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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.
SESP students, faculty, and alumni spark broad and meaningful change for individuals and systems alike. See how our people are making a difference in SESP and beyond, through both their work and service.
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.
The Morton Schapiro Northwestern Academy for Chicago Public Schools enhances access and successful matriculation for underrepresented, 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.
Black Kids Predict engages students in data science to revitalize the talent pipeline. The curriculum transforms 6th-12th graders' perception of data and computer science from a boring desk job to a superpower. Led by college students from diverse backgrounds, the program emphasizes the practical applications of STEM education and encourages students to view data in new ways.
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.
In a world where academics and stand-up comics rarely share the stage, the new podcast A Professor and a Comedian Walk Into a Bar is doing something unique: mixing scholarly insights with humor.
Northwestern University’s Nichole Pinkard (PhD98), who has spent her life helping young people find and access learning opportunities in their community, was among 22 exceptional scholars elected to the prestigious National Academy of Education.
When professor Kirabo Jackson first arrived at the White House last year, he had flashbacks to his intense grad school days.
Northwestern University senior Maya Alexandra Vuchic, a student in the School of Education and Social Policy, has been named a Student Laureate by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois for her work in community and civic engagement.
Five faculty members from Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy were named to the 2025 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings for their work bringing research out of academic journals and into everyday lives.