James Sadler, Royster Fellow and Ph.D. student in Policy, Leadership, and School ImprovementThe PLS program has allowed me to explore my research interests on multiple fronts, from the fields of policy, political science, sociology, and economics. This interdisciplinary approach with a focus on rigorous research has given me the necessary tools to help tackle some of the world’s hardest educational questions.
Addressing education's toughest challenges
The North Carolina Learning Research Network – a partnership between the UNC School of Education, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, and the North Carolina Collaboratory – hosted its third annual convening of approximately 70 academic researchers, practitioners, and policymakers on June 26 for a day of presentations and discussions featuring practice-informed research and…
Will Zahran, a UNC School of Education doctoral student, was one of 12 graduate students from across disciplines on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus recognized as a 2024 Impact Award winner during an April 4 ceremony hosted by The Graduate School. The annual Impact Awards recognize graduate students and recent graduate…
Eric Houck, Ph.D., an associate professor in policy, leadership, and school improvement and a noted authority who examines how educational finance systems can generate inequities, has been elected president of the National Education Finance Academy (NEFA) for the 2023-24 term. Houck officially became the president of the NEFA at the organization's 13th annual conference April…
In April 2025 ahead of its annual conference, the American Educational Research Association (AERA) announced the release of the second edition of the “Handbook of Education Policy Research,” edited by Lora Cohen-Vogel, Ph.D., Frank A. Daniels Jr. Distinguished Professor at the UNC School of Education. Peter Youngs, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Virginia and Janelle…