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Awards and Honors News

Aimee Resnick

Resnick Wins Women’s Transportation Award

September 30, 2024

Aimee Resnick received the 2024 Future Industry Spotlight Award from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association for her leadership as an intern with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).

Ahmmad Brown and Ritu Tripathi

Brown, Tripathi Take First Place in Case Competition

September 23, 2024

Northwestern University scholars Ahmmad Brown and Ritu Tripathi received first place and a $10,000 prize in the 2024 University of Michigan Global DEI case competition for prompting students to think about how hard it can be to implement new equity policies in global organizations.

Mike Horn teaching students TunePad

Northwestern Secures $1.2 Million Grant to Train STEM Educators

September 18, 2024

Northwestern University received a $1.2 million award from the National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program to provide scholarships to undergraduate STEM majors who want to pursue teaching in high-needs school districts.

Hailey Danz holding the American flag

SESP Athletes Shine at the Paris Olympics

September 11, 2024

School of Education and Social Policy student athletes and alumni returned from the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics with medals, career bests, and unforgettable experiences. Here’s a quick update on how our athletes did.

Addison Feldman

Undergrads Win Voyager Scholarships

September 05, 2024

Addison Feldman (pictured) and Ally Peak, both juniors at Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy, have been selected for the 2024 Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service, also known as the Voyager Scholarship.

David Rapp

David Rapp: 'Reading Made Me Who I Am'

August 30, 2024

When David Rapp was in high school, he worked in one of his favorite places in the world: The public library. There, the teenager was put in charge of literary classics, magazines, science fiction, and humor sections, all genres he still adores.

Tammy Williams

Softball Standout Named Top Financial Advisor

August 15, 2024

Softball Hall of Famer Tammy Williams wasn’t quite sure which direction to take her career after graduation. She kept playing her sport at elite levels, earned a master’s in business administration, and soon realized she had a knack for both numbers and helping people.

Callegari Wins Cog-Sci Fellowship

August 14, 2024

Graduate student Julia de Oliveira Callegari received a 2024- 2025 Northwestern Cognitive Science Advanced Research Fellowship to support her work looking at the interplay between identity, culture, and learning in children.

Daphne Chan

Olympians Head to Paris

July 24, 2024

The 2024 Olympic Games begin Friday, July 26, followed by the Paralympic Games on Aug. 28. Of the 13 athletes and two coaches affiliated with Northwestern University, four have a connection with the School of Education and Social Policy.

McCann To Receive Alumni Medal

July 22, 2024

Alumna Renetta McCann, a global leader in advertising, media, and organizational change, will receive the alumni medal, Northwestern University’s Alumni Association’s highest honor.

Scholar Athletes Set School Record

July 18, 2024

Thirty-seven student athletes from Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy earned Big Ten Distinguished Scholar recognition in 2023-24, setting a new School record.

New PhDs toasting

Doctoral Robing: A New SESP Tradition

July 11, 2024

Seven new PhDs were gifted regalia and honored during a special robing ceremony prior to the 2024 convocation celebration as part of a new School of Education and Social Policy tradition.

Haase Wins Ver Steeg Fellowship

June 25, 2024

Developmental psychologist Claudia Haase received the 19th annual Dorothy Ann and Clarence L. Ver Steeg Distinguished Research Fellowship Award for her work probing the mysteries behind emotions and relationships.

Avery Hirschfield

2024 Undergraduate Honors and Awards

June 12, 2024

Avery Hirschfield, who studied learning and organizational change and minored in psychology, received the School of Education and Social Policy’s Alumni Leadership Award for her work as president and co-director of the Global Engagement Summit, a student-led conference uniting entrepreneurs across the world.

Eight honors students pose in front of Annenberg with faculty and staff

Meet SESP’s 2024 Honors Students

June 05, 2024

Anxiety, identity, and mentorship emerged as key themes for honors students at Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy, who were recognized during a faculty meeting and presented their work at a poster session.

David Uttal, a professor of psychology, talks about his research during an investiture ceremony

David Uttal: Maps, Space, and Place

May 08, 2024

David Uttal was 13 years old when he took a wrong turn on a hiking trail in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Rescuers searched for him on foot, trail bike, jeep, and by air, probing thick underbrush and steep ridges across 60,000 acres.

Shanequewa Love

Love Wins National Science Foundation Fellowship

May 01, 2024

Doctoral student Shanequewa Love has been awarded the highly selective National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship to support her work looking at the relationship between Black mothers and the child welfare system.

Headshots of Truman Scholarship Winners Anna Dellit and Kaylyn Ahn   Em: I read the backgrounder but still not clear on whether I should be describing facial features, clothing, race, hair color and length etc. It may be relevant to some people that one person is Asian; others may be offended we call it out.

Undergrad Named Truman Scholar

April 17, 2024

Kaylyn Ahn (right), a junior at Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social policy, was one of two Northwestern students to be named a 2024 Truman Scholar, the nation’s premier scholarship for students interested in public service.

