Amid an increasingly partisan and hostile political climate, education and healthcare systems face mounting challenges. The need to dismantle inequities and foster inclusion has never been more urgent. Our faculty reflect on approaches to reforming traditional systems, addressing systemic injustices, and creating cultures where all learners can thrive. 

“In Special Education, researchers and practitioners are now focused in developing and providing educational support that values and affirms neurodivergent learners.”

Kristen Bottema-Beutel, Professor, Teaching, Curriculum, and Society Department

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“There is a growing awareness of the injustices embedded in the educational systems at local, state, and national levels, and efforts are now shifting to change systems, make systems more just and responsive. These shifts require evaluations of systems change, and assessing systems change requires new evaluation methodologies. Systems change will take off as an interdisciplinary area.”

Emily Gates, Associate Professor, Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics & Assessment Department

“Preparing for the erosion of civil rights protections; privatization of education in a way that defunds public education; erosion of academic freedom and power of higher education institutions”

Raquel Muñiz Castro, Associate Professor, Educational Leadership & Higher Education Department

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“As higher education evolves, we need evidence-based approaches that help institutions create cultures where diverse individual values and purposes can flourish, leading to both personal thriving and collective advancement.”

Belle Liang, Ascione Faculty Fellow and Professor, Counseling, Developmental & Educational Psychology Department

“Learn from teacher preparation programs how to improve teaching and learning in culturally affirming and sustaining ways, and illuminate ways for states, districts, and policymakers to better support equitable teaching and learning.”

Mariela Paez, Associate Professor, Teaching, Curriculum, and Society Department

February 2, 2017 -- Portrait of Boston College Lynch School of Education faculty member Mariela Paez. Photographed for Boston College by Caitlin Cunningham (www.caitlincunningham.com).
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