2022 News Stories

2022 News Stories

  • December 2022 News Stories

    • Northwestern Confers Dual Master’s Degrees  
      The world’s first cohort of students to earn a dual master’s degree in applied economics and social and economic policy received their diplomas on Dec. 9, 2022, at Northwestern University’s McCormick Auditorium during a ceremony that highlighted the importance of cross-cultural understanding.
      12/28/22

    • Exec Ed Coaching Certificate Earns Distinction
      Northwestern University’s leadership coaching certificate for experienced professionals has been recognized by the non-profit Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE).
      12/16/22

    • Spillane Starts Global Fellowship  
      Seven junior scholars from around the world will be attending the International Congress For School Effectiveness and Improvement Congress 2023 in Chile thanks in part to a new fellowship program made possible by Northwestern University professor James Spillane.
      12/8/22

    • Dan Lewis: “Where Do We Go From Here?”
      Shadd Maruna’s introduction to graduate school was Dan A. Lewis’s “terrifying and electrifying” proseminar class, where students were expected to read a book a week. There was no lecture, no spoon feeding. Lewis demanded participation.
      12/7/22

  • November 2022 News Stories

    • Researchers Develop Novel Way to Assess DEI Programs  
      A systematic planning tool called “change mapping” can help analyze whether complex diversity, equity, and inclusion programs or initiatives are working, according to new research by Northwestern University alumna Jue Wu (PhD21).
      11/28/22

    • What if Parents Designed Education Systems?
      A new report co-authored by Northwestern University professor James Spillane explores the benefits of building education systems that develop the “whole” child and use the same rigor and comprehensive care that a parent might invest in their own offspring.
      11/28/22

    • Don’t Underestimate the Art of Teaching  
      Lifting the requirements for certifications, licensures, and teacher preparation programs is a shortsighted and dangerous way to address the teacher shortage, educator Corey Winchester wrote in EdSurge.
      11/21/22

    • McAdams’ New Book Puts The ‘Person’ Back into Personality
      The latest book by Northwestern University’s Dan P. McAdams brings personality psychology alive by combining cutting edge research with the personal stories of more than two dozen celebrities, writers, entrepreneurs, and other notable figures.
      11/10/22

    • New Grant Assesses Ending the Subminimum Wage
      Northwestern University economist Michelle Yin has received a $4.29 million grant from the US Department of Education to assess a Virginia intervention designed to end the practice of paying less than the minimum wage to people with disabilities.
      11/3/22

  • October 2022 News Stories

    • Welcome to SESP, President Schill
      Northwestern University President Michael Schill met with Interim Dean Dan P. McAdams, students, faculty, and staff and learned about several of SESP’s research initiatives and programs during his first visit to the School of Education and Social Policy.
      11/1/22

    • Students Honor Top Faculty, Staff
      Six members of Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy community were selected to the 2021-22 Associated Student Government Faculty and Administrator Honor Roll for their teaching, dedication, and care for students.
      10/31/22

    • Schwandt’s Research Finds Pandemic ‘Baby Bump’
      Working from home may have boosted fertility among college-educated women, according to a new National Bureau of Economic Research working paper co-authored by Northwestern University economist Hannes Schwandt.
      10/26/22

    • Making Science More Meaningful
      Northwestern University researchers and their partners received a $7.5 million grant to develop an innovative research-based science curriculum for elementary school classrooms, supported by professional learning resources for teachers.
      10/25/22

    • SESP in the Media: October 2022
      An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
      4/12/20

    • Apply Now for E4 Visiting Scholar Program
      The E4 Early Career Visiting Scholar Program is currently seeking four early career pre-tenure researchers to conduct K-12 education research at Northwestern University's Center for Education Efficacy, Excellence, and Equity (E4) during the 2023-24 academic year.
      10/12/22

    • Brian Reiser Appointed Orrington Lunt Professor
      Northwestern University’s Brian Reiser, whose life work has helped make science education more relevant and meaningful for children, has been appointed the Orrington Lunt Professor of Education and Social Policy.
      10/10/22