SESP Ranked No. 5 by U.S. News

April 09, 2024

For the second year in a row, Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) has been ranked among the top five graduate schools of education according to the 2024-25 U.S. News and World Report Best Education Graduate Schools rankings.

Learning Scientists Named to National Academies’ Committee

March 21, 2024

Northwestern University’s Sepehr Vakil and alumnus Victor Lee (PhD08) of Stanford University have been named to a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine consensus committee charged with looking at artificial intelligence and data science in K-12 education.

Nuamah's Latest Book Named PROSE Award Finalist

March 20, 2024

Sally Nuamah’s latest book, Closed for Democracy, which examines how closing public schools can influence democracy, was named a finalist for the 2024 Professional and Scholarship Excellence (PROSE) Award in the government and politics division.

Dean Bryan Brayboy is smiling and listening to a faculty member talk during a faculty retreat. Three female faculty members are sitting in front of him.

Brayboy Elected to AERA Leadership

March 01, 2024

Northwestern University’s Bryan Brayboy, a world renowned scholar on race, diversity, and Indigenous experiences in education, was elected to the Council and Executive Board of the American Educational Research Association.

Bang, Tipton Named AERA Fellows

February 15, 2024

Northwestern University scholars Megan Bang and Elizabeth Tipton were named 2024 American Educational Research Association (AERA) Fellows for their outstanding contributions to the field.

Worsley Named Jacobs Fellow

February 01, 2024

Northwestern University’s Marcelo Worsley has been named a research fellow with the Jacobs Foundation to support his work helping students learn computer science through sports.

Two Degrees. Two Cultures. Infinite Possibilities.

January 11, 2024

Calling her own 17-month experience an “epic adventure,” Ning Yu urged her classmates to embrace adversity and turn obstacles into opportunities during her Master of Science in Social and Economic Policy convocation remarks at Northwestern University’s Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall.

Headshots Steenbergen-Hu, Olszewski-Kubilius, and Calvert

CTD Researchers Win Mensa Award

January 06, 2024

Scholars from the School of Education and Social Policy’s Center for Talent Development received the Mensa Foundation’s Award for Excellence in Research for a study looking at whether interventions designed to help underachieving gifted students actually work.

Headshots of Tabitha Bonilla

Faculty Member Lauded for Mentorship

January 04, 2024

Tabitha Bonilla received the 2023 Adaljiza Sosa-Riddell Mentor Award from the American Political Science Association for her tireless support of Latino/a graduate students in political science.

Bryan McKinley Jones Brayboy

Brayboy Honored With Prestigious Anthropology Award

November 27, 2023

School of Education and Social Policy Dean Bryan McKinley Jones Brayboy, one of the world’s most influential anthropologists of education, received the 2023 George and Louise Spindler Award for his work shaping the field, K-12 schools, and higher education.

Yang Qu

Qu Wins Fourth Early Career Award

November 17, 2023

Northwestern University professor Yang Qu, a development psychologist who looks at how teenagers’ brains can be shaped by parenting, stereotypes, and cultural experiences, won the 2023 Early Career Award from the Society for the Study of Human Development

Megan Bang

Megan Bang Elected to National Academy Board

November 03, 2023

School of Education and Social Policy faculty member Megan Bang was elected to the National Academy of Education’s Board of Directors. Her four-year term begins Nov. 3, 2023.

Corey Winchester

Winchester Continues Aspen Youth Leadership Work

October 27, 2023

Corey Winchester (BS10, MS20) was named a Graduate Fellow in Residence for the Aspen Young Leaders Fellowship (AYLF) program to continue his work creating learning environments that foster connection, compassion, freedom dreaming, and a sense of belonging.

Kabiller Memorial Award winners

Scholar Athletes Win Kabiller Award

October 27, 2023

Student athletes Reggie Fleurima and Hailey Weaver were named distinguished Irving Kabiller Memorial Award winners for their leadership qualities and commitment to professional development.

CTD instructor pointing at student's paper

CTD Awarded U.S. Department of Education Javits Grant

October 26, 2023

The Center for Talent Development (CTD) at Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy was recently awarded a 5-year, $600,000 Jacob K. Javits Grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

Brennen Bariso

Alumnus Receives Missy Hughes Teacher Award

October 23, 2023

Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy alumnus Brennen Bariso (BSED20) received the Missy Hughes Teacher Award from 826CHI for nurturing his students’ love for writing.

David Uttal

Faculty Member Wins Tools Competition

September 15, 2023

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.

Claire Sampson and Rose Taylor

These Two Alums Won Knowles Fellowships

August 24, 2023

Northwestern University alumni Claire Sampson (MS23) and Rose Taylor (MS22) are the latest School of Education and Social Policy recipients of a five-year fellowship from the Knowles Teacher Initiative.

Kirabo Jackson

Jackson Named to White House Council

August 15, 2023

Kirabo Jackson, one of the world’s leading experts in the economics of education, was appointed to the White House’s Council of Economic Advisors.

