Faculty News

Your С�� Boulder Guide to AERA 2026

Ichigo Takikawa — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:37:56 +0000

Your С�� Boulder Guide to AERA 2026 Ichigo Takikawa Tue, 03/31/2026 - 12:37

Each year, the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting represents the world's largest gathering of education researchers and is a showcase for groundbreaking, innovative research.

AERA Colorado Reception

Attending this year's AERA? Join Colorado colleges and schools of education for the AERA Colorado Reception in Los Angeles.

Friday, April 10, 7:15-9:15 p.m.

Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites Floor 3, Emerald Bay Room

Enjoy food, drink and good company. Please register to join.

The 2026 AERA Annual Meeting will take place in Los Angeles from April 8 to 12. The theme for this year’s meeting is "Unforgetting Histories and Imagining Futures: Constructing a New Vision for Education Research."

Our faculty, students and alumni will be busy presenting, learning and exchanging ideas. Use this guide to follow and support С�� Boulder researchers and their work. This year, we have current С�� Boulder faculty and students featured in over 50 sessions!

See the full С�� Boulder AERA guide

Each year, the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting represents the world's largest gathering of education researchers and is a showcase for groundbreaking, innovative research. The 2026 AERA Annual Meeting will take place in Los Angeles from April 8 to 12. Read the С�� Boulder's guide to AERA to see our faculty and graduate students participating in this year's conference.

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Getting into the Groove: Derek Briggs is the new Associate Dean of Faculty

Hannah Fletcher — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 21:22:24 +0000

Getting into the Groove: Derek Briggs is the new Associate Dean of Faculty Hannah Fletcher Wed, 02/04/2026 - 14:22

With more than two decades of distinguished service to the School of Education community under his belt, Derek Briggs embarked on his new role of as school's Associate Dean of Faculty on Jan. 1.

A respected faculty member of the Research and Evaluation Methodology (REM) program, Briggs has shaped the school’s research and faculty culture through teaching, mentorship and his methodological expertise. Since 2016, he has also directed the Center for Assessment, Design, Research and Evaluation (CADRE), where he has guided its impact across campus and with partners statewide.

Briggs was drawn toward the role because of this varied experiences with faculty development and reappointment, promotion and tenure processes. He has chaired numerous Primary Unit Evaluation Committees, contributed to the school’s merit and salary reviews and served on the Vice Chancellor’s Advisory Committee. He is currently a Faculty Salary Equity Fellow in the Provost’s Office.

Briggs' selection—shaped by an internal search committee and faculty feedback—aims to bring his principled, collaborative approach to School of Education leadership team and faculty support processes. His entire tenured faculty experience has been spent in the С�� Boulder School of Education, and he sees this new role as an opportunity to give back and contribute both continuity and a fresh perspective to this important role.

To help us get to know him in his new capacity, we caught up with Briggs for a conversation about his hopes for the role and to learn more about his passions at work and at play.

Q. Why were you interested in the Associate Dean for Faculty role and why now?

Briggs: There are a lot of reasons, but ultimately it just felt like it would be a good fit for me at this stage of my career. I’ve been a faculty member in the School of Education my entire professional career, for 22 years. I’ve benefited a lot from the leadership of faculty that came before me. So, this seems like the right time for me to give back, and do what I can to maintain a legacy that has been built up over decades.

I’ve always considered myself fortunate to be a faculty member at an institution of higher education where I can pursue the research that interests me, and where I am rewarded for teaching and being creative. I know how hard our faculty work, and I appreciate all that they are able to contribute. I worry about the rising tide of anti-intellectualism and restrictions on civil liberties making its way into national policies that are likely to have negative effects on teaching, learning and research at every level. Our faculty need someone who can be advocate in these times, and I feel prepared to fill that role.

At the same time, as faculty in a School of Education we need to ask ourselves some hard questions, because in the United States in particular we have not made the kind of progress in fostering both opportunity and excellence in our educational system that I would have hoped to see some 20 years ago. It’s going to take effective leadership team at the School of Education to move this needle. I’m excited to be a part of it and motivated to make a difference.

