UW–Madison’s Gloria Ladson-Billings, professor emerita in the School of Education, was recently featured in UW Athletics’ “Forging Firsts” series, where she shares a first-person account of her life and career.
The series shares the stories of individuals who have accomplished remarkable achievements in their journeys. Each story talks about when they became the “first” whether that is breaking records, facing challenges, or creating new paths.
Ladson-Billings, who previously held the Kellner Family Distinguished Chair in Urban Education, was the first Black woman to earn tenure in the School of Education in 1995. In 2005-06 she served as president of the American Educational Research Association, and in Nov. 2017 was elected to a four-year term as the president of the National Academy of Education.
In the story, Ladson-Billings details her early influences, career milestones, and ongoing commitment to equity in education.
She recounts her upbringing in Philadelphia and the pivotal moments that shaped her career, including the encouragement of her fifth-grade teacher, Ethel Benn, who inspired her belief in the transformative power of education.
“My hope is not to be remembered solely as the first Black woman to earn tenure in the School of Education but as someone who cared deeply, whose life’s purpose was to teach and guide others,” writes Ladson-Billings.
She also highlights her work mentoring graduate students — 55 in total, including 19 Black women — and her focus on fostering culturally relevant teaching practices to improve outcomes for marginalized students.
The full story is available on the UW Athletics website.