Bryan McKinley Jones Brayboy,

Brayboy Appointed to W.T. Grant Committee

July 24, 2023

Bryan McKinley Jones Brayboy, dean of Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy, was named to The William T. Grant Foundation’s Scholars Selection Committee.

Larry Hedges

Hedges to Receive International Education Award

June 19, 2023

Northwestern University's Larry Hedges, a world-renowned statistician and methodology researcher, will receive the José Vasconcelos World Award of Education from the World Cultural Council at the University of Helsinki.

Brad Wadle introduces Chris Cvikota

Outstanding Graduate Students Honored

June 15, 2023

Chris Cvikota, a technical specialist at Northwestern University who earned his master’s in higher education administration and policy, received the Outstanding Leadership Awards from the Northwestern Alumni Association.

Brad Wadle (left) congratulates leadership award winners Eman Kasha Akhtar and MSHE's Chris Cvikota

Undergrads Win Fulbrights, Leadership Awards, and More

June 14, 2023

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.

honors students standing together

SESP Faculty Recognize Honors Students

June 11, 2023

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.

Josiah Rosario, Alexis Gable, and Heather McCambly

Grad Students, Alums Win NAEd/Spencer Fellowships

June 10, 2023

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.

Lilah Shapiro

Shapiro Named Top Northwestern Instructor

June 02, 2023

Associate professor Lilah Shapiro was honored with a Northwestern University Teaching Excellence Award for her innovative classroom instruction and her unflagging investment in the success of her students.

Emily Lester

Lester Wins Wildcat Impact Award

April 28, 2023

Emily Lester, co-president of Campus Kitchen, received the Wildcat Impact award for her work managing the group’s activities through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shedding Light on Hidden Histories

April 20, 2023

Danny M. Cohen (PhD11) received a Provost Grant for Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts to expand his work helping teachers and students explore hidden histories of the Holocaust.

Aimee Resnick

Student Leaders Join Global Initiative

March 21, 2023

Undergraduates Aimee Resnick and Lauren Black were among ten Northwestern University students named to the 2023 Clinton Global Initiative University cohort of young leaders working to address global challenges.

Edwin Pokisa

Honey, Beads, and Peace for the Yaaku

March 20, 2023

Northwestern University’s Edwin Pokisa, a member of the Yaaku tribe in Kenya, received a $10,000 Projects for Peace grant to implement a honey-harvesting and bead making project in his hometown of Doldol in Laikipia County.

Matías Martinez

Doctoral Student Wins DevSci Fellowship

March 20, 2023

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.

Georgia Rose Munns playing tennis

Tennis Great Inducted into Hall of Fame

February 28, 2023

Georgia Rose Munns (BS09), the centerpiece of an era of incredible success for Northwestern women’s tennis during her career, was one of eight Wildcats inducted into the 2022 Northwestern University Athletics Hall of Fame.

Ruby Scanlon

Ruby Scanlon Named Schwarzman Scholar

February 27, 2023

School of Education and Social Policy alumna Ruby Scanlon (BS22), an international antitrust specialist at the US Department of Justice, received a 2023 Schwarzman Scholarship, one of the world’s most selective graduate programs.

Michael Horn

Mike Horn Wins Linzer Award

February 13, 2023

Northwestern University’s Michael Horn received the 2023 Daniel Linzer Award for Faculty Excellence in Diversity and Equity for finding creative ways to make coding fun and accessible.

Michelle Yin

New Grant Assesses Ending the Subminimum Wage

November 03, 2022

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.

Matt Easterday, Ken Powers, Diane Schanzenbach, Lilah Shapiro

Students Honor Top Faculty, Staff

October 31, 2022

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.

Melanie Muskin and Andrew Stein

Muskin, Stein Win Honorable Mention in Essay Contest

August 26, 2022

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.

Samira Asseh

Recent Grad Dedicates a Year to Community Service

July 18, 2022

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.

Jessica Marshall

SESP Students, Alumni Win Spencer Fellowships

July 05, 2022

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.

Morgan Hodges

Undergrads Win Fellowships, Fulbrights, and More

June 17, 2022

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.

Julissa Muñiz

Graduate Students Honored for Leadership, Scholarship

June 17, 2022

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.

Jacob Kelter

Kelter Wins Presidential Fellowship

June 09, 2022

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.

honors group shot

Meet SESP’s 2022 Senior Honors Students

June 06, 2022

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.

David Uttal

Uttal Wins Research Translation Award

May 25, 2022

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.

Sofia Bahena and Camila Morales

SESP Welcomes First Early Career Visiting Scholars

May 24, 2022

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.

Kirabo Jackson

Jackson Named Editor of Leading Economic Journal

April 27, 2022

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.

Emily Salzman

Salzman Joins Knowles Cohort of Teaching Fellows

April 25, 2022

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.

Shirin Vossoughi interacting with a student

Vossoughi Named One of Northwestern's Best Teachers

April 15, 2022

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.”

Sally Nuamah

Nuamah’s Paper Wins Second Award

March 20, 2022

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.