Q. What do you hope to bring to the position?

Briggs: More than anything, I see this role as being about supporting our faculty to be successful. For faculty that are feeling demoralized or burned out by current events, I’m hoping I can help them get their mojo back. To accomplish this I'll need to earn people’s trust and show them through my actions that I care about their well-being. I think I’ve done that in my prior SOE leadership positions as chair of the Research and Evaluation Methodology (REM) program from 2008 through 2019, and the Director of the Center for Assessment, Design, Research and Evaluation (CADRE) since 2016. I’m very proud of the stable, collaborative and productive environment I’ve helped to foster for not just faculty in REM and CADRE, but students and staff as well.

A novel thing I’m going to bring to this role is an interest and familiarity with recent advances in generative AI. I just finished a year-long academic sabbatical during 2025 and I spent much of that time learning about AI and experimenting with its usage in both personal and professional contexts. I think this has made me pretty savvy about its possible affordances and very real limitations. In fact, I’m planning to teach a graduate level seminar course called “Using AI for Academic Research” in the Fall semester of 2026. Whether you are excited about AI, terrified or somewhere in between, it isn’t going away. Faculty are going to need to grapple with the impact that this new technology will be having on their teaching and research now and into the future. To surface these issues, I recently launched a blog that I’ll be updating regularly called AI in Education.

Q. Tell us more about your life outside of the School of Education and CADRE. What do you like to do with your free time?

What free time? Just kidding. Well, I’m pretty religious about three things that I do on a weekly basis when I’m in town. I do CrossFit workouts 4 to 5 times a week, usually in the late afternoon. So if you ever see me rushing out of the MBE building around 4:30 on a weekday, you’ll know why. My gym CrossFit Roots is a really important outlet and source of community for me. No matter how stressed I might be, it’s all out of mind when I’m doing burpees, deadlifts and box jumps. Another routine I’ve gotten pretty serious about is that after dinner with my wife, Whitney, and son, Lucas, I usually spend up to an hour practicing songs and technique on my acoustic guitar. I’m still just at a beginner’s level, but I find it to be a great creative outlet. Finally, pretty much every Saturday morning, regardless of weather conditions, Lucas and I do a three-mile round trip hike up to the NCAR building and back.

My family loves to travel. My mother is Austrian and when I was growing up I used to spend about a month or so every summer visiting my grandmother and family friends in Austria. Perhaps as a consequence, I love to travel to new places, to immerse myself in a different culture, to try new things. Just last May, I hiked a portion of the Camino de Santiago with one of my closest friends that I’ve known for 35 years. We started on the border of France and Spain in the town of St Jean Pied de Port and hiked into Spain over the Pyrenees mountains. Five days and 75 miles later we ended our trek and got to see a running of the bulls in the town of Estella. It was one of the best combined physical, spiritual and gastronomic experiences I’ve ever had, and I plan to keep going back over the next few years until I finish the full 400 miles and make it to Santiago de Compostella.

Q. We've heard you moonlight as a karaoke enthusiast. How did you get into that hobby?

Briggs: I actually was doing karaoke before it was widely known thing back in the late 1980s. When I was a teenager, my dad would take me to a small karaoke bar down in the Little Tokyo area of Los Angeles. Most of the people there were Japanese businessmen getting drunk, so it must have been amusing to see my dad come in with his teenage son and order himself a diet Coke (my dad doesn’t drink). Their selection of songs in English was pretty limited, so I was singing a lot of Elvis Presley and the Beatles. I think I actually won some sort of “crowd favorite” award when I was 16 for a rendition of Blue Suede Shoes.

Q: What’s your go-to karaoke song and why?

Briggs: Oh wow, it’s very hard to pick just one. It kind of depends on my mood. I think most of the friends who’ve karaoke'd with me would say my best song is "Purple Rain." Prince is my favorite artist, and "Purple Rain" is my favorite song. When Prince died in 2016, I was in Nashville, and I bought myself some cowboy boots with a purple lightning bolt in his honor. Then I went out and sang "Purple Rain" wearing those boots at a big karaoke bar on Broadway. I love singing anything by Prince. Other ones I like doing for karaoke: "Your Song" by Elton John, "The Scientist" by Coldplay, "Mr. Brightside" by the Killers.

