to five science labs and a panel discussion with industry representatives.
12/2/10 - Promote 360 Event Inaugurates Mentoring with Evanston Students
Promote 360, the SESP student organization dedicated to minority empowerment, gave about 30 juniors from Evanston Township High School a taste of college life on November 17. A full-day visit marked the beginning of a yearlong relationship between the juniors and mentors from Northwestern.
12/2/10 - Carol Lee Named Tarry Professor of Education and Social Policy
SESP professor of learning sciences Carol Lee, an internationally known education researcher, was named the Edwina S. Tarry Professor of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University.
12/14/10 - Students, Faculty Demonstrate New Technology at Baldwin Learning Studio Dedication
The Eleanor S. Baldwin Learning Studio was dedicated recently at an event that featured demonstrations of how the media-rich technology can be used effectively to improve the processes of teaching, learning and research.
12/3/10 - Prodigal Son: Dan McAdams Releases New Book about George Bush
In his new book George W. Bush and the Redemptive Dream, Professor Dan McAdams analyzes Bush's distinct personality as central to his decision to invade Iraq.
12/3/10 - Senior Daniel Basco Researches Health Policy, Publishes Journal Article
Senior Daniel Basco’s interest in health policy and work with Northwestern researchers earned him publication in an academic journal.
12/14/10 - Three More Seniors Win Undergraduate Research Grants
Seniors Michael Alperin, Rosey Martinez and Priya Suresh won $1,000 Undergraduate Research Grants from the Northwestern University Office of the Provost in December. Seven SESP students won grants this fall.
12/14/10 - Chicago Defender Profiles Scholar Athlete Corbin Bryant (BS10)
Chicago Defender tells how Morgan Park High School graduate Corbin Bryant (BS10) "took his studies as seriously as his sports," and today the SESP learning and organizational change graduate is a leader on the Northwestern University football team and a graduate student in sports management.
12/16/10 - Carol Lee's 2010 AERA Presidential Address Published
As president, Carol Lee addressed the American Education Research Association at its 2010 annual meeting on "Soaring Above the Clouds, Delving the Ocean's Depths: Understanding the Ecologies of Human Learning and the Challenge for Education Science." The address is now published in Education Researcher.
12/29/10 - David Figlio Finds House Prices Jump in High-Performing School Districts
Real estate prices react to measures of school performance, according to professor David Figlio's research, reported by financial publisher HSH Associates.
12/29/10
- Northwestern Lab Day Immerses Evanston Students in Science