Miriam Sherin and Uri Wilensky

Two Faculty Members Elected to National Academy of Education

February 21, 2022

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.

Paula Olszewski-Kubilius

Olszewski-Kubilius Wins Palmarium Award

February 14, 2022

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.

Megan Bang and Carrie Tzou

Training Future K-5 Teachers in STEM

January 13, 2022

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).

Figlio, Hedges, Jackson, Spillane, Schanzenbach and Lee

Six Scholars Named as Nation’s Most Influential

January 07, 2022

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.

Eva Lam

Lam Honored for Immigration Research

December 01, 2021

School of Education and Social Policy Professor Eva Lam and her coauthors received the Alan C. Purves Award from the National Council of Teachers of English for their research looking at what happens when young people tell their own immigration stories through documentary filmmaking.

Sally Nuamah

Why We All Pay When Black Girls are Punished

November 10, 2021

Northwestern University’s Sally Nuamah received the 2021 American Political Science Association, Best Paper on Intersectionality Award, for her work looking at how race and gender stereotypes affect public support for punishing Black girls.

Alex Sims and David Figlio

Alexandra Sims: 'Follow What Energizes You'

October 26, 2021

School of Education and Social Policy alumna Alexandra Sims (BS10), recognized as one of Chicago’s most influential Black leaders, recently urged SESP students to not think of a career as one dot to one dot to one dot, but instead to think of it almost like a funnel.

Soteria Reid

Alumna Wins Campus Change Award

October 22, 2021

Alumna Soteria Reid (BS21) was one of four Northwestern University winners of the Jazzy Johnson Waw-jashk Student Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to sustainable campus change and growth.

Coleen Coleman

Coleen Coleman Receives Jean Shedd Award

October 21, 2021

Coleen Coleman (BS88, MS91), senior associate dean at the School of Education and Social Policy, received the 2021 Jean E. Shedd University Citizenship Award winner for her selfless leadership, her empathy and advocacy, and her capacity for solving problems under pressure.

Saiying Steenbergen-Hu, Paula Olszewski-Kubilius, and Eric Calvert

CTD Researchers Win Book, Paper of the Year Awards

October 08, 2021

Researchers at Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development have won both Book of the Year and Paper of the Year awards from the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC).

Carol Lee

Carol Lee Wins Harold W. McGraw Jr. Prize in Education

September 30, 2021

Northwestern University professor emeritus Carol Lee, president-elect of the National Academy of Education, has received a prestigious Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education for her outstanding contributions to learning sciences research.

Carol Lee

Carol Lee Honored for Transformative Teaching, Research

September 15, 2021

Northwestern University’s Carol Lee, President Elect of the National Academy of Education, has received the 2021 National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) James R. Squire Award for her “transforming influence” and lasting contributions to education.

student and teacher working on a laptop

SESP Launches New Research-Practice Partnership with $5.8-Million Grant

September 14, 2021

Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) received a $5.8-million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support an innovative partnership that links University researchers and Curriculum Associates, a leading provider of digital assessment and instructional materials, with several school districts.

Carol Lee and Megan Bang

Two Faculty Members Honored for Education Research

August 31, 2021

Professors Carol D. Lee and Megan Bang were honored by the American Educational Research Association (AERA) for their cutting-edge education research, scholarship, and service to the field.

Megan Bang

Bang Receives NSF Grant to Support Indigenous Science Education

August 30, 2021

Northwestern University’s Megan Bang has received a five-year, $3 million collaborative grant from the National Science Foundation to create a model of Indigenous science education that is focused on 21st century challenges around socio-environmental issues, like climate change, adaptation, and sustainable decision-making.

Brian Reiser

Brian Reiser named AERA Fellow

July 20, 2021

Northwestern University’s Brian Reiser, professor of learning sciences at the School of Education and Social Policy, has been named a 2021 American Educational Research Association (AERA) Fellow for distinguished and sustained work in science education.

SESP faculty group shot

SESP Faculty 2020-21 Awards Roundup

June 29, 2021

Known for innovative interdisciplinary research, teaching, and outreach, School of Education and Social Policy faculty members are routinely honored for producing pathbreaking work on many of the world’s most challenging questions.

Eleanor O'Rourke and Marcelo Worsley

These Two Rising Stars Won Early CAREER Awards

June 22, 2021

Northwestern University’s Eleanor O’Rourke and Marcelo Worsley received the prestigious Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for projects designed to strengthen and diversify the field of computer science.

Gavi Welbel, Julia Borland, Charlotte Zehnder and Remi Welbel

2021 Undergraduate Honors and Awards

June 14, 2021

Julia Borland, a third year studying social policy and economics, received a $10,000 award from Projects for Peace to help incorporate environmental and food justice issues into a sustainable farming program. She was one of dozens of outstanding SESP students to win an award this year.

