NEPC Topic Experts on Schools of Opportunity

Dr. Shaun R. Harper is a Provost Professor in the Rossier School of Education and Marshall School of Business, the Clifford and Betty Allen Chair in Urban Leadership, and executive director of the USC Race and Equity Center. He is author of over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and other academic publications. Review of Research in Education, Teachers College Record, Harvard Educational Review, Journal of Higher Education, Review of Higher Education, and Journal of College Student Development are some journals that have published his research. Professor Harper’s research has been cited in more than 8,000 published studies. His books include Advancing Black Male Student Success from Preschool through Ph.D. and Scandals in College Sports. Johns Hopkins University Press is publishing his 13th book, Race Matters in College.

Email Shaun Harper at: sharper@usc.edu

H. Richard Milner IV (also known as Rich) is Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair and Professor of Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. His research, teaching and policy interests concern urban education, teacher education, African American literature, and the social context of education. Professor Milner’s research examines practices and policies that support teacher effectiveness in urban schools. Professor Milner’s work has appeared in numerous journals, and he has published seven books. His most recent are: Start where you are but don’t stay there: Understanding diversity, opportunity gaps, and teaching in today’s classrooms (Harvard Education Press, 2010 and 2020, Second Edition), Rac(e)ing to class: Confronting poverty and race in schools and classrooms (Harvard Education Press, 2015) and These kids are out of control: Why we must reimagine classroom management for equity (Corwin Press, 2018).  

Email Rich Milner at: rich.milner@vanderbilt.edu

Adam York is a Research Associate with the National Education Policy Center.  He serves as project manager for the Schools of Opportunity project and contributes to several other NEPC public scholarship projects.  His research interests include civic learning and human development, critical media literacies, and creative opportunities for young people.  He earned his PhD in education and learning sciences from the University of Colorado Boulder.  In addition to working at NEPC he teachers undergraduate level courses for the CU Boulder School of Education.  Prior to NEPC he worked in the nonprofit sector as a program director and grant writer.  He was also an instructor at University of Colorado Denver, teaching masters level courses in educational foundations and policy, human development, and research methods.  His research experience includes work with Dr. Ben Kirshner, Dr. Shelley Zion, and Dr. Carlos Hipolito-Delgado on the Critical Civic Inquiry project and with Dr. William Penuel on the Longitudinal Study of Connected Learning.

Email Adam York at: Adam.J.York@colorado.edu