Q. Any tips for those of us who are still in search of their on go-to song?

Briggs: First, try to pick a song that people will recognize and want to sing along with. What’s great about karaoke is it's fundamentally a participatory experience. It shows just how much and how quickly music can bring people of all walks of life together. That said, it’s also important that you like the song you pick! If you’re having fun while you sing, that energy will rub off on others. Sometimes a great way to find a go-to song is just to listen to the songs other people pick and notice when you find yourself singing along most enthusiastically. I often find someone will pick a song to sing that would have never occurred to me, and if I enjoy it, I’ll file it away as a song I might want to pick in the future. If you care about how you sound and/or want to make sure that there are no unforeseen surprises, it’s really easy these days to try out pretty much any song you can imagine on YouTube in the privacy of your own home.

A last tip: I try to stay away from artists whose trademark is a vocal range I have no prayer of reaching. I learned this the hard way as a teenager when I tried to sing “8 days a week” by the Beatles. Until that moment I had never quite realized just how high Paul McCartney’s voice could go. Along those lines, be careful if you pick songs by Adele, Lady Gaga or Whitney Houston among female artists and by Freddy Mercury (Queen), Axl Rose (Guns n’ Roses), or Steve Perry (Journey) among male artists. But don’t overthink things too much. Smile, have fun, strike a pose, and the rest will work itself out.

With more than two decades of distinguished service to the School of Education community under his belt, Derek Briggs embarked on his new role of as Associate Dean of Faculty on Jan. 1. We caught up with Briggs for a conversation about his hopes for the role and to learn more about his passions at work and at play.

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Kevin Welner elected to distinguished National Academy of Education Board of Directors

Hannah Fletcher — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 05:17:41 +0000

Kevin Welner elected to distinguished National Academy of Education Board of Directors Hannah Fletcher Mon, 11/03/2025 - 22:17

The National Academy of Education (NAEd) has announced the election of Kevin Welner, research professor at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education and director of the National Education Policy Center, to its Board of Directors for a four-year term beginning in November 2025.

Welner’s appointment to the board reflects his distinguished contributions to education research and policy. A nationally recognized education law scholar, Welner has published extensively on opportunity gaps, school reform and equity in public education.

His work has shaped and distilled national conversations around education justice and continues to influence both scholarship and policy.

Founded in 1965, NAEd is an honorific society that “advances high quality education research and its use in policy and practice.” Welner became an elected member of the academy last spring, and he is among five current С�� Boulder colleagues who are also members of NAEd members, including Derek Briggs, Rubén Donato, Margaret Eisenhart, Bill Penuel and Lorrie Shepard, who is a former NAEd president. Members serve on expert study panels that address pressing issues in education, and they engage in professional development fellowship programs. Election to the NAEd Board of Directors is a rare distinction, recognizing individuals whose work has had a profound impact on the field.

“We are proud to see Dr. Welner’s leadership and scholarship recognized at the highest level,” said Amanda Haertling Thein, dean of the С�� Boulder School of Education. “We know his thoughtful contributions will continue to be an invaluable asset to the academy.”

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The Online Teacher Leadership program is building the future, one teacher at a time

Tyler Caldwell — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 21:22:31 +0000

The Online Teacher Leadership program is building the future, one teacher at a time Tyler Caldwell Fri, 09/12/2025 - 15:22

This summer, the Teacher Leadership program celebrated its fifth anniversary—a milestone made possible by the dedication of teachers, partners and supporters in Colorado and beyond. Emily Gleason, faculty director of the Online Teacher Leadership program, reflects on how far the program has come and the ongoing need to support teacher leaders.

