Introduction

Dr. Patricia L. Fontaine is a Clinical Professor of Curriculum and Instruction and the Graduate Coordinator for the Teacher Preparation M.Ed. program in the School of Education within the College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. Her research interests include civic education and women in history. Dr. Fontaine received her Ed.D. in Education from the University of Massachusetts–Lowell, her M.A. in History from Tufts University, her M.A. in French from Middlebury College, and her B.A. in French and History from Rivier College. She has been recognized with multiple honors, including the University Service Learning Award and the Faculty Teaching Award from the University of Massachusetts.

Dr. Patricia L. Fontaine is a Clinical Professor of Curriculum and Instruction and the Graduate Coordinator for the Teacher Preparation M.Ed. program in the School of Education within the College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. Her research interests include civic education and women in history. Dr. Fontaine received her Ed.D. in Education from the University of Massachusetts–Lowell, her M.A. in History from Tufts University, her M.A. in French from Middlebury College, and her B.A. in French and History from Rivier College. She has been recognized with multiple honors, including the University Service Learning Award and the Faculty Teaching Award from the University of Massachusetts.

Dr. Eleanor Abrams is a Professor of Curriculum and Instruction in the School of Education within the College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. Her expertise includes science education, faculty professional development, and professional learning communities, with research interests in rural and indigenous identity development as science learners, community-based science learning, and inquiry-based pedagogies. Dr. Abrams received her Ph.D. in Science Education with an emphasis in ecology from Louisiana State University and her B.S. in Wildlife Biology and Botany from the University of Massachusetts. She has received multiple honors, including the HERS Leadership Institute for Women in Higher Education Administration Award and the UNH Teaching Excellence Award.

Dr. Eleanor Abrams is a Professor of Curriculum and Instruction in the School of Education within the College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. Her expertise includes science education, faculty professional development, and professional learning communities, with research interests in rural and indigenous identity development as science learners, community-based science learning, and inquiry-based pedagogies. Dr. Abrams received her Ph.D. in Science Education with an emphasis in ecology from Louisiana State University and her B.S. in Wildlife Biology and Botany from the University of Massachusetts. She has received multiple honors, including the HERS Leadership Institute for Women in Higher Education Administration Award and the UNH Teaching Excellence Award.

Dr. A.J. Angulo is a Professor and Program Coordinator for the M.Ed. in Education Administration – Higher Education in the School of Education within the College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. His research interests include higher education and K-12 policy, international and comparative education, and historical and legal research methods. Dr. Angulo earned his Ed.D. and Ed.M. from Harvard University, his M.Ed. from the University of Georgia, and his B.A. from Calvin College. He has received multiple honors, including the Outstanding Book Award from the History of Education Society and two PROSE Award recognitions.

Dr. A.J. Angulo is a Professor and Program Coordinator for the M.Ed. in Education Administration – Higher Education in the School of Education within the College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. His research interests include higher education and K-12 policy, international and comparative education, and historical and legal research methods. Dr. Angulo earned his Ed.D. and Ed.M. from Harvard University, his M.Ed. from the University of Georgia, and his B.A. from Calvin College. He has received multiple honors, including the Outstanding Book Award from the History of Education Society and two PROSE Award recognitions.

Dr. Elizabeth Bifuh is an Associate Professor in the School of Education within the College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. Her research focuses on literacy development and assessment (K–12), English as a Second Language (ESL/EL), and multicultural education. Dr. Bifuh earned her Ph.D. in Education with a specialization in Language Arts and Literacy from the University of Southern Mississippi, her M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Southern Mississippi, and her B.A. in Modern Letters from the University of Yaoundé in Cameroon. She has been recognized with multiple honors, including the American Association of University Women Massachusetts Honorary Membership Award and distinctions from the Division of Student Affairs at UNC Wilmington.

Dr. Elizabeth Bifuh is an Associate Professor in the School of Education within the College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. Her research focuses on literacy development and assessment (K–12), English as a Second Language (ESL/EL), and multicultural education. Dr. Bifuh earned her Ph.D. in Education with a specialization in Language Arts and Literacy from the University of Southern Mississippi, her M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Southern Mississippi, and her B.A. in Modern Letters from the University of Yaoundé in Cameroon. She has been recognized with multiple honors, including the American Association of University Women Massachusetts Honorary Membership Award and distinctions from the Division of Student Affairs at UNC Wilmington.