Stephanie Demos holding diploma

Graduate Students Honored with Awards, Fellowships

June 14, 2021

Stephanie Demos, who received her masters of science in higher education administration and policy, was named the graduate winner of the SESP Alumni Leadership Award for bringing the community together during the pandemic.

honors group at dinner

Honors Students Present Senior Thesis Projects

June 07, 2021

Twelve School of Education and Social Policy honors students were recognized for rigorous and thoughtful scholarship by Dean David Figlio and faculty members during an online ceremony and poster presentation session.

Sheridan Fuller

Sheridan Fuller Named Presidential Fellow

May 28, 2021

Sheridan Fuller, a graduate student in the Human Development and Social Policy program at the School of Education and Social Policy, has received the prestigious Presidential Fellowship at Northwestern University for his work investigating the benefits and pitfalls of the social safety net, which is designed to protect Americans from poverty and hardship.

Cynthia Coburn

Coburn Honored With Excellence in Teaching Award

May 06, 2021

Cynthia Coburn has been awarded the Charles Deering McCormick University Professorship of Teaching Excellence Award for her innovative classroom instruction, the compassion and care she has shown undergraduates, and her pioneering contributions to the field of education research.

Yang Qu

Qu Receives Early Career Award

April 30, 2021

Northwestern University developmental psychologist Yang Qu has received an Early Career Award from the Society for Research in Child Development’s Asian Caucus for his work studying the experiences of teenagers in the United States and China.

Kendall Gail, Rohan Gupta, Madeline Lane, Madeleine Ward, and Sophie Boorstein

Undergrads Pursue Novel Research Projects

April 29, 2021

Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy students received 2020-21 Academic Year Undergraduate Research Grants (AYURG) to study everything from athletic shoe culture to the impacts of COVID19- and the Black Lives Matter movement on Black-owned businesses.

Camryn Smith

SESP Entrepreneur Named Little Joe Ventures Fellow

April 16, 2021

Northwestern University’s Camryn Smith was named one of five new Little Joe Ventures Fellows at The Garage, an award designed to support promisingˌentrepreneurial-minded undergraduates.

Brian Reiser, Megan Bang, and Jonathan Guryan

Three Faculty Members Join National Academy of Education

March 17, 2021

Northwestern University Professors Megan Bang, Jonathan Guryan, and Brian Reiser were among 22 exceptional scholars elected to the prestigious National Academy of Education (NAEd) for their stellar contributions to education scholarship and research.

Lilah Shapiro

Armed With Faith: Is Gun Ownership a Religion?

February 23, 2021

Lilah Shapiro received a Provost Grant for Faculty Research in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Arts to examine the relationship between gun owners and religion.

David Figlio, Larry Hedges, Kirabo Jackson, James Spillane, Diane Schanzenbach, Carol Lee

Six SESP Scholars Ranked Among Nation’s Most Influential

February 22, 2021

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, highlighting the impact of the School’s research on real-world issues.

COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Handbook cover and David Rapp

Experts: New Resource Can Fight COVID-19 Misinformation

January 28, 2021

Professor David Rapp was among more than two dozen expert scientists from around the world who contributed to a new user-friendly handbook designed to help fight the spread of misinformation about the coronavirus vaccines.

Heather Foster

Alumna Heather Foster: Making the World a Better Place

January 21, 2021

SESP alumna Heather Foster (BS03), a political strategist and expert on race and public policy issues, was among three alumni honored by the Northwestern University Black Alumni Association during its annual meeting.

Jessica Marshall

Learning Sciences Graduate Student Receives CASEL Fellowship

January 18, 2021

Jessica Marshall, a graduate student in the learning sciences doctoral program, received a two-year ​pre-doctoral research fellowship with the Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) to further her work creating more equitable ​civic ​learning environments​ across civic education​.

Ryan Smerek and Michelle Albaugh

ELOC Program Receives Prestigious Accreditation

December 09, 2020

Northwestern University’s Executive Learning & Organizational Change (ELOC) program has been accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), the top certifying body in the continuing education industry.

Amber Luczak

Alumna Wins Knowles Fellowship

November 05, 2020

School of Education and Social Policy alumna Amber Luczak (MS20), a chemistry and physics teacher at Marshall Metro High School in Chicago, has received a five-year fellowship from the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation.

Haoqui Zhang and Eleanor O’Rourke

O'Rourke Develops Cyberlearning Technology

October 22, 2020

Northwestern University professors Eleanor O’Rourke and Haoqi Zhang have received a $750,000 National Science Foundation Cyberlearning grant to help beginning computer science students develop better learning strategies and diversify the field.

Richard Agin

Alumnus Honored as Top High School Math Teacher in Nation

October 21, 2020

Alumnus Richard Agin (JD88, MS09) was one of 20 teachers in the nation–and the only one in Illinois–selected for a national education prize from the Mathematical Association of America American Mathematics Competitions (MAA AMC).

Cynthia Coburn listening

Coburn Wins Ver Steeg Research Fellowship

September 24, 2020

Education sociologist Cynthia Coburn received Northwestern University’s Dorothy Ann and Clarence L. Ver Steeg Distinguished Research Fellow award for her work improving relationships between education researchers and schools.

