Research News Archive Northwestern University | School of Education & Social Policy

Faculty Member Wins Tools Competition

Northwestern University education researcher David Uttal and colleagues received a $100,000 award in the annual Tools Competition to develop an interactive platform that helps students and teachers learn spatial and math skills by using intricate and familiar patterns found in the natural world.

Revolutionary Civics: How Should Evanston Spend $3 Million?

The residents of Evanston, Ill. have no shortage of ideas about how to spend a tidy $3 million sum in federal COVID-19 relief funds. Protected bike lanes? Affordable housing? What about revitalizing the downtown area, improving mental health services, or fixing sidewalks?

STEAMbassadors: ‘Part of Something Bigger’

As a summer STEAMbassador, Patricia Richards was trained to teach children how to code. Ultimately, she improved her own technical skills, but what she loved most was watching the youngsters break into smiles after mastering something new.

E4 Welcomes New Visiting Scholars

Scholars Ana Paula Melo and Tommy Wells have been named early career visiting fellows at Northwestern University's Center for Education Efficacy, Excellence, and Equity (E4) for the 2023-24 academic year.

Faculty Research Informs White House Report

An influential White House report on the nation’s economic progress cites research by four Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy faculty members in areas from early education and school funding to college readiness.

Does School Autonomy Improve Test Scores?

A new working paper by School of Education and Social Policy economist Kirabo Jackson found that granting more autonomy to high-quality principals and to principals of schools with atypical needs (like bilingual education or a population of students with special needs) increased student test scores, Mike McShane wrote in Forbes.

Defining Childhood in the Age of Tech

Researchers explored the meaning of childhood in a tech-infused world during the Association for Computer Machinery’s annual Interaction Design and Children (IDC) Conference at Northwestern University.

E4 Center Brings Together Researchers and Educators

Educators, researchers, and curriculum providers gathered at Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) for a conference focused on K-12 mathematics instruction.

Undergrads Win Fulbrights, Leadership Awards, and More

Eman Kasha Akhtar, who majored in social policy and statistics, received the School of Education and Social Policy's Outstanding Leadership Award for her tireless support of first-generation students.

SESP Faculty Recognize Honors Students

Honors students explored everything from ethnic divisions in Israel to the impact of autoimmune diseases on the college experience as part of their senior honors thesis projects.

Grad Students, Alums Win NAEd/Spencer Fellowships

Five Northwestern University students and alumni, who are studying everything from alternative pathways to college to the design of Indigenous-led public schools, won 2023 National Academy of Education/Spencer Fellowships to support their scholarship.

Reaching the Top: Meet Our New PhDs

Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy celebrated students who received doctorates during the annual convocation ceremony at Ryan Fieldhouse.

Rapp's Lab Combats Misinformation

Professor David Rapp and his students hold down an especially lively corner of psychology, one that requires them to mix it up with scholars, scientists, and journalists on a regular basis, Delia O’Hara wrote in a story for the American Psychological Association.

These Five Faculty Members Earned Promotions

Five SESP faculty members with wide-ranging research interests were promoted for their outstanding scholarship and contributions to the field.

(Re) Building Education: What Can Other Countries Tell Us?

Northwestern University’s James Spillane received a $70,700 Spencer Foundation grant to study how other countries are rebuilding their education systems following the COVID-19 pandemic.

SESP in the Media: May 2023

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

AERA Comes to Chicago

Education scholars will discuss everything from the wave of legislation banning critical race theory and opportunity landscaping to the QuitTok phenomenon among teachers during the American Educational Research Association’s 2023 annual meeting from April 13 to 16 in Chicago.

Meet SESP's Newest Faculty Member: Sneha Kumar

Sneha Kumar, a social demographer whose research explores health inequalities across the life course in some of the most populous countries in the world–including Indonesia, India, China, and Brazil– has joined Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy as an assistant professor of human development and social policy.

New Research: Navigating the Risks of Party Rape

Women who have experienced sexual violence at fraternity parties have often been blamed for what happened to them. But new research on an elite college campus found that it’s becoming less common to fault the victim.

Doctoral Student Wins DevSci Fellowship

Matías Martinez, a doctoral student in the Human Development and Social Policy program, received the DevSci Graduate Student Fellowship to further his research looking at how schools can prevent bullying and helping kids cope with peer victimization.

SESP in the Media: March 2023

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

Off You Go: A Routine for Culturally Responsive Math

A visually rich mathematical routine for teachers leverages a child’s background and helps students build bridges between school math and culture, according to an article co-authored by assistant professor Jen Munson.

Mesmin Destin: Messages That Can Change a Child’s Life

Whether the timing is intentional or serendipitous, hearing certain messages at critical moments can offer hope and keep people inspired to work towards their goals, Northwestern University’s Mesmin Destin said during a TEDxChicago talk at the Harris Theater.

SESP in the Media: January 2023

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

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.