    • OpEd: The Pitfalls of School Metrics
      One size-fits-all metrics don’t fairly measure what matters most in many schools – a student’s mental health, Northwestern University sociologist Simone Ispa-Landa argues in a recent opinion piece in the Washington Post.
      10/6/22

    • Pinkard Appointed Alice Hamilton Professor
      School of Education and Social Policy alumna Nichole Pinkard (PhD98), a leading thinker on the design of educational ecosystems, was appointed the inaugural Alice Hamilton Professor of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy.
      10/4/22

  • August 2022 News Stories

    • Belonging: A New Podcast for Teachers
      When Georgia middle school teacher Erica Young approached a white colleague about her use of the phrase “cotton picking”, the conversation promised to be tense.
      9/27/22

    • Schwandt Promoted to Associate Professor
      Hannes Schwandt, an economist who studies the relationships between health, wealth, and overall well-being, has been promoted to associate professor of human development and social policy at the School of Education and Social Policy.
      9/14/22

    • SESP Adds International Practicum Site
      Undergraduates at Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy have a new option for their junior year practicum: Milan, Italy.
      9/7/22

    • Shapiro Promoted to Associate Professor of Instruction
      Northwestern University sociologist Lilah Shapiro, who is known for inspiring her students to think carefully and critically about their responsibilities in our complex world, has been promoted to associate professor of instruction at the School of Education and Social Policy.
      9/7/22

    • Undergraduate Elementary Teaching Program Launched
      Northwestern's School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) has opened a new pathway for aspiring teachers by creating a concentration in undergraduate elementary teaching that follows an interdisciplinary curriculum.
      9/6/22

    • SESP in the Media: September 2022
      An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
      4/12/20

  • August 2022 News Stories

    • Lindsay Chase-Lansdale: ‘A Builder, Connector, Mentor’
      Northwestern University’s Lindsay Chase-Lansdale has profoundly shaped the field of developmental psychology and the people working in it, a panel of top scholars said during a recent celebration of her scholarship at Annenberg Hall.
      8/27/22

    • Sabol Promoted to Associate Professor
      Psychologist Terri Sabol, who examines how classrooms, families and neighborhoods impact a child’s early development, has been promoted to associate professor of human development and social policy at Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy.
      8/26/22

    • Muskin, Stein Win Honorable Mention in Essay Contest
      Graduate students Melanie Muskin and Andrew Stein received honorable mention in the Society for Psychological Study of Social Issues essay contest, which challenged writers to address the legacy of white supremacy and Western dominance in psychology.
      8/26/22

    • Researchers Study Evanston’s Guaranteed Income Program
      A team of graduate students is examining the impact of new guaranteed income program, a joint initiative between the University and the City of Evanston to address economic insecurity.
      8/23/22

    • What Happens When More Four-Year-Olds Attend Preschool?
      Northwestern University researchers, in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, the Office of the Mayor of Chicago, and the Chicago Department of Family Support and Services, are studying how the recent expansion of universal prekindergarten in Chicago will impact students from lower income backgrounds.
      8/23/22

    • Mike Horn Promoted to Full Professor
      Michael Horn, whose research has modernized museums and introduced musical approaches to coding, has been promoted to full professor at Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy.
      8/23/22

    • SESP in the Media: August 2022
      An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
      4/12/20

  • July 2022 News Stories

    • Scott to Lead Innovation and Program Development
      Northwestern University’s Kimberly Scott was named associate dean for innovation and program development at the School of Education and Social Policy, Interim Dean Dan P. McAdams announced.
      7/26/22

    • SESP in the Media: July 2022
      An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
      4/12/20

    • Recent Grad Dedicates a Year to Community Service
      School of Education and Social Policy graduate Samira Asseh received a 2022–2023 Project Horseshoe Farm Fellowship, a rigorous and intensive year of volunteer service and learning in the community health field.
      7/18/22

