Classes & TalksWednesday, December 2
PhD Dissertation Defense: Sierra B. Stern
Wednesday, December 2 · 2-3:30 p.m. · Wesley W. Posvar Hall
- When
- Wednesday, December 2