Spring Valley Building , Room 471 on a map
4801 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016-8030 United States
Dean, Linda A. and H. Kent Baker Chair, and Professor
Dr. Aroutis Foster, foster@american.edu
Dean's Welcome Message
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Samantha teaches, coaches, and mentors in American University Baker School of Education's doctoral studies. She is responsible for launching the inaugural, practitioner based doctoral program in…
Brian McGowan is a nationally recognized scholar, speaker, and consultant whose work focuses on college student success, faculty development, and the advancement of equity-minded policies in higher…
Carolyn Parker is the Associate Dean for Research, Programs, and Partnerships and Director of Graduate Teacher Education in the Baker School of Education. She began her career in science education as…
Dr. Tracy Spesia is a passionate teacher educator dedicated to developing excellent new teachers for all students as a Baker faculty member in the Teacher Education Program and as the Baker…
Alida Anderson is a professor in the Baker School of Education at American University. She earned her PhD in special education from the University of Maryland, College Park focusing on early…
Gabriel ‘Asheru’ Benn, M.Ed., is a visionary educator, acclaimed artist, and social entrepreneur whose career spans nearly three decades at the intersection of arts, culture, and education. Of…
Dr. Campbell is Professor in the Baker School of Education. Her research, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Spencer Foundation, and the National Academy of Education, examines three…
Samantha teaches, coaches, and mentors in American University Baker School of Education's doctoral studies. She is responsible for launching the inaugural, practitioner based doctoral program in…
Amaarah DeCuir, EdD, is a faculty member at American University in the Baker School of Education.
Gillian DiMuzio serves as a Clinical Faculty member of Literacy for Urban Teachers in Baltimore and a Lecturer for AmericanUniversity. Before joining Urban Teachers, Gillian worked in the Baltimore…
Dr. Antonio L. Ellis is an Associate Professor in the Baker School of Education at American University, where he trains future special education teachers and leads research on disability studies,…
Dr. Olatokunbo (Toks) Fashola is a Research Professor and the Faculty Coordinator for the Dual Enrollment Program at American University. Her current research interests include STEM among…
As the Antiracist Pedagogy Scholar, Dr. Annice Fisher focuses on building the capacity of faculty and staff to teach and lead for antiracism, equity, and justice. This work includes leading…
Dr. Sherita Flake, a Memphis native, is a Senior Professorial Lecturer and the City Teaching Alliance Program Director at American University. She is dedicated to urban education and is known for her…
Dr. Guiden Pittman is a Senior Professorial Lecturer in the Baker School of Education and the Associate Director of the Doctoral Degree in Education program at American University. An education…
Dr. kecia hayes has been a champion of antiracist k-12 leadership and praxis across a variety of organizational settings in New York City for more than two decades. Most recently, she led two…
Dr. Shereen Holmes is the Director of Clinical Faculty for the AU/ City Teaching Alliance partnership. She has been with City Teaching Alliance (formerly Urban Teachers-UT) since 2018 and has served…
Rodney Hopson, PhD is an accomplished scholar, academic leader and thought partner who served as Interim Dean (Jan, 2025 -July, 2026) and Professor, Baker School of Education where he served in other…
Dr. Sarah Irvine Belson holds a PhD from Arizona State University in Curriculum and Instruction with a cognate in Special Education. Her research explores educational opportunity for children with…
Annie Murphy Karabell is a researcher in the Institute for Innovation in Education at the Baker School of Education. Her research interests include early childhood literacy, reading disabilities,…
Patrice LaHair serves as a Clinical Faculty Member for City Teaching Alliance (formerly Urban Teachers) in Baltimore. Prior to joining the CTA team in 2021, she taught for eleven years in Baltimore…
Dr. Shasha Anderson is an educator whose experience spans over twenty years. She has taught and served as a teacher leader in both Prince George's and Montgomery County, Maryland. Her last role in…
Dr. Sung Ryung Lyu is an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education at American University, having earned her doctoral degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Penn State University. Her…
Eric Macias (He/Him/El) is an interdisciplinary scholar whose work focuses on minoritized and illegalized youth who have been pushed-out of the educational pipeline. His research and work often lay…
Moya Malcolm (she/her) is an educator specializing in college readiness, access, and student success; school–community–university partnerships that strengthen K–16 pathways; antiracist and social…