Jasmine Tucker and Diane Nash

Jasmine Tucker Wins Campus Partner Award

September 21, 2020

School of Education and Social Policy staff member Jasmine Tucker was named an Outstanding Campus Partner from Northwestern’s annual Student Affairs Awards for supporting colleagues, uplifting students, and facilitating important conversations around social justice.

Nichole Pinkard

Pinkard's New Grant Helps Create STEAMbassadors

August 13, 2020

Northwestern University professor Nichole Pinkard (PhD98) received a CME Group Foundation grant to launch an ambitious STEAM mentor training program for young adults from underrepresented communities.

Kirabo Jackson

Kirabo Jackson Honored with Public Policy Prize

August 06, 2020

SESP's Kirabo (“Bo”) Jackson has been honored with the David N. Kershaw Award by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management for his path-breaking work on school finance reform and teacher effectiveness.

Julia Lowenthal

Summer Grant Winners Announced

July 16, 2020

Three undergraduates received grants from The Alumnae of Northwestern University to complete 2020 summer internships, an especially noteworthy experience in the midst of a global pandemic.

Yajaira Gallegos

Alumnae Help Open Doors

July 16, 2020

The summer before her junior year, Yajaira Gallegos (BS19) taught kindergartners in Athens, Greece, about Mexican traditions and culture as part of the country’s nationwide effort to prevent xenophobia in young children.

Reena Burt

SESP Students Named Fulbright Finalists

July 14, 2020

Seven undergraduates, including Reena Burt, Elizabeth Cornman, Halimeda Cronin, Ayana Davis, Lillian Guo, Hayley Krolik, and Arzu Singh, were selected for Fulbright Student awards, which support a year of study or research, or projects in the creative or performing arts, or teaching in more than 155 countries worldwide.

Sarah Crawford

Graduate Students Honored with Awards, Fellowships

June 26, 2020

Northwestern University alumna Sarah Crawford (MS20), who introduced mindfulness into her eighth-grade Chicago Public Schools’ classroom, received the graduate Alumni Leadership Award for her efforts prioritizing the social and emotional needs of children.

Antoinette White and Susan Olson

SESP Convocation 2020: A Time to Repair and Reimagine

June 23, 2020

There’s no going back to the world we once knew – and therein lies “enormous opportunity to make the world a better place,” SESP convocation speaker Sybil Madison told the Class of 2020 during the first virtual convocation celebration in Northwestern University history.

Ayana Davis

SESP Seniors Receive Fulbright Awards, Ryan Prize and More

June 22, 2020

School of Education and Social Policy seniors were recognized by the Northwestern University Division of Student Affairs with a wide range of fellowships and awards, including a School-record seven Fulbright finalist designations.

Michael Spikes

Spikes Receives Fellowship to Study News Literacy

June 16, 2020

Learning sciences doctoral student Michael Spikes received a Northwestern University Cognitive Science Advanced Fellowship to study and help others learn how to determine the credibility of a news story.

Christian Wade and Amy Drake

Undergrads Named Little Joe Ventures Fellows

April 28, 2020

School of Education and Social Policy undergraduates Amy Drake and Christian Wade were among five students selected for the Little Joe Ventures (LJV) Fellowship in Entrepreneurship, a program designed by The Garage to support promising, entrepreneurially minded undergraduates across different schools at Northwestern.

Shirin Vossoughi

Vossoughi Wins Ver Steeg Award

March 20, 2020

Northwestern University’s Shirin Vossoughi, assistant professor of learning sciences, has received The Graduate School’s 2019–20 Ver Steeg award for her outstanding work supporting and mentoring graduate students.

Amy Drake and Hannah Caplan

SESP Students Selected For Clinton Global Initiative

March 05, 2020

School of Education and Social Policy undergraduates Amy Drake and Hannah Caplan were among nine Northwestern University students selected for the 12th annual Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) program, a year-round curriculum that includes attending an international conference.

Cynthia Coburn and Kirabo Jackson

Coburn, Jackson Elected to National Academy of Education

February 21, 2020

Cynthia Coburn and economist Kirabo Jackson were among fifteen exceptional scholars elected to the esteemed National Academy of Education (NAEd) in recognition of their outstanding contributions to education research. Northwestern was the only institution to have two inductees this year.

Jolie Boulos

Undergrads Secure Research Grants

February 21, 2020

Seven students received 2019-20 Academic Year Undergraduate Research Grants (AYURG) to study everything on issues of identity to the effectiveness of an Argentinian organization that supports women seeking abortions.

Paula Olszewski-Kubilius and Sally Nuamah

Two Faculty Books Named Finalists for PROSE Award

February 20, 2020

Northwestern University professors Paula Olszewski-Kubilius and Sally Nuamah and have been named finalists for the 2020 Professional and Scholarly Excellence (PROSE) Awards, which honor scholarly books, journals and electronic content.