Dr. MinJeong Kim is an Associate Professor of Language Arts and Literacy in the School of Education within the College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. Her research focuses on early literacy learning, literacy development among children with and without hearing loss, and multicultural and language education. Dr. Kim earned her Ph.D. in Integrated Teaching and Learning with a specialization in Early Childhood Education and Literacy Studies from The Ohio State University, her M.A. in Special Education from Dankook University in Seoul, and her B.A. in Special Education with a focus on Deaf Education from Dankook University. She has received multiple awards, including the AERA Special Interest Group Award and the Teacher Training Award from the Korea Institute for Special Education.

Dr. MinJeong Kim is an Associate Professor of Language Arts and Literacy in the School of Education within the College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. Her research focuses on early literacy learning, literacy development among children with and without hearing loss, and multicultural and language education. Dr. Kim earned her Ph.D. in Integrated Teaching and Learning with a specialization in Early Childhood Education and Literacy Studies from The Ohio State University, her M.A. in Special Education from Dankook University in Seoul, and her B.A. in Special Education with a focus on Deaf Education from Dankook University. She has received multiple awards, including the AERA Special Interest Group Award and the Teacher Training Award from the Korea Institute for Special Education.

Dr. John J. Brown is a Clinical Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. With nearly two decades of K–12 teaching experience, he specializes in student motivation, social and emotional learning, and positive school culture. At UMass Lowell, Dr. Brown has taught more than 20 courses across undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs, while also mentoring pre-service and in-service teachers. He is the author of The Use of Force: Teaching Adolescents in the 21st Century (Peter Lang, 2024) and was named a Massachusetts Education Policy Fellow at the Rennie Center in Boston. Dr. Brown earned his Ed.D. in Language Arts & Literacy from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, his M.A. in English from Salem State University, and his B.A. in English from Stonehill College.

Dr. John J. Brown is a Clinical Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. With nearly two decades of K–12 teaching experience, he specializes in student motivation, social and emotional learning, and positive school culture. At UMass Lowell, Dr. Brown has taught more than 20 courses across undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs, while also mentoring pre-service and in-service teachers. He is the author of The Use of Force: Teaching Adolescents in the 21st Century (Peter Lang, 2024) and was named a Massachusetts Education Policy Fellow at the Rennie Center in Boston. Dr. Brown earned his Ed.D. in Language Arts & Literacy from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, his M.A. in English from Salem State University, and his B.A. in English from Stonehill College.

Dr. Hilary Lustick is an Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction in the School of Education, College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. Her research focuses on restorative justice, social emotional learning, and equity in urban public schools, as well as the role of emotion in qualitative data analysis and academic freedom. She has served as a consultant on restorative practice implementation in charter and public secondary schools and is a member of the Equity, Inclusion, and Action Committee of AERA’s Division A. Dr. Lustick teaches courses in qualitative research methods, school-based action research, and educational leadership. She began her career as a community organizer and later taught English and Humanities at the Kurt Hahn Expeditionary Learning School in Brooklyn. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from New York University, her M.Ed. in Secondary English Teacher Education from Harvard University, and her B.A. in English from Tufts University.

Dr. Hilary Lustick is an Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction in the School of Education, College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. Her research focuses on restorative justice, social emotional learning, and equity in urban public schools, as well as the role of emotion in qualitative data analysis and academic freedom. She has served as a consultant on restorative practice implementation in charter and public secondary schools and is a member of the Equity, Inclusion, and Action Committee of AERA’s Division A. Dr. Lustick teaches courses in qualitative research methods, school-based action research, and educational leadership. She began her career as a community organizer and later taught English and Humanities at the Kurt Hahn Expeditionary Learning School in Brooklyn. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from New York University, her M.Ed. in Secondary English Teacher Education from Harvard University, and her B.A. in English from Tufts University.