Brian McGowan is a nationally recognized scholar, speaker, and consultant whose work focuses on college student success, faculty development, and the advancement of equity-minded policies in higher…
Professor Sarah McMenamin leads the clinical faculty for Literacy in Dallas-Fort Worth for Urban Teachers DFW. She has worked in the field of education for more than twenty years. During her years…
Cynthia Miller-Idriss is a sociologist and professor in the School of Public Affairs and in the Baker School of Education, and is the founding director of the Polarization and Extremism Research &…
Hannah Lee Park is the Education Librarian and Diversity Alliance Residency Coordinator at American University. Her professional roots began in the field of education. She started out as a high…
Carolyn Parker is the Associate Dean for Research, Programs, and Partnerships and Director of Graduate Teacher Education in the Baker School of Education. She began her career in science education as…
Dr. Emily Grossnickle Peterson is an Associate Professor in the Baker School of Education and an affiliate faculty member in the Psychology Department and the Behavior, Cognition, and Neuroscience…
Dr. Liana Petruzzi is a dually-appointed, assistant professor in Health and Education Equity in the Baker School of Education and the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a health equity researcher…
Dr. Desmond Rudd is driven by a profound commitment to empowering urban communities with the necessary resources and educational opportunities for sustainable growth across generations. With a wealth…
Robert D. Shand is Assistant Professor in the Baker School of Education at American University. He received his Ph.D. in Economics and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. A former…
Jason Snyder’s teaching and research focuses on education law and education policy. He developed and served as founding director of AU's Education Policy and Leadership (EPL) program from 2014-2018.…
Dr. Tracy Spesia is a passionate teacher educator dedicated to developing excellent new teachers for all students as a Baker faculty member in the Teacher Education Program and as the Baker…
Dr. Deepa Srikantaiah is an educator, scholar, and artist. Broadly her research focuses on mathematics education, comparative and international education, and contemplative and holistic education.Dr.…
Dr. Jennifer L. Steele is a Professor in the Baker School of Education at American University (AU), and an affiliate faculty member in AU's Department of Public Administration and Policy. Her…
William N. Thomas IV, EdD joined the faculty at American University in 2021 as a Professorial Lecturer in the Baker School of Education’s EdD program and currently serves as the program's Director.…
Dr. Bridget Trogden is the Dean for Undergraduate Education & Academic Student Services, with a position as Professor in the Baker School of Education. Dean Trogden has been a principal investigator…
Dr. Vivian Maria Vasquez is a Professor of Education at American University. She has worked in the field of education for over 40 years. Her research interests are in critical literacy, early…
Stephen Vassallo is as an Associate Professor in American University's Baker School of Education. His scholarly research illuminates the philosophical, cultural, historical, and ideological…
Dr. Elizabeth Anderson Worden is a comparative and international education scholar who examines how governments foster identities and belonging through education during social and political…
Courtney Wright has supported formal and non-formal education systems for over a decade. Her experience has ranged from the grassroots to government levels including empowering and educating youth in…
Dr. Emily Yanisko is the Regional Lead Clinical Faculty of Secondary Mathematics for the City Teaching Alliance sites in Baltimore, DC, and Philadelphia, and a Senior Professorial Lecturer at the…
Seth Gershenson holds a PhD from Michigan State University in Economics with a primary focus on education policy. While at Michigan State, he taught several courses and received an Outstanding…
My research examines the political economy of various government expenditure programs, including primary and secondary education, income redistribution, and federal disaster aid.
Alison Jacknowitz is the Dean of the School of Public Affairs (SPA) at American University and a Professor in the Department of Public Administration and Policy. Her research interests focus on…
Naomi A. Moland’s research and teaching focus on comparative and international education, intercultural communication, peace and conflict, and LGBTQ+ rights. Her first book, "Can Big Bird Fight…
Dr. Morrissey is Associate Dean of Research at the School of Public Affairs and Chair of the Department of Public Administration and Policy. Her work centers on examining and improving public…
Prof. Nolan has taught at the University of Zambia (in Africa), and Kenyon College (in Ohio), and worked in a software company before coming to American University. His main research interests are in…
Susan Shepler is an anthropologist with twenty years of experience working in conflict-affected West Africa. Her research focus is understanding how local communities engage with international…