Yang Qu

SESP Psychologist Named ‘Rising Star’

January 28, 2020

Northwestern University developmental psychologist Yang Qu was named a 2020 Rising Star by the Association for Psychological Sciences for his interdisciplinary work examining the role of sociocultural contexts in adolescent development.

Emma Adam

Emma Adam Named APS Fellow

January 28, 2020

Emma Adam, Edwina S. Tarry Professor of Education and Social Policy, was named a fellow of the Association for Psychological Science for her outstanding contributions to the field of developmental psychobiology of stress and sleep.

Cynthia Coburn

Coburn Receives Honorary Doctorate

January 18, 2020

SESP's Cynthia Coburn received an honorary doctorate from Universite Catholique de Louvain (CU Louvain) for her research uncovering the complicated factors and relationships that affect how educational policy is implemented in urban school systems.

Megan Bang (l) and Shirin Vossoughi (r)

Bang, Vossoughi Win Alumnae Award

December 18, 2019

Megan Bang and Shirin Vossoughi have been named the 2019 recipients of The Alumnae of Northwestern University’s Award for Curriculum Development.

SESP Honors Faculty with Named Professorships

December 16, 2019

Five outstanding School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) faculty members were recently honored during Investiture ceremonies that highlighted Northwestern University’s commitment to hiring and retaining outstanding researchers and instructors.

Ispa-Landa Named Associate Professor

October 02, 2019

Northwestern University education sociologist Simone Ispa-Landa received tenure and was promoted to associate professor of human development and social policy in the School of Education and Social Policy beginning Sept. 1, 2019.

SESP Faculty Members Join IPR

October 02, 2019

Tabitha Bonilla and Sally Nuamah have been named faculty fellows at Northwestern University’s Institute for Policy Research, an interdisciplinary community of scholars.

MSHE Alumna Receives Award For Excellence

August 22, 2019

Milvia Rodriguez (MSHE15) received the University of Chicago’s Marlene F. Richman Award for Excellence and Dedication in Service to Students, an honor given to just one person at the University each year.

Student Philanthropists Give Away Money

August 16, 2019

Northwestern University undergraduates gave away $22,500 each to the non-profits Storycatchers Theater and Chicago Hopes for Kids as part of the School of Education and Social Policy course Learning Philanthropy: Engaging in the Study and Practice of Giving.

CTD Director’s Book Wins National Honor

July 30, 2019

Paula Olszewski-Kubilius’s latest book, which details a talent development approach to gifted education, was named the 2019 Book of the Year by the National Association for Gifted Children.

Group or graduating students linked together

SESP Boasts 26 B1G Ten Distinguished Scholars

July 26, 2019

Twenty-five percent of the school-record 86 Northwestern student-athletes who earned Big Ten Distinguished Scholar recognition are studying in the School of Education and Social Policy.

Hailey Cox-Montijo will be collecting data and working with Loyola University researchers this summer.

How Five SESP Students Landed Summer Internships

June 20, 2019

Five SESP undergraduates were selected for the 2019 Summer Internship Grant Program (SIGP), which provides students $3,000 for completing an unpaid summer internship, while simultaneously participating in a professional development program offered by Northwestern Career Advancement (NCA).

Seniors Samantha Buresch and Jamilah Silver celebrate their honors thesis presentations

2018-19: A Year of Outstanding Research and Scholarship

June 18, 2019

Northwestern University will recognize exceptional graduating students Thursday, June 20 at Cahn Auditorium as part of Commencement week ceremonies. We round up all winners from the School of Education and Social Policy community during 2918-19, including undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni.

Cesar Almeida, (first row, right) will produce a podcast in Ghana

Record Number of SESP Students Named Fulbright Finalists

June 16, 2019

A school-record five School of Education and Social Policy students have been named finalists for the Fulbright student program, one of the most widely recognized and respected international exchange opportunities.

Selena Lasota

Athletes Shine on the Field, Mat

June 12, 2019

After leading Northwestern with 85 goals and breaking Northwestern's career goal record, Selena Lasota received Inside Lacrosse First Team All-American honors and is a finalist for the 2019 Honda Sports Award.

Micheal Deneroff

SESP Senior Headed to Springfield

June 11, 2019

Northwestern University senior Michael Deneroff of Bloomfield, Michigan, received the James H. Dunn Jr. Memorial Fellowship, which gives recent college graduates the chance to work in Illinois state government and learn about general governmental structure at the executive level.

Lacrosse Team

Scholar Athletes Earn All-Big Ten Honors

June 11, 2019

More than 20 percent of the Northwestern University athletes who received at-large and spring Academic All-Big Ten honors are pursuing degrees in the School of Education and Social Policy, a community that emphasizes learning, leadership, and policy.

SESP's Presidential Fellow winners: Mollie McQuillan (l), C.C. DuBois and Heather McCambly

Graduate Student Wins Presidential Fellowship

May 28, 2019

Doctoral candidate Heather McCambly, who researches the forces behind educational inequalities in higher education, received Northwestern University’s most prestigious award for graduate students, the 2019 Presidential Fellowship.

