School of Education and Social Policy

“Dynamic Family Size Preferences During the COVID-19 Mortality Crisis”: @leticiamarteleto.bsky.social & S. Kumar report 40% of women w/ children changed desired family size toward having more kids. @pennpsc.bsky.social @sesp-nu.bsky.social @dzc-upenn.bsky.social read.dukeupress.edu/demography/a...

Tre Wells

Tre Wells received the AERA Minority Dissertation Fellowship—one of just seven nationwide. His research looks at federal policy, HBCUs, and Pell Grants. He'll present at the 2026 AERA meeting in LA! 👏

➡️ spr.ly/63325fltYt.

Julia Narvaez Munguia

Julia Narvaez Munguia

Julia Narvaez Munguia

Julia Narvaez Munguia

Meet Julia Narvaez Munguia, who earned Northwestern University's first dual degree in education/social policy and journalism. If there ever were an ideal candidate for this program, it was Julia! 💜

➡️ More on her journey: spr.ly/6182fdkjY.

MSLOC logo superimposed over aerial view of Chicagoland

🌟 Discover how our Master's in Learning and Organizational Change programs can help you drive transformation in organizations, empower others, and create meaningful change.

✅ MSLOC coaching info session: Aug. 20, Noon – 1:30 PM CT
spr.ly/604244ln4.

Group of Abell Scholars

Brian Reiser

Alejandra Frausto-Aceves

Abell Institute

We brought more than two dozen of the world’s most promising emerging scholars in science education to campus for the 2025 Sandra K. Abell Institute for Doctoral Students.
Read more ➡️ spr.ly/6185fuqMF.
📸 Eileen Molony

Priya Fremerman

🌟 Discover how our Master's in Learning and Organizational Change programs can help you drive transformation in organizations, empower others, and create meaningful change.

✅ Tomorrow! MSLOC virtual chat with current student Priya Fremerman: July 22, Noon – 12:30 PM CT
spr.ly/604944lnF

Book Cover: The Strange Case of Donald J. Trump and headshot of Dan McAdams

SESP psychologist Dan P. McAdams, the author of “The Strange Case of Donald J. Trump", told Huffington Post “Trump is an ‘episodic man’ who focuses on winning each day or each moment, with very little concern for yesterday or tomorrow."

➡️ HuffPo article: spr.ly/6189f6WuW

James Spillane

James Spillane (middle)

James Spillane (left)

James Spillane presenting

James Spillane, president of @icsei.bsky.social traveled to Cardiff for an event that brought together policymakers, practitioners, and researchers within Wales and other countries to share experiences, knowledge, and expertise.

Life expectancy in California has not recovered since the pandemic Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, countries around the globe saw unprecedented causalities and increased mortality. While many nations have since recovered, new Northwestern University research shows that California has not rebounded to pre-pandemic life expectancy, based on early data obtained from the state.

California has not rebounded to pre-pandemic life expectancy based on early data obtained from the state, according to new research published in the medical journal JAMA Open and led by School of Education and Social Policy economist Hannes Schwandt.

Life Expectancy Drops in California Post-Covid California has not rebounded to pre-pandemic life expectancy, based on early data obtained from the state, according to new research published in AMA Open.

California has not rebounded to pre-pandemic life expectancy based on early data obtained from the state, according to new research published in the medical journal JAMA Open and led by School of Education and Social Policy economist Hannes Schwandt.

The learning scientist using new tools to understand learning in sports Marcelo Worsley uses data science to foster engagement in learning

Learning scientist Marcelo Worsley explains to BOLD how he uses sports as a vehicle to get kids interested in data and computer science. He's found when teachers compete against students, it can shift the way they view each other and open new areas for connection.

Maddie Zimmer, Annabel Skubisz and Madison Taylor

SESP scholar athletes Maddie Zimmer (🏑) and Madison Taylor (🥍 ) were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America At-Large teams! Graduate student Annabel Skubisz, a goalkeeper on the field hockey team, was also selected.
🏑 💜 💜💜 🥍.

Melanie Muskin

High school teachers bond over shared political beliefs—and feel isolated when they feel out of step with the dominant ideologies at the schools—according to a new study published in the journal AERA Open by Melanie Muskin, a SESP PhD candidate.

➡️ Read more: spr.ly/61874sKVf.

Megan Bang

Bryan Brayboy

Bryan Brayboy and Megan Bang

Carol Lee

We recently celebrated the distinguished careers of Dean @bryanbrayboy.bsky.social + Professor Megan Bang during investiture ceremonies. 💜 💜 🎉 🎉

Read more: spr.ly/61824qeUa.