    • SESP Students, Alumni Win Spencer Fellowships
      Northwestern University’s Jessica Marshall, a doctoral student in the learning sciences program, and two School of Education and Social Policy alumni were among the 35 scholars who received 2022 National Academy of Education/Spencer Dissertation Fellowships.
      7/5/22

    • MSLOC Receives STEM Designation
      The Master's in Learning and Organizational Change program has been designated a new STEM training opportunity for international students by the US Department of Homeland Security.
      7/5/22

  • June 2022 News Stories

    • Graduate Students Honored for Leadership, Scholarship
      Julissa Muñiz, who earned her PhD in Human Development and Social Policy, was named the School of Education and Social Policy's Outstanding Alumna, in part for founding the first graduate student organization for Latinx students, Comunidad Latinx.
      6/17/22

    • Undergrads Win Fellowships, Fulbrights, and More
      Morgan Hodges (BS22), who plans to pursue her master's in counseling, received the School of Education and Social Policy's Outstanding Leadership Award from the Northwestern Alumni Association. She was one of dozens of undergrads who earned accolades this year.
      6/17/22

    • Convocation 2022: ‘A Tender Time in Education’
      Scholar Na’ilah Suad Nasir urged graduates to help build a “true multicultural democracy” by rethinking the status quo during the School of Education and Social Policy’s 2022 convocation celebration at Northwestern University’s Ryan Fieldhouse.
      6/15/22

    • Civic Engagement: Learning to Make a Difference
      Students in Northwestern University’s Civic Engagement Certificate Program partnered with the Rotary Club of Evanston and C & W Market to help fight local food insecurity.
      6/12/22

    • Kelter Wins Presidential Fellowship
      Jacob Kelter, who studies how the power of computer modeling and simulations can help solve some of society’s most complex problems, received the prestigious Presidential Fellowship at Northwestern University.
      6/9/22

    • Lifelong Learners Earn Doctorates
      Eight Northwestern University graduate students recently reached the pinnacle of education, earning doctoral degrees in three of the School of Education and Social Policy's pioneering programs: Learning Sciences, Human Development and Social Policy, and Computer Science and Learning Sciences (CS + LS), a joint degree with the McCormick School of Engineering.
      6/8/22

    • Bonilla Promoted to Associate Professor
      Northwestern University’s Tabitha Bonilla, a political scientist who studies how communication influences public support for policies, has been promoted to associate professor of human development and social policy at the School of Education and Social Policy.
      6/6/22

    • Meet SESP’s 2022 Senior Honors Students
      Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy honors students were recognized for rigorous and relevant scholarship by interim Dean Dan P. McAdams, Professor David Rapp, Assistant Dean Susan Olson and faculty members during a ceremony and poster presentation session.
      6/6/22

  • May 2022 News Stories

    • Uttal Wins Research Translation Award
      David Uttal received the 2022 International Mind, Brain and Education Society’s translation award for his work strengthening the links between research and practice in both schools and informal contexts such as museums and community centers.
      5/25/22

    • SESP Welcomes First Early Career Visiting Scholars
      Scholars Sofia Bahena and Camila Morales have been named the inaugural early career visiting fellows at Northwestern University's Center for Education Efficacy, Excellence, and Equity (E4) during the 2022-23 academic year.
      5/24/22

    • The Future of Music: Making Beats With Code
      A new book by Northwestern University professor Mike Horn offers a powerful new way to create music that can be linked with digital production tools of the future.
      5/24/22

    • Gift from Potocsnak Family Endows College Prep Program
      The Potocsnak family has made a new multimillion-dollar gift to Northwestern in honor of President Morton Schapiro, who concludes his tenure in August after 13 years at the University.
      5/16/22

    • Convocation Features Spencer President Na’ilah Suad Nasir
      Na’ilah Suad Nasir, president of the Chicago-based Spencer Foundation, will address more than 300 undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral graduates during the 2022 School of Education and Social Policy Convocation ceremony.
      3/30/22

