University of Wisconsin–Madison

Category: Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis

UW–Madison’s Fernandez featured in The EDU Ledger on universities’ AI investments

UW–Madison’s Frank Fernandez, an associate professor in the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, was recently featured in The EDU Ledger for his expertise on how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping higher education financing.  The article, “Universities Are Betting Big on AI — and Some Are Already Cashing In,” examines how …

New UW–Madison study reframes community college student mental health as a driver of purpose and career development

By WCER Communications A newly published study by UW–Madison School of Education researchers based at the Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER) finds that community college students’ experiences with mental health challenges can shape not only the obstacles they face but also their sense of purpose, empathy, and career direction. The mixed-methods study, published in The …

UW–Madison’s Saldaña wins grant to reimagine how schools coordinate resources

By Karen Rivedal, Office of Research & Scholarship Communications UW–Madison Assistant Professor of Education Finance and Leadership Christopher Saldaña is part of a team that has been awarded a $75,000 Vision Grant from the Spencer Foundation to develop a major research initiative focused on improving how K–12 schools, districts, and community organizations coordinate resources to …

School of Education awards 18 projects through One School Innovation Fund

By Katie Grant, Office of Research & Scholarship The UW–Madison School of Education is proud to announce the selection of 18 projects for funding through the One School Innovation Fund, a competitive internal program designed to catalyze bold, collaborative research and scholarship across the arts, education, and health. Launched earlier this year by the Office …

From 5,000 documents to clear insights: WCER researchers share lessons from building their own AI assistant

By Karen Rivedal, Office of Research & Scholarship WCER researchers recently offered a behind-the-scenes look at why and how they built a Gemini‑based AI tool to help them make sense of a vast array of complex data collected over five years as part of a national project to develop equity-centered school leadership. In a spring …

BIOS Leadership and Coaching Symposium returns June 23 at Camp Randall Stadium

The fifth annual BIOS Leadership and Coaching Symposium will take place Tuesday, June 23, at Camp Randall Stadium, bringing together coaches and leaders from across Wisconsin and beyond for a day of learning, connection, and professional growth. This year’s theme, “Building Culture and Developing Your People,” focuses on empowering participants to create meaningful impact within their …

Six School of Education faculty, doctoral students awarded prestigious NAEd/Spencer fellowships

By Laurel White Six members of the School of Education community have been chosen as recipients of 2026 NAEd/Spencer Dissertation and Postdoctoral Fellowships, prestigious national fellowships that support promising education research by early-career scholars. Supported by the National Academy of Education (NAEd) and Spencer Foundation, the fellowships provide funding and professional development to advance projects …

Five School of Education faculty honored with Vilas professorships and awards

By Laurel White Five faculty from the School of Education have been honored with this year’s Vilas professorships and awards. The awards recognize outstanding research, teaching, and service. Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorship Twelve professors across campus were named to Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorships, an award recognizing distinguished scholarship as well as standout efforts in teaching …

Two School of Education alums named among Wisconsin’s most influential Native American leaders

Two alumnae from the UW–Madison School of Education have been named to the 2026 list of Wisconsin’s Most Influential Native American leaders, recognizing their work supporting Native communities across the state. The annual list, published by Madison365, highlights leaders making an impact in education, health, policy, and community engagement. Lauren Cornelius, a member of the …

UW–Madison study shows how school districts and universities ‘connected the dots’ to build equity-focused school leadership across 21 states

By Karen Rivedal, Office of Research and Scholarship A new study from UW–Madison education researchers Aziz Awaludin and Richard Halverson offers a detailed, data‑driven look at how school districts and universities worked together to design principal preparation programs with equity at the center. Published in the Journal of Educational Administration, the study, titled “Connecting the Dots: A …