Diversity and Equity
research expertise in OLPD
Diversity and equity are essential fields of research in education policy, organizational development, and leadership. Many of our faculty possess significant expertise in these areas. See below for profiles of faculty and their research related to diversity and equity:
Faculty with expertise in this area
Cori Bazemore-James Cori Bazemore-James
- Affiliate Faculty, Higher Education; Assistant Vice Provost, Graduate School Diversity Office
- she, her, hers
- 612-624-9447
- cbazemor@umn.edu
Fall 2023: OLPD 8702—Administration and Leadership in Higher Education Dr. Cori Bazemore-James (she/her) is an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation of Indians of Western New York and was raised in a Lakota community in South Dakota.
Gresham Donald Collom Gresham Donald Collom
- Assistant Professor
- he/him
- gcollom@umn.edu
Dr. Gresham D. Collom is an Assistant Professor of Higher Education in the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.
Heather Dorsey Heather Dorsey
- Senior Teaching Specialist
- 612-626-4780
- dors0034@umn.edu
I have been a faculty member of the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota for 17 years. I teach in the First Year Inquiry program which involves multidisciplinary team teaching and learning communities.
Michael Goh Michael Goh
- Professor; Campbell Leadership Chair in Education and Human Development; Coordinator of Graduate Programs in Higher Education
- mgoh@umn.edu
From 2017-2022, I served as the University of Minnesota systemwide vice president for equity and diversity for the university’s five campuses.
Katie Pekel Katie Pekel
- Executive Director of Educational Leadership; Co-Coordinator, Graduate Programs in Education Policy and Leadership
- 612-625-7002
- kpekel@umn.edu
As the Executive Director of Educational Leadership, Dr. Pekel serves as the department’s direct connection between the fields of research and practice in PK-12 education.
Michael Stebleton Michael Stebleton
- Professor
- he, him, his
- 612-625-2110
- steb0004@umn.edu
My current studies focus on understanding the experiences of first-generation and immigrant college students, including food insecurity issues and the impact of career courses on career planning and career decision-making.
Jonathan Stuart Jonathan Stuart
- Senior Lecturer
- 612-625-8697
- stua0042@umn.edu
Jonathan Stuart, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.
Bhaskar Upadhyay Bhaskar Upadhyay
- Professor; Director of Graduate Studies; Rodney Wallace Professor for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning
- he, him, his
- 612-625-3286
- bhaskar@umn.edu
As a former science teacher, I am interested in research and teaching that addresses issues of science teaching and learning in the high-poverty urban schools.
Debra Prenkert Debra Prenkert
- Senior Leader of Scholarly Practice
- dprenker@umn.edu
Dr. Prenkert has been in K-12 education for 28 years. She was a classroom teacher for 12 years at the elementary level.
Rebecca Ropers Rebecca Ropers
- Professor; Interim Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, University of Minnesota-Duluth
- 612-626-9545
- ropers@umn.edu
My scholarship focuses on how educators create environments that are accessible to, nurturing of, and reliant upon people in our diverse communities.
Stephanie Sisco Stephanie Sisco
- Assistant Professor
- 612-626-7255
- pleasant@umn.edu
My research seeks to understand how social issues appear at work and influence the learning and development of professionals of color.
Darrius Stanley Darrius Stanley
- Assistant Professor; Carmen Starkson Campbell Endowed Fellow for Innovation in Teacher Development
- he, him, his
- dstanley@umn.edu
My work centers the political, educational, and philosophical perspectives of Black people to unearth Black genius and possibility in education.
Nicola Alexander Nicola Alexander
- Professor; Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, Diversity, and International Initiatives
- 612-626-3256
- nalexand@umn.edu
Policy does not always work in the way we expect or want. My research examines the implications of policy for society as a whole, entire student populations, and specified student groups.
Heidi Barajas Heidi Barajas
- Associate Professor Emerita
- 612-625-4823
- hbarajas@umn.edu
Heidi Lasley Barajas is currently serving as the interim Associate Vice President for Public Engagement at the University of Minnesota and is an associate professor in the College of Education and Human Development.
Joshua Collins Joshua Collins
- Associate Professor; Director of Undergraduate Studies
- collinsj@umn.edu
I am concerned with the challenges associated with learning and work for racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual minorities.
Joan DeJaeghere Joan DeJaeghere
- Professor, Department Chair
- 612-626-8258
- deja0003@umn.edu
As the oldest daughter of parents who had to leave secondary school due to financial needs, I am committed to concerns related to educational equity and wellbeing.
Nicole Dillard Nicole Dillard
- Assistant Professor
- she, her, hers
- 612-626-8971
- ndillard@umn.edu
My primary research interest explores areas of marginalized identities in organizations with a focus on narratives of mothering and work, women and leadership, and the work-life experiences of women of color.
Rashné R. Jehangir Rashné R. Jehangir
- Professor; Robert Beck Chair of Ideas in Education; Founding Director, CEHD First Gen Institute
- 612-625-3551
- jehan001@umn.edu
My academic work is at the nexus of research and praxis shaped by my early career as a student affairs practitioner and advisor in federally funded TRIO programs.
Karen Miksch Karen Miksch
- Associate Professor
- 612-625-3398
- miksc001@umn.edu
My research focuses on the law of higher education and the transition to college. Specifically, I am interested in access to higher education from a legal and policy perspective.
Roberto Orozco Roberto Orozco
- Assistant Professor
- orozc100@umn.edu
My research explores questions around race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality with relation to college student activism and student development, queer resistance and queer worldmaking in and outside of higher education contexts.
Aditi Rajendran Aditi Rajendran
- Assistant Professor
- araj@umn.edu
My research explores how leadership shifts policies and practices towards more racially just schools and systems.
Ana Carolina Rodriguez Ana Carolina Rodriguez
- Coordinator of the Master of Learning and Talent Development
- she, her, hers
- rodr0667@umn.edu
Dr. Ana Carolina Rodriguez is Coordinator of the Master of Learning and Talent Development program at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities' Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.
Roozbeh Shirazi Roozbeh Shirazi
- Associate Professor; Coordinator of Graduate Programs in Comparative and International Development Education
- 612-624-2367
- shir0035@umn.edu
Coming to the field of comparative and international education from a background in political science, I have always sought to understand the social, political, and cultural labor that schools perform, with particular attention to how knowledge is…