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С�� Boulder education scholars to discuss new books at upcoming Boulder events

Hannah Fletcher — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 16:42:13 +0000

С�� Boulder education scholars to discuss new books at upcoming Boulder events Hannah Fletcher Tue, 09/02/2025 - 10:42

Books, events to explore faculty and alumni commitments to centering compassion and justice in education and while sharing tangible resources for educators, school leaders, activists, allies and more.

С�� Boulder School of Education faculty and alumni will be featured in two upcoming author events at the Boulder Book Store this fall. Both events highlight some of the innovative ways С�� Boulder education scholars are working to support and study the development of more compassionate, inclusive and just schools.

On Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m., alumna Ashley Potvin (PhDEdu’18), research associate at the Renée Crown Wellness Institute, and Bill Penuel, distinguished professor in the School of Education’s Learning Sciences and Human Development program and faculty fellow with the Crown Institute, will present their new book, “Creating Compassionate Change in School Communities: Leading Together to Address Everyday Suffering in Schools.”

If you go

Creating Compassionate Change in School Communities

Ashley Potvin & Bill Penuel
Tuesday, Sept. 9 | 6:30 p.m.
Boulder Book Store, 1107 Pearl St.

Tickets

Queer Justice at School

Elizabeth J. Meyer
Thursday, Oct. 16 | 6:30 p.m.
Boulder Book Store, 1107 Pearl St.

Tickets

The book, co-authored by Sona Dimidjian, professor and Crown Institute Director, and Thupten Jinpa, Tibetan Buddhist Scholar and founder of the Compassion Institute, examines how educators across roles, including teachers, counselors, mental health professionals and school leaders, can work collectively to cultivate compassion and dignity in school environments.

On Thursday, Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m., Elizabeth J. Meyer, professor in the School of Education’s Educational Foundations, Policy and Practice program, will discuss her new book, “Queer Justice at School: A Guide for Youth Activists, Allies, and Their Teachers.”

Written for secondary students and their adult allies and grounded in scholarship, the book offers resources, case studies and strategies to advance gender and sexual diversity in schools. Meyer also situates LGBTQIA+ justice within broader coalitions for equity, addressing intersecting injustices including racism, ableism, colonialism and classism.

Both events will take place at Boulder Book Store, 1107 Pearl Street.

Tickets are $5 (plus a small processing fee).
Each ticket includes a $5 coupon redeemable for a copy of the featured book.
To request accommodations, contact events@boulderbookstore.com.

Both events and books showcase the scholarship and community impact of С�� Boulder scholars, and they reflect the School of Education’s ongoing commitment to advancing compassion and justice in education.

School of Education faculty and alumni will be featured in two upcoming author events at the Boulder Book Store. Ashley Potvin and Bill Penuel will present their new book, “Creating Compassionate Change in School Communities" on Tuesday, Sept. 9, and Elizabeth J. Meyer will discuss “Queer Justice at School” on Thursday, Oct. 16.

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Meet Dean Amanda Haertling Thein and her full-circle journey to becoming dean of the С�� Boulder School of Education

Hannah Fletcher — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 20:27:01 +0000

Meet Dean Amanda Haertling Thein and her full-circle journey to becoming dean of the С�� Boulder School of Education Hannah Fletcher Tue, 08/12/2025 - 14:27

As the new Dean of the School of Education, Amanda Haertling Thein recently returned to the С�� Boulder campus—a homecoming for the alumna.

Thein grew up in Colorado and attended С�� Boulder as an undergraduate. In this Q&A, she reflects on her path from high school teacher to educational researcher and higher education leader. She is a nationally recognized scholar in English and literacy education with a passion for educational democracy, which aligns with the School of Education’s mission and public scholarship.

Learn more about Dean Thein’s deep ties to Colorado, her call to serve the state, and what excites her most about leading the school into its next chapter.

Q: How did you come to С�� Boulder, and eventually, into the field of education?

I am from Colorado, and I grew up in Centennial. I went to С�� Boulder as an undergrad and had an amazing experience. I really loved to read when I was in high school—really, my whole life—so that’s what drew me to being an English major. I love to write as well, so I also majored in journalism with a focus on public relations. I even had a part-time job in С��’s Office of Public Relations, where I interviewed faculty about their work. Later, I was a summer intern with the Foundation for Boulder Valley Schools, and that sparked my interest in education.

