Urban School

Center for Urban School Leadership

Center directors


Kristina Brezicha, Ph.D.: Co-Director
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Will Rumbaugh, Ed.D.: Co-Director
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Nick Sauers, Ph.D.: Associate Director
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Center purpose/vision
Vision:     

USL is an international network of scholars, practitioners, and community leaders committed to advancing the preparation and practice of urban educational leaders for the benefit of schools, children, and communities 

Mission:     

By focusing on urban school leaders and their preparation to lead,  USL will: 

  • Promote, sponsor, and disseminate research on the essential problems of schooling and leadership practice in urban communities 
  • Improve the preparation and professional development of educational leaders and professors 
  • Connect scholars, practitioners, and community leaders 
  • Positively influence local, state, and national educational policy 

Center research project(s) abstract/summary and/or list of related pubs
Project on exclusionary discipline practices:

  • Rumbaugh, W., Brezicha, K., Sauers, N., Connor, M., Stamper, J., Cameron, K., & Dobashi-Taylor, T. (2023). Supporting school and district leaders: Equitable student behavior policies and practices. UCEA Review, 64 (1), 22–26.
  • Brezicha, K., Sauers, N., Rumbaugh, W., & Connor, M. (2022). Reforming inequitable student behavior policies to retain all learners. 36th Annual Convention of the University Council for Educational Administration—Working for/with Equity Leadership Toward Sustainability, Seattle, WA.
  • White paper development by USL’s 2023 Graduate Assistant Research Award recipient, Beulah San Rangel.

Center advisory board (if you have one)
Alexandra Bates, Ed.S.: Zone Superintendent, Fulton County School System
Dionne Cowan, Ed.D.: Principals Center Director, Georgia State University
Jennifer Esposito, Ph.D.: Professor, Department Chair, Georgia State University
Janice Fournillier, Ph.D.: Professor, Georgia State University
Lauri Johnson, Ph.D.: Associate Professor, Boston College
Marsha Modeste, Ph.D.: Assistant Professor, Pennsylvania State University
Beulah San Rangel: Doctoral Candidate, USL Center Fellow
Alvin Thomas, Ed.D.: Principal, Cobb County School District
Brian Williams, Ph.D.: Bob Moses Research Center Director, Florida International University


Opportunities or collaborations

Contact info:
kbrezicha@gsu.edu;

wrumbaugh@gsu.edu;

nsauers@gsu.edu