    • Spillane Honored for Mentoring Young Scholars
      James Spillane received the 2022 Spencer Foundation Mentor Award for his generous, wise, and decades-long support of the next generation of scholars.
      5/6/22

    • SESP in the Media: May 2022
      An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
      4/12/20

    • SESP Equity Book Club: Leigh Patel
      Author and professor Leigh Patel will discuss her latest book No Study Without Struggle: Confronting Settler Colonialism in Higher Education during the final SESP Equity Book Club Series event of the 2021-22 academic year.
      5/4/22

    • Alumni Spotlight: Marcia McWalker-Williams
      Northwestern University alumna Marcia Walker-McWilliams (BS06) is executive director of the Black Metropolis Research Consortium at the University of Chicago and the author of Reverend Addie Wyatt: Faith and the Fight for Labor, Gender, and Racial Equality. She is also a board member of the Digital Public Library of America.
      5/3/22

    • Kirabo Jackson Elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
      Professor Kirabo Jackson was one of four Northwestern University faculty members elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of nation’s most prestigious honorary societies.
      5/2/22

    • SESP in the Media: April 2022
      An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
      4/12/20

  • April 2022 News Stories

    • Alumni Spotlight: Tamica Daniel
      Tamica Daniel (BS03) is a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice who works on civil rights issues in housing, lending, public accommodations, and education. She majored in social policy and minored in African American Studies at the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.
      4/29/22

    • Jackson Named Editor of Leading Economic Journal
      Northwestern University professor Kirabo Jackson was appointed lead editor for the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, one of the nation’s most respected scholarly economic journals.
      4/27/22

    • Salzman Joins Knowles Cohort of Teaching Fellows
      Northwestern University alumna Emily Salzman (MS21) a math teacher at Chicago’s Lane Tech College Prep High School, is the latest School of Education and Social Policy recipient of a five-year fellowship from the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation.
      4/25/22

    • Halverson: Using the Arts to Fix a Broken System
      Alumna Erica Halverson’s new book “How the Arts Can Save Education” is, strangely enough, not about arts education. Instead, Halverson uses arts practices to fundamentally rethink how “learning” should be measured and to design learning environments and experiences that can serve all kids.
      4/21/22

    • Vossoughi Named One of Northwestern's Best Teachers
      Shirin Vossoughi was honored with a Northwestern University Teaching Award for bringing justice-oriented, intergenerational, and collaborative teaching to a new level and for championing the “half-baked idea.”
      4/15/22

    • Faculty Contribute to New IES Report on Future of Ed Research
      The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) should change its structures and policies to better meet changing priorities in education – including improving equity and the usefulness of research, according to a new report whose authors include several Northwestern University faculty members.
      4/15/22

    • How MSHE Powers Staff Advocacy
      Joan Trimuel Williams (MS04) has always been inspired by service and advocacy. So when she’s not serving as director of compliance at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine, she volunteers with the Northwestern University Staff Advisory Council (NUSAC) to support colleagues across the University.
      4/15/22

    • Scholars at AERA Explore Equitable Education
      Northwestern University’s Carol Lee will address one of the most hotly debated and contentious issues in education–how schools should teach–during the American Educational Research Association’s 2022 annual meeting from April 21 to 26 in San Diego.
      4/18/22

    • How to Give Kids 'Math Worth Doing'
      When Jen Munson and her team launched an ambitious new website to support elementary school math teachers during the pandemic, they never dreamed they’d be reaching people from 65 countries on six continents.
      4/6/22

  • March 2022 News Stories

    • As Told To: Amelia Plunk
      Amelia Plunk (MSED17) is a curriculum designer and professional Dungeon Master who designs and runs private adventures as part of the fantasy role playing game Dungeons and Dragons.
      4/4/22

    • Convocation Features Spencer President Na’ilah Suad Nasir
      Na’ilah Suad Nasir, president of the Chicago-based Spencer Foundation, will address more than 300 undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral graduates during the 2022 School of Education and Social Policy Convocation ceremony.
      3/30/22