Near the end of my undergraduate experience, I realized I wanted to be an English teacher, which for some reason had not occurred to me! I went to the University of Denver for teacher licensure and a master’s degree and taught English and advised the newspaper at Heritage High School in Littleton for three wonderful years. While finishing my master’s, I realized how much I loved the intersection of research, theory, and classroom teaching. I realized I was going to miss reading theory and empirical research. My advisor encouraged me to pursue a PhD and to consider a career as a professor in education.

He also encouraged me to find an advisor who was studying what I was interested in, which was how we teach literature to students from a range of backgrounds. That led me to the University of Minnesota to study with Richard Beach. From the start, I was in St. Paul classrooms observing, interviewing, and learning about how students respond to literature. I became passionate about research during my doctoral program, and I also learned a lot about academia and mentorship. My advisor took me to conferences, wrote with me, and introduced me to other scholars. I found it absolutely invigorating to be studying what was happening in classrooms.

Q: Was there something about education research that drew you in, especially after teaching?

As a teacher, I was driven by daily challenges and my relationships with students. Teachers are invested in the lives of students holistically, not just in terms of how they’re doing in your classes. It’s incredibly rewarding, but it’s way more than a full-time job. It’s hard to slow down to engage in research and study what’s happening in a classroom.

I think education needs both: excellent teachers continually improving their practice and scholars studying what happens in classrooms and communities.

Q. Your journey as a faculty member has moved into higher education leadership. How did that come about?

After my doctorate, I became a tenure-track assistant professor specializing in literacy education and mentoring doctoral students at the University of Pittsburgh, which was a great experience. Then I moved to the University of Iowa, which brought us closer to family and gave me rich research opportunities in rural and suburban schools.

The dean invited me to serve as associate dean. I hadn’t planned on administration, but I found I enjoyed shaping college-wide policies, supporting faculty and grad students, and improving student experiences. I worked on program development, policy equity, and graduate education. It was fulfilling in ways I hadn’t anticipated.

I was fortunate to have a dean who saw my potential and he encouraged me to think about other roles on campus. Then, I became Dean of the Graduate College and Associate Provost for Graduate and Professional Education at Iowa. I wanted to know more about how the whole university functioned, and I also wanted to support the experiences of graduate students. I had an amazing experience as a graduate student, but I knew there were other students who didn't. I aimed to create a student-centered experience for grad students. That role really taught me how to be a campus citizen and how to advocate for students across the institution.

Q. What drew you back to С�� Boulder?

С�� Boulder shaped who I am. I had a challenging, meaningful undergraduate experience here, and it stretched me in all the right ways. I wasn’t actively seeking this role, but the idea of leading the School of Education at my alma mater was always in the back of my mind.

What makes С�� Boulder special to me isn’t just my personal connection. It’s the kind of work happening here. The faculty are deeply engaged in educational equity and democracy through meaningful community partnerships. That’s the kind of work I care about. I also believe deeply in the mission of public flagship research institutions to ensure that research meets the needs of people in the state and the region. I see people at С�� Boulder forwarding that mission in so many exciting ways, especially in the School of Education.

Q. What are your priorities in your first few months?

First and foremost, I want to learn and listen. I want to understand the school’s history, its programs, and its people—faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners. I want to hear what’s important to them. That will lay the groundwork for a collaborative visioning process. I have ideas, but visioning needs to be shared work. I also want us to think about how we align resources with our goals and continue leading in publicly engaged, community-connected scholarship.

Q. Let’s shift gears. What do you love doing outside of work?

I’m a lifelong reader. I especially love fiction and listen to audiobooks constantly—walking my dog, commuting, doing chores. I also love to hike, walk, do yoga, and cook. I read that everyone needs a creative hobby. Cooking has become my creative hobby. I’m always checking the New York Times cooking app for ideas.