MSED Student Wins Knowles Teaching Fellowship

May 24, 2019

Northwestern University’s Bradley Smith, a future high school math teacher who is pursuing his master’s degree through The Accelerated Master of Science in Education program, has received a five-year fellowship from the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation.

Mesmin Destin (l), and Danny M. Cohen

Destin, Cohen Receive Teaching Excellence Awards

May 19, 2019

Professor Mesmin Destin and instructor Danny M. Cohen (PhD11) were among five educators honored with 2019 University Teaching Awards for their energy and commitment to undergraduate education at Northwestern University.

Jordyn Ricard

Undergrad Sets Research Grant Record

May 04, 2019

Undergraduates Jordyn Ricard and Jared Zvonar received summer research grants from Northwestern University’s Office of Undergraduate Research for projects related to mental health and history, respectively.

Arne Duncan

Former U.S. Secretary of Education To Address Class of 2019

May 03, 2019

Arne Duncan, the unusually-candid U.S. Secretary of Education under President Barack Obama, will address the undergraduate class of 2019 during SESP Convocation ceremonies. Shirley Welsh Ryan, a 2019 recipient of an honorary degree from Northwestern University, is scheduled to speak at the graduate ceremony.

Destin Mesmin

Destin, Cohen Honored With University Teaching Awards

April 28, 2019

Professor Mesmin Destin and instructor Danny M. Cohen (PhD11) were honored with 2019 University Teaching Awards for their outstanding efforts and dedication to undergraduate education at Northwestern University.

James Rosenbaum

Rosenbaum Receives Career Award – But Far From Slowing Down

April 10, 2019

James Rosenbaum’s ability to cultivate talented researchers and his passion for tackling pressing social issues recently earned him the Elizabeth G. Cohen Distinguished Career in Applied Sociology of Education Award from the American Education Research Association.

Sara Blair Winter-Rosenberg

Alumni Honored With Golden Apple Award

April 01, 2019

Alumni Sara Blair Winter-Rosenberg (MS12) and Corey Winchester (BS10) received a welcome surprise in their respective classrooms when Golden Apple Foundation officials – along with colleagues, family, and friends -- flooded in to announce they’d won 2019 Excellence in Teaching and Leadership awards.

Sepehr Vail

Sepehr Vakil Wins CAREER Award

March 20, 2019

Northwestern University’s Sepehr Vakil received the Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the agency’s most prestigious honor for promising young academics.

Brian Hurley (l), Corey Winchester, and Sara Blair Winter-Rosenberg

Three Alumni Earn Golden Apple Distinction

February 14, 2019

Three School of Education and Social Policy alumni were named finalists for the 2019 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching, which recognizes some of the most talented educators in the state.

Diane Schanzenbach

Diane Schanzenbach Elected to National Academy of Education

February 11, 2019

Economist Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach, director of the Institute for Policy Research (IPR), has been elected to the esteemed National Academy of Education (NAEd) in recognition of her outstanding research contributions on education issues.

alana farkas

Undergrads Win Research Grants

January 30, 2019

A school-record 14 School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) students received Academic Year Undergraduate Research Grants (AYURG) to study everything from female entrepreneurship and empowerment the use of technology to discipline students.

Dean David Figlio with James Spillane

Five SESP Faculty Named to Edu-Scholar List

January 28, 2019

Five School of Education and Social Policy scholars were named to Education Week’s “Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings,” which recognize 200 of the most influential academics in education policy.

Marcelo Worsley

Worsley Recognized for Diversity, Inclusion Efforts

January 17, 2019

Marcelo Worsley will receive the 2019 Daniel Linzer Award for Faculty Excellence in Diversity and Equity for his innovative teaching and efforts to bring STEM education to all, regardless of physical ability.

Sybil Madison

Madison Named Civic Leadership Academy Fellow

January 17, 2019

Sybil Madison has been named to the Civic Leadership Academy at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy, a program for promising leaders in non-profit organizations and local government agencies within Chicago and Cook County.

Alexzandra Wallace

Wallace Receives Alumnae Graduate Fellowship

January 15, 2019

Alexzandra Wallace has been awarded the 2019 Alumnae Graduate Fellowship by The Alumnae of Northwestern University, which is given to full-time graduate students and promising young scholars who have shown qualities such as scholarship, leadership, community service, professional experience, and financial need.

Mesmin Destin

Mesmin Destin Wins Early Career Award

January 15, 2019

Northwestern University psychologist Mesmin Destin, whose research emphasizes the key role socioeconomic status plays in the study of human behavior, was recognized by the American Psychological Association (APA) for his stellar work in the early stages of his career.

Uri Wilensky

Wilensky Named Lorraine Morton Professor

January 11, 2019

Northwestern University’s Uri Wilensky, a pioneer in learning technology and computational modeling, has been named the Lorraine Morton Professor of Learning Sciences and Computer Science, David Figlio, Dean of the School of Education and Social Policy (SESP), announced.