Program Faculty
Shelby Cosner, PhD Heading link
Associate Professor of Educational Policy Studies
Cosner is currently leading or collaborating with others to lead several externally funded research teams and research and development projects that focus in two areas: the work of school leaders to improve urban schools and the preparation and development of urban leaders (teachers, principals, leadership teams). Cosner received funding beginning in 2016 from the Wallace Foundation and is leading UICs efforts to help two universities transform their principal preparation programs. As a part of this project, she is also collaborating with others from these two institutions to conduct research about these principal preparation program redesign efforts.
Decoteau Irby, PhD Heading link
Assistant Professor of Educational Policy Studies
Decoteau Irby is an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Policy Studies where he teaches and advises in the College’s Urban Education Leadership program area. He researches equity-focused school leadership as a lever to improve Black children’s academic and socio-emotional experiences and outcomes.
David Mayrowetz, PhD Heading link
Associate Professor of Educational Policy Studies
David Mayrowetz studies the ways in which organizational and institutional factors influence the creation and implementation of educational reforms. He is past Chair of Educational Policy Studies and was a founding member of the faculty of the Ed.D. program in Urban Education Leadership.
Jason Salisbury, PhD Heading link
Jason Salisbury is an Assistant Professior in the Department of Educational Policy Studies working in the College of Education’s Urban Education Leadership program where he teaches classes related to instructional leadership and organizational theory. His research focuses on understanding how school leaders are able to support teachers in engaging in culturally relevant or sustaining pedagogies and how school leaders are able to create spaces for marginalized youth to engage in transformative leadership in their schools.
Benjamin Superfine, JD, PhD Heading link
Professor of Educational Policy Studies
Ben Superfine is a Professor in the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Superfine received his JD and PhD in Education Foundations and Policy from the University of Michigan. Dr. Superfine became Chair of Educational Policy Studies in 2014.
Steve Tozer, PhD Heading link
Director, Center for Urban Education Leadership
Professor of Educational Policy StudiesDirector Steve Tozer co-founded the Center in 2011 with colleagues from the UIC College of Education’s EdD Urban Education Leadership program and continues as its director. He has been founding coordinator of the EdD program since 2003.