And I’m thrilled to be near my family again after 24 years away. My siblings live in Denver, and my parents are in Parker. It's such a gift to live close to them and to be able to see family, and then come back to my own house that night. I love that my children are able to see their cousins on a regular basis. So I'm leaning into that, and I'm reconnecting with some of my lifelong friends.

Q. What’s it like walking across campus now as a dean having once walked those same sidewalks as a student?

It’s amazing. I couldn’t have imagined this as a student. I was recently in a meeting across campus and I took the long way back just to walk around. I remembered living in Hallett, Arnett, and Kitt West. I love thinking about the many memories I have of being here. I rode my bike to campus a couple weekends ago, and I remembered the places where you're supposed to dismount your bike—such a rule follower.

I'm just struck by how beautiful the campus is. I don't remember paying a lot of attention to how beautiful the Flatirons were when I was an undergrad, but it just takes my breath away now. I couldn't be more thrilled to be here.

Q. Anything else you want to add?

Just how grateful I am. The people in the School of Education have been so welcoming, and I feel lucky every day to be here. С�� Boulder is as inspiring as I remember, maybe more.

I'm amazed to be surrounded by so many people who care about this university and school the way that I do and I hoped people would. I can't wait to lean into the future of the University of Colorado Boulder together.

Aren’t we fortunate too! Welcome, Dean Thein.

As the new Dean of the School of Education, Amanda Haertling Thein recently returned to the С�� Boulder campus—a homecoming for the alumna. Thein grew up in Colorado and attended С�� Boulder as an undergraduate. In this Q&A, she reflects on her path from high school teacher to educational researcher and higher education leader and what excites her most about leading the school into its next chapter.

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Your С�� Boulder Guide to AERA 2025

Ichigo Takikawa — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 23:05:17 +0000

Your С�� Boulder Guide to AERA 2025 Ichigo Takikawa Tue, 04/08/2025 - 17:05

Each year, the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting represents the world's largest gathering of education researchers and is a showcase for groundbreaking, innovative research. The 2025 AERA Annual Meeting will take place in Denver from April 23 to 27. The theme for this year’s meeting is “Research, Remedy, and Repair: Toward Just Education Renewal.”

AERA Colorado Reception

Attending AERA or in the local area?Join Colorado colleges and schools of education for the AERA Colorado Reception in Denver

April 26 at 7 p.m.

Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center

Enjoy food, drink and good company. Please register to join, non-AERA attendees and guests are welcome.

See the full С�� Boulder AERA guide

In addition, Professor William Penuel will present the 2025 Wallace Foundation Distinguished Lecture on Saturday, April 26. His lecture, titled “Education for Flourishing: Building Initiatives and Partnerships for More Just and Sustainable Futures,” looks into how education systems, traditionally shaped by scarcity and exclusion, can instead be rooted in abundance, compassion, and dignity. He highlights work at the Renee Crown Wellness Institute at С�� Boulder aimed at creating just and sustainable futures by engaging youth in culturally relevant learning, strengthening family-school connections, and nurturing compassionate educators.

С�� Boulder School of Education faculty and students participation at this year’s AERA in Denver include:

41 faculty, 31 graduate students, 1 undergraduate student
21 roundtable sessions
24 paper sessions
18 symposia
9 poster sessions
6 research projects being presented were funded by Women Investing in the School of Education grants
4 invited speaker sessions
2 mentoring sessions
1 offsite visit and 1 business meeting for the Grassroots Community and Youth Organizing for Educational Justice SIG

Each year, the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting represents the world's largest gathering of education researchers, and it showcases groundbreaking, innovative research. Use this guide to follow and support С�� Boulder faculty and students and their work at AERA in Denver April 23-27 — including over 80 sessions led by С�� Boulder researchers!

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Cutting half the Department of Education’s staff will have devastating, possibly illegal, consequences: expert

Hannah Fletcher — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:59:52 +0000

Cutting half the Department of Education’s staff will have devastating, possibly illegal, consequences: expert Hannah Fletcher Fri, 03/14/2025 - 08:59

Recently, the U.S. Department of Education announced it was terminating nearly 2,000 of its roughly 4,000 employees. Both Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and President Donald Trump have signaled that they ultimately want to close the department completely. Kevin Welner, education policy scholar in the School of Education sees many reasons to worry in the new cuts.