📸 David Johnson

Chris Neary and Lois Trautvetter

Spirit of Searle

Congrats to Chris Neary, who received the inaugural Spirit of Searle Award from @NorthwesternU's Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching! Chris is an instructional design and tech consultant for our Higher Ed Administration + Policy master's program. 🎉 💜 #SESPLove

AI Valley Book cover

Gary Rivlan

Fast Company named alumnus Gary Rivlin’s book "AI Valley" one of five essential AI reads for 2025. Rivlin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, shadows founders and venture capitalists in the field for more than a year, including LinkedIn's Reid Hoffman.

Fast Company article: spr.ly/61844lERM.

Larissa FastHorse

Susan Olson

Bryan Brayboy

Marisa Wielgos

An extra special thank you to our convocation speakers: Dean Bryan Brayboy, Alivia Britton, Eileen Byrne, Larissa FastHorse, Sarah Futa, Rayyana Hassan, Jackson Gordwin, Adrienne Scheide, Maya Vuchic, Marisa Wielgos, Bradley Wadle, and Bin Zhang. 🎓 💜

📷: Dynamic Photo Systems

Welcoming our newest cohort

✅ Orientation

Welcome to our 50 newest Morton Schapiro Academy for Chicago Public Schools scholars! 👏

Here’s to a great summer ahead! 😎

#NorthwesternAcademy #FirstGenProud #chicagopublicschools #CPSstudents #Classof2027 #Classof2028 #thebestarewithcps

Graduate with family

Graduate with family

Graduate with family

Graduate with family

The wind beneath our wings. 🌬️

📷 Dynamic Photo Systems

Maya Vuchic, Jackson Gordwin, David Rapp

Professor David Rapp, director of undergraduate education and the Walter Dill Scott Professor of Psychology and Learning Sciences, received SESP's Outstanding Professor award, just days after winning the annual Mentorship Award from Weinberg's Department of Psychology. 💜 🎉

I give this advice to leaders in all contexts but it’s particularly relevant for politicians: If you try to take a position that upsets *no one*, you’ll end up with no position at all.

Whatever you say or do will have haters - and probably loud ones - so might as well just say what you believe.

Terri Sabol and Julia Honoroff

Phoebe Lin with parents

Natlaie Melo and Marcelo Worsley

Jacob Kelter and Uri Wilensky

Congrats to our 12 new PhDs who were honored and gifted regalia during the second annual doctoral robing ceremony at Northwestern's School of Education and Social Policy.

Read more about their important work: http://spr.ly/633274jaHh.

📷 Tammy Wen

Bryana Barry

For Bryana Barry, who earned her master's in learning and organizational change, the biggest reason to fall in love with Northwestern will always be the people.

Read more: http://spr.ly/633204jbqr

Amanda Litman

Amanda Litman is on a mission to help young people run for political office. For the brave souls who do, she offers a warning: Prepare to be unpopular.

She spoke to Nancy Rotering's undergraduate class Women and American Political Leadership: http://spr.ly/633224kgFo.

Binhao Wu

Graduating senior Binhao Wu won Top Oral Presentation at the Chicago Area Undergraduate Research Symposium for his research looking at the social identity and perception. Congrats, Binhao!

✅ Read more about his research and see SESP participants: http://spr.ly/633204XcKI.

Megan Bang

Megan Bang, the James E. Johnson Professor of Learning Sciences at the School of Education and Social Policy, was elected to MacArthur Foundation's Board of Directors. Bang directs Northwestern's Center for Native American and Indigenous Research.

Full release: http://spr.ly/633284Xu48.

Sarah Futa

Sarah Futa, who earned a Master of Science in Learning and Organizational Change from the School of Education and Social Policy, spoke at convocation about learning from the “in-between” and “rebuilding a life, not from scratch, but from experience." 🎓

Read highlights:spr.ly/61884VhwA

Senior honors group

Lilah Goldberg

Jackson Gordwin

Bryan Brayboy and Binhau Wu

Congrats to the SESP Honors students: Maggie Flores, Lilah Goldberg, Jackson Gordwin, Annika Holliday, Luke Incardona, Hana-Lei Ji, Alexandra Kahn, Katherine McDonnell, Sarah Mouzai, Danielle Nevett, Adrienne Scheide, Maya Vuchic, Carly Winick and Binhau Wu! 💜 💜

More: spr.ly/61854TXgV

Lilah Shapiro with students

Lilah Shapiro with students

Lilah Shapiro with students

Lilah Shapiro with students

Congrats to Lilah Shapiro, the Charles Deering, McCormick Distinguished Professor of Instruction, who was voted SESP's Outstanding Instructor. 💜 Read more about Convocation and other award winners: http://spr.ly/633264RxNy.

Adrienne Scheide and Julie Stoffel

Senior Adrienne Scheide successfully nominated her high school choir director/performing arts teacher, Julie Stoffel, for the Morton Schapiro Distinguished Secondary School Teacher Award. Stoffel will be honored during Commencement on June 15.

➡️ More: http://spr.ly/633234GhYF