    • How the Arts Can Save Education
      Northwestern alumna Erica Halverson (SoC97, PhD05), a leading thinker and researcher on arts education, will discuss the powerful way creative processes can revitalize schools at 4 p.m. on April 13 in Annenberg Hall’s first floor Cycle Center.
      3/29/22

    • Burton Declares for WNBA Draft
      Three days after announcing her intention to enter the WNBA draft, Northwestern University’s Veronica Burton was named the best defensive player in the country by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.
      3/28/22

    • SESP in the Media: March 2022
      An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
      4/12/20

  • February 2022 News Stories

    • Nuamah’s Paper Wins Second Award
      Sally Nuamah received the Rodney Higgins Best Faculty Paper Award from the National Conference of Black Political Scientists for her work highlighting the link between the ‘adultification’ of Black girls and public support for their punishment.
      3/20/22

    • Why You Should Savor Fleeting Moments of Joy
      Hold back on the bickering. New research co-authored by Northwestern University's Claudia Haase, suggests that couples who share sweet moments filled with humor and affection, and sync up biologically — two hearts beating as one — enjoy better health prospects and live longer than their more quarrelsome counterparts.
      3/10/22

    • Two Faculty Members Elected to National Academy of Education
      Northwestern University learning scientists Miriam Sherin and Uri Wilensky were among 17 exceptional scholars elected to the prestigious National Academy of Education for their outstanding work in education scholarship and research.
      2/21/22

    • Are New Teachers Ready to Teach?
      Kavita Kapadia Matsko’s research looking at three different ways to consider new teacher readiness for the classroom received the Journal of Teacher Education’s 2022 Article of the Year.
      2/15/22

    • SESP in the Media: February 2022
      An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
      4/12/20

    • Meet SESP's Newest PhD's
      Sixteen Northwestern University graduate students earned doctoral degrees in three of the School of Education and Social Policy's pioneering programs: Learning Sciences, Human Development and Social Policy, and Computer Science and Learning Sciences (CS + LS), a joint degree with the McCormick School of Engineering.
      9/24/21

  • January 2022 News Stories

    • Olszewski-Kubilius Wins Palmarium Award
      Northwestern University’s Paula Olszewski-Kubilius has been awarded the Palmarium Award for her pioneering vision of talent development and leadership in the field of gifted education.
      2/14/22

    • Pioneering Psychologist Dan P. McAdams Named Interim SESP Dean
      Dan P. McAdams, one of the nation's foremost researchers in the field of narrative psychology, has been named interim dean of Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy.
      1/26/22

    • What’s a High Voltage Idea? Economist John List Explains.
      University of Chicago economist and author John List will explain why some great ideas make it big while others fall flat during the 2022 Nancy and Ray Loeschner Leadership Lecture on Feb. 22.
      1/21/22

    • Training Future K-5 Teachers in STEM
      Professor Megan Bang and alumna Carrie Tzou (PhD08) received a $1.8 million National Science Foundation grant to better prepare aspiring elementary school teachers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
      1/13/22

    • Dean David Figlio Named University of Rochester Provost
      The University of Rochester today named David Figlio as its next provost, effective July 1, 2022.
      1/5/22

    • Learn How to Teach Social and Emotional Learning Skills
      Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy is launching a six-week certificate course to help teachers incorporate important social and emotional learning skills into the classroom.
      1/13/22

    • Six Scholars Named as Nation’s Most Influential
      Six Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy faculty members were named to Education Week’s annual list of 200 influential academics in education policy. The scholars are among the top in their fields and were selected for moving academic research findings into the national conversation.
      1/7/22

    • SESP in the Media: January 2022
      An ongoing, monthly roundup of appearances in the news media by School of Education and Social Policy faculty, researchers, and our community.
      4/12/20

    • Test Page
      Northwestern University’s Lindsay Chase-Lansdale has profoundly shaped the field of developmental psychology and the people working in it, a panel of top scholars said during a recent celebration of her scholarship at Annenberg Hall.
      1/27/22