UW-Madison Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis (ELPA)

10/19/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Xueli Wang for being selected as a Fellow of ASHE-Association for the Study of Higher Education! Dr. Wang is among 15 fellows welcomed to the program this year, which launched in 2025.

The fellows program honors members for their integrity, mentorship, significant contributions to higher education scholarship, and service to ASHE. The program celebrates the association’s holistic focus on advancing scholarly inquiry while fostering deep, meaningful connections where voices and ideas can flourish.

By Amellia Fowler UW–Madison’s Xueli Wang, the Barbara and Glenn Thompson Endowed Professor in Educational Leadership in the School of Education, has been selected as a Fellow of the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE). According to the ASHE website, the fellows program honors m...

10/12/2026

Congratulations to 4th-year PhD student Laura Davalos, who was selected as a University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) Jackson Scholar and a Just Education Policy Scholar!

The UCEA Barbara L. Jackson Scholars Network is a two-year program that provides formal networking, mentoring, and professional development for graduate students of color who intend to become professors of educational leadership. The Just Education Policy Scholars Program is designed for doctoral students and graduates in postdoctoral positions who are committed to advancing racial equity and justice education policy and politics and have ethical ambition to create policy change through research.

Laura is a 4th-year PhD student in ELPA's Educational Policy Analysis and Evaluation program. She received a BA in Political Science and Psychology at the University of Michigan in April 2023. Laura is also an Interdisciplinary Training Program fellow, aiming to use causal inference to evaluate policy change. Her academic focus is on creating equitable education policies within school choice systems that empower students of all backgrounds. Her recent work focuses on charter school finance management.

10/09/2026

As schools across the United States serve growing numbers of multilingual learners, a new report co-authored by Dr. Francesca López, Dr. Chris Saldaña, and Dr. Lucrecia Santibañez (UCLA) points to two factors that can help improve student outcomes: stronger educator preparation and funding systems that closely reflect student needs.

The report, “Multilingual Learners Learning English: What Can California Learn From Other States?,” compares multilingual learner policies in California, Texas, and Indiana. The study was produced as part of "Getting Down to Facts III," part of a Stanford University initiative designed to inform California's education policy.

By Katie Grant, Office of Research & Scholarship As schools across the United States serve growing numbers of multilingual learners, a new report co-authored by faculty in the UW–Madison School of Education points to two factors that can help improve student outcomes: stronger educator preparation...

10/08/2026

Congratulations to PhD student Yuriko Sato for publishing a single-authored, peer-reviewed article in The Journal of Higher Education! Publishing a solo-authored study in one of the premier journals in higher education research is an extraordinary achievement, especially as a doctoral student!

To access Yuriko's article, "Crossing borders and telling stories: A narrative inquiry of Asian international students’ engagement in U.S. racial justice activism," please use one of the following links:

DOI Link:
https://doi.org/10.1080/00221546.2026.2722487

ePrint Link to access the full article:
https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/47BTIIEHUPISY4EHHDBZ/full?target=10.1080/00221546.2026.2722487

09/30/2026

A new book edited by ELPA alumnus Dr. George Theoharis (PhD '04) and Dr. John Rogers (UCLA) was recently released by Beacon Press. Additionally, Dr. Mollie McQuillan, Dr. Kevin Lawrence Henry Jr., and Dean Marcelle Haddix contributed to chapters in the book.

Titled “Educating in Dangerous Times: A Call to Reenvision Public School in America,” the book argues that a new and virulent strain of education politics is arising in this era and asks a central question: How should we reenvision public schools and collectively create the public schools we need?

A new book edited by UW–Madison alumnus George Theoharis and John Rogers was released by Beacon Press on Aug. 25. “Educating in Dangerous Times: A Call to Reenvision Public School in America” argues that a new and virulent strain of education politics is arising in this era and asks a central ...

09/25/2026

Congratulations to our 2025-26 Dr. Carolyn Kelley Dissertation Award Recipients: Dr. Aziz Awaludin, Dr. Jared Colston, and Dr. Landry D. Levinson!

ELPA's dissertation award is named after ELPA Professor Emerit Dr. Carolyn Kelley and her extensive work chairing dissertation committees. The award recipients wrote outstanding dissertations throughout the 2025-26 academic year that stood out to ELPA faculty. Our faculty evaluated the recipients on the development and presentation of their research question(s), originality, the conduct of their study, appropriate use of related research and other literature, and their overall contribution to knowledge and practice.

We wish our graduates the best of luck in their future endeavors!

09/22/2026

Congratulations to ELPA doctoral students Xinyu Guan and Ghipsel Cibrian López, who were selected as EdFund State School Finance Fellows!

The State School Finance Fellowship is a highly selective, cohort-based program for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars interested in the intersection of education finance research and policy. Participants join a national community of emerging scholars while exploring topics such as school funding systems, policy reform, data analysis, and research communication.

Guan will join the Fall 2026 cohort, and López will join the Winter 2027 cohort.

UW–Madison graduate students Xinyu Guan and Ghipsel Cibrian López, both pursuing doctoral degrees in the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, have been selected as EdFund State School Finance Fellows. The State School Finance Fellowship is a highly sel...

09/21/2026

Help us welcome some of our new first-year PhD students taking ELPA 810: Doctoral Inquiry with Dr. Brian Burt!

09/19/2026

In a new commentary published in Teachers College Record, Dr. Brian Burt offers fellow scholars a guide to responding to questions that challenge their scholarly inquiry — and humanity. Dr. Burt wrote the commentary while on sabbatical last. It follows his previous commentary that urged faculty and students to tend to their well-being while working in academia.

By Laurel White In a new commentary, a School of Education faculty member offers fellow scholars a guide to responding to questions that challenge their scholarly inquiry — and humanity. Brian Burt, a professor in the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis...

09/18/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Henry and Dr. Welton on being named co-editors of the Journal of Research on Leadership Education (JRLE), one of the flagship journals in educational leadership research! Additionally, doctoral student Will French will serve as managing editor of the publication.

ELPA will be the sponsor and home of the peer-reviewed journal for five years, which is associated with the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA).

Two faculty members at the UW–Madison School of Education have been named co-editors of the Journal of Research on Leadership Education (JRLE), one of the flagship journals in educational leadership research.  Kevin Lawrence Henry, Jr. and Anjalé Welton will serve as co-editors of the peer-revie...