UMass Boston Urban Education Leadership, & Policy

We are dedicated, critical, and reflective leaders seeking to improve urban education through research and practice.

[UMass Boston Urban Education Leadership, & Policy @UMBUrbanEd]

Congratulations to our 2026 graduates! We are proud of you and your thoughtful, insightful work.

[UMass Boston Urban Education Leadership, & Policy @UMBUrbanEd]

Proud to highlight another UELPS student, Stephen Shaw-Lyon, who successfully defended his dissertation, chaired by UELPS' Dr. Bodunrin Banwo, with UELPS' Dr. Melissa Colon and Dr. Tamika Jacques as members. Congratulations Dr. Shaw-Lyon!

[UMass Boston Urban Education Leadership, & Policy @UMBUrbanEd]

Today we celebrate another UELPS student, Kashmeel McKoena, who successfully defended his dissertation, chaired by UELPS' Dr. Patricia Krueger-Henney, with UELPS' Dr. Bodunrin Banwo and Dr. Liya Escalera (HGSE) as members. Congratulations Dr. McKoena!

[UMass Boston Urban Education Leadership, & Policy @UMBUrbanEd]

Welcome to Dr. Phoebe Grant-Robinson, who is joining us in Fall 2026 as an Assistant Professor for the Educational Leadership for Social Justice program/University-Assisted Community Schools Initiative! Dr. Grant-Robinson earned her doctorate at Harvard University.

[UMass Boston Urban Education Leadership, & Policy @UMBUrbanEd]

We are elated to celebrate another UELPS student, Natasha Fortes, who successfully defended her dissertation, chaired by UELPS' Dr. Melissa Colon, with UELPS' Dr. Abiola Farinde-Wu and Dr. Nicole Joseph (Vanderbilt) as members. Congratulations Dr. Fortes!

[UMass Boston Urban Education Leadership, & Policy @UMBUrbanEd]

At our faculty meeting last week we were excited to do an ad hoc hooding ceremony for UELPS student, Haven Jones, as her chair will be unable to attend graduation this year. Congratulations to Dr. Haven Jones on successfully defending her dissertation!

[UMass Boston Urban Education Leadership, & Policy @UMBUrbanEd]

Lots happening these past few weeks! We were pleased to take part in the Stolen School screening, organized by UELPS Drs. Farinde-Wu and Richard, featuring producer Dr. Shannon Paige Clark, and BPS Ruth Batson Academy, Ms. Yvonne Vest and Crystal Patterson. It was a packed house!

[UMass Boston Urban Education Leadership, & Policy @UMBUrbanEd]

Scenes from AERA! UELPS' Dr. Banwo and Doctoral Candidate Kashmeel McKoena were co-leads of a workshop, "Unlearning Failure: Black Scholars and the Promise of Educational Transformation in Global Contexts," which centered disrupting structural barriers for Black scholars.

[UMass Boston Urban Education Leadership, & Policy @UMBUrbanEd]

The Stolen School screening and panel discussion, organized by UELPS faculty Drs. Farinde-Wu and Richard, is just one week away! We hope to see you there!

[UMass Boston Urban Education Leadership, & Policy @UMBUrbanEd]

What does it mean when "integration" comes at the expense of Black community institutions? Come find out. LE colleagues are hosting a screening and panel discussion of "Stolen School," April 29th, 4–6pm. RSVP at the QR codes on the flyer. Funded by an FSU Anti-Racism Grant.

[UMass Boston Urban Education Leadership, & Policy @UMBUrbanEd]

We are proud of our colleague Dr. Abiola Farinde-Wu, who AERA Division K awarded the Innovations in Research on Equity and Social Justice in Teaching and Teacher Education Award this year. Pictured here with Drs. Rich Milner, Chance Lewis, Monika Shealey, & Kimberly White-Smith.

[UMass Boston Urban Education Leadership, & Policy @UMBUrbanEd]

Yesterday UMB's Abiola Farinde-Wu was recognized during the UMB Provost's Major Composition Gathering for her co-edited book with Drs. Bettie Ray Butler & Melissa Winchell, Mentoring While White. Check the book out here! https://t.co/CPmkAgIyWr

[UMass Boston Urban Education Leadership, & Policy @UMBUrbanEd]

What does it mean when "integration" comes at the expense of Black community institutions? Come find out. LE colleagues are hosting a screening and panel discussion of "Stolen School," April 29th, 4–6pm. RSVP at the QR codes on the flyer. Funded by an FSU Anti-Racism Grant.

[UMass Boston Urban Education Leadership, & Policy @UMBUrbanEd]

Two of our UELPS faculty will be at AERA this year. Here's where you can find them!

[UMass Boston Urban Education Leadership, & Policy @UMBUrbanEd]

Check out this article about our Night of Scholarship featuring Dr. Melissa Colón, who, along with Dr. Lorna Rivera, sparked an important conversation on equity, access, and opportunity for Latino students across MA. Use code UMASS20 for 20% off the book! https://t.co/AinqjPlOzv

[UMass Boston Urban Education Leadership, & Policy @UMBUrbanEd]

Congratulations to UELPS alum Dr. Michael L. Baulier, who has just been announced as the new Assistant Superintendent of Randolph Public Schools, effective July 1, 2026. We are so proud to see our alumnae taking leadership roles in the region!

https://t.co/Y68PFVyWuN

[UMass Boston Urban Education Leadership, & Policy @UMBUrbanEd]

Please join us for a film screening and discussion of the documentary Stolen School: What Desegregation Took and One Black Community’s 60-Year Fight to Get It Back. This event will take place Wednesday, April 29 from 5:30–7:30 PM in the UMB Campus Center (3rd Floor, Room 3540).

[UMass Boston Urban Education Leadership, & Policy @UMBUrbanEd]

Are you interested in earning a Master's degree in educational leadership?

Please join our in-person information session on 3/31 for the Educational Leadership for Social Justice program. If you already have your Master's, please share with others who may be interested!

[UMass Boston Urban Education Leadership, & Policy @UMBUrbanEd]

Calling all graduate students! UELPS' Dr. Banwo is teaching a course exploring Ethnography and Education this summer. Explore the power of ethnography in this virtual course that introduces students to the theory, purpose, and practice of ethnographic research.

[UMass Boston Urban Education Leadership, & Policy @UMBUrbanEd]

This week we are happy to introduce you to one of our faculty members, Dr. Bodunrin O. Banwo. Dr. Banwo is an Assistant Professor who teaches in both the UELPS Ph.D./Ed.D. Program and ELSJ M.Ed./CAGS Program.

[UMass Boston Urban Education Leadership, & Policy @UMBUrbanEd]

Are you interested in earning a Master's degree in educational leadership?

Please join our next virtual information session on 3/11 for the Educational Leadership for Social Justice program. If you already have your Master's, please share with others who may be interested!

[UMass Boston Urban Education Leadership, & Policy @UMBUrbanEd]

Are you interested in earning a Master's degree in educational leadership?

Please join our next information session on 2/10 for the Educational Leadership for Social Justice MEd/CAGS programs. If you already have your Master's, please share with others who may be interested!