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What DOGE’s recent Department of Education cuts could mean for researchers, educators

Ichigo Takikawa — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:51:04 +0000

What DOGE’s recent Department of Education cuts could mean for researchers, educators Ichigo Takikawa Tue, 02/18/2025 - 14:51

Daniel Strain , Nicholas Goda

Recent cuts have targeted the Institute for Education Sciences, the main research arm of the Department of Education, which collects data and funds research on what works in education. Read on for insights from Derek Briggs, professor of education and director of CADRE at С�� Boulder.

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The power of being seen: Melissa Braaten on teaching, equity, and impact

Maddie Rudolph — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:09:17 +0000

The power of being seen: Melissa Braaten on teaching, equity, and impact Maddie Rudolph Wed, 02/12/2025 - 11:09

Maddie Rudolph

Meet Melissa Braaten, an associate professor focusing on science education and teachers' learning and the new Associate Dean for Undergraduate and Teacher Education. Braaten has been at С�� Boulder since 2016, and before that, she was on the faculty at the University of Wisconsin and taught grades 5th through 12th for more than 14 years.

Braaten knew that she wanted to be a science teacher right away in college.

“I was motivated to be a teacher because I appreciated how my own teachers created learning experiences that helped me to expand my horizons, and I wanted to be a person who could do that for another generation of students.”

She notes that once she began teaching, she became deeply aware of the inequities and injustices that are a part of our society and schools. Her main focus as a teacher, teacher educator, and scholar is to work to change structures and build a more equitable and just world.

When considering what kinds of impact her own teachers had on her life, Dr. Braatan noticed one common thread: “Teachers who really recognized something specific in who I am and then connected some aspect of school to my life were the teachers who made a big impact.”

Braaten recalls her middle school literature teacher letting her choose books written by women focusing on women’s rights, and her high school government teacher intentionally making flawed human rights policies in model UN projects knowing that she would find the flaws and fight them.

“Each of these teachers took moments to know me, see me, and let me know that they heard me,” she said. “It mattered a lot for expanding my horizons. I'm still in touch with many of those teachers!”

Braaten is poised to be that kind of mentor for her students in teacher learning and STEM education programs at С�� Boulder. Get to know more about Braaten and her passions inside and outside the School of Education here.

In her own words:

Can you recall a time when you felt proud of your decision to become a teacher?

“My most proud moments come from seeing my own former students as they flourish and find their paths in life. I felt very proud as a teacher in Texas when I was able to stand alongside my students as they created a Gay-Straight Alliance and fought against the school district's policy banning such student organizations. I felt proud when I worked with formerly incarcerated youth in South Seattle who persevered and insisted on their right to a high-quality education. I've never cheered so loudly as I cheered at the graduations where youth and their families celebrated walking across that stage. Those are the moments that make me most proud to be a teacher.”

What do you like to do during your free time?

“I love to go camping and hiking with my partner, Nate, so Colorado is the perfect place for us! We also like to spend time with friends where we live in Denver. We love to cook and eat together with our neighbors. We are big sports fans so we always try to go to soccer, basketball, baseball, and hockey games supporting Denver teams.”

What’s one thing you’re willing to spend way too much on?

“I'm willing to spend way too much for tickets to a Denver Nuggets game!”

Meet Melissa Braaten, an associate professor focusing on science education and teachers' learning and the new Associate Dean for Undergraduate and Teacher Education.

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Faculty News

Your С���� Boulder Guide to AERA 2026

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Meet Dean Amanda Haertling Thein and her full-circle journey to becoming dean of the С���� Boulder School of Education

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С���� Boulder School of Education faculty and students participation at this year’s AERA in Denver include:

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Cutting half the Department of Education’s staff will have devastating, possibly illegal, consequences: expert

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