Congrats to alumna Emily Velazquez who was named Teacher of the Year at Victoria Soto High School in Chicago! Vasquez says her teaching philosophy is “rooted in the gentle reminder that I teach students, not reading and writing.” We love that. 💜
School of Education and Social Policy
@sesp-nu.bsky.social
The top-ranked School of Education and Social Policy is all about learning and leading with purpose. Our students, faculty, and community work tirelessly to improve lives and better society.
Northwestern President Mung Chiang received a gift from representatives of the Northwestern University Staff Advisory Council, a group powered by SESP leadership, including alumna Colleen Kjellberg and staffers Erin Johnson and Funmilayo Ojikutu, 💜
Juniper Shelley won a highly competitive $10,000 Circumnavigators Travel-Study Grant; she's currently traveling to five countries over 10 weeks to study male loneliness. ✅SESP Mag: spr.ly/63327BEBTbX. ✅Follow Juniper's blog: spr.ly/63320BEBTbw.
When undergraduate Kris Yun launched Northwestern's first student-led cybersecurity club in 2024, her biggest fear was that no one would show up to the first meeting. The room was packed. 🔗 Read more about Kris in SESP Magazine: spr.ly/63322BEMIMY
Learning scientist Alejandra Frausto Aceves is one of SESP's newest PhD's! "In years to come, we will read her dissertation chapters turned into publications as foundations for our field," said her advisor, Professor Megan Bang. 🔗spr.ly/6187BEbHCH
After the 2016 presidential election, alumna Sara Shacter (MS90) felt the need to get out of her blue bubble. Could so many people really have a different set of values than she did? Read more in SESP Mag: 🔗spr.ly/63322BEBO4K
It's yellow lanyard season! The Daily Northwestern featured our amazing Center for Talent Development summer program, which welcomes students in grades 6-12 to campus. 💥Read more in The Daily: spr.ly/6186BEpQtw 💥Info on our summer program: spr.ly/6187BEpQtb
Two of our outstanding postdoctoral scholars, briana rodríguez (left) and Karla Thomas (PhD26), received 2026 National Academy of Education /Spencer Research Fellowships. 🔗 spr.ly/6181BEMtC7.
Congratulations to Lara Altman, one of our newest PhD's! 🎓 🔗Read more about her work in human development and social policy: spr.ly/6182BEKmQg.
Peri Green, a learning sciences graduate student, received the prestigious Presidential Scholarship for her work exploring how a child’s environment affects learning.🎉💜 🔗spr.ly/63328BEBMJA
Amid growing signals that using smartphones and social media is bad for mental health, some SESP students, alumni, and faculty are seeing the upside of taking a break. 🔗spr.ly/63328BDNykm.
The first ever NetLogo conference brought together the world's top experts with those who are using the modeling tool for the first time. 📸:Eileen Molony, who can make any setting look spectacular: spr.ly/63322BDNGer.
📣Calling all alumni, faculty and staff! Help us celebrate our Centennial by sharing your SESP story. ✅Fill out the short form: spr.ly/6189BD2CnX. ✅Enjoy our latest video: spr.ly/6188BD2Cnn.
🎉Happy birthday to us! 🎉 SESP turns 100 today, 🥳 and over the next year we'll be celebrating a century of learning, leading, and making a difference. 👀 Watch a special kickoff message: spr.ly/63323BD02pU 🔗 Centennial website: spr.ly/63326BD02ps
Northwestern University has launched the NetLogo Center to ensure the popular scientific modeling software stays free and accessible for everyone. 🎉 ➡️Read more: spr.ly/63327BDwSCR.
"Mama, we made it!" A final look at the Class of 2026. 🎉Congratulations graduates, and please come back and see us! 💜 #sesplove Full convocation coverage: spr.ly/63325BDwUpF. #NU2026
A very special thank you to our convocation speakers, including alumnus Jamie Sahara, who encouraged graduates to create a "good culture" wherever they land. Read full convocation coverage: spr.ly/63324BDwmh8
We couldn't have done it without you. 💜
🎉Congratulations to our latest graduates of the Master's in Learning and Organizational Change program, a flexible, hybrid program for leaders creating strategic change. Want to learn more? Join our next Coaches' Corner on July 8 at noon. ➡️More info: spr.ly/6188BDZ6d6.
Congratulations to the inaugural graduating class of the Master’s in Technology, People, and Policy program! 🎉This incredible group includes Junyi Han, Michaiah Ligon, Lily Ng, Brendan Ogden, Zachary Rosenblum, Lucas Wesonga, Zoe Lewis-Woodson, Yang Yang, and Yunyun Zhang. 🎓💜
Today's the day! If you can't be at the Ryan Fieldhouse at 2:30 p.m. for SESP's convocation, watch it live here: spr.ly/63321BDGpjH. 💜🎉🎓
A huge congratulations to our 2026 honors students, who were recognized at the end-of-the-year faculty meeting and poster session.🎉 Read about these amazing students: spr.ly/63329B87CEc. 💜
Is your career ‘AI-proof?’ If you’re asking the technology itself for the answer, it can depend on which model you use, according to a new working paper coauthored Michelle Yin. ➡️Read more: spr.ly/63322B8fXSi. ➡️The study: spr.ly/63323B8fXSc.
Artists, educators, and researchers explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping—and challenging—human creativity through spark talks, music, and comedy during our two-day workshop sponsored by the Center for Responsible Technology, Policy, and Public Dialogue. ➡️spr.ly/6185B89az3
Dean Bryan Brayboy spoke with Anavi Prakash, editor of the Daily Northwestern and SESP–Medill dual-degree student, about his nearly three years leading SESP. Read more: spr.ly/63322B8bvRI
SESP dean talks Indigenous representation, graduation advice
When SESP Dean and Carlos Montezuma Prof. Bryan Brayboy spoke to The Daily on Monday, he said he knew the exact time period he had served in the position: two years, 11 months and 11 days. Since Brayboy assumed the role in 2023, the School of Education and Social Policy has launched a dual degree...
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Professor Cynthia Coburn received the 2026 Walder Award for Research Excellence.🏅 ➡️She is currently serving on the National Academy of Education Presidential Task Force on Knowledge Mobilization. ➡️Read more: spr.ly/63326B8btTr
🎉 Congratulations to professor Shirin Vossoughi on being elected a fellow of the International Society of Learning Sciences! She's SESP's sixth member of the prestigious group. 👉Read more: spr.ly/63323B8XJaX.
Block-based programming tools have real learning benefits, but new Northwestern University research led by Caryn Tran finds that many high school students dismiss them as not "real" coding. More:spr.ly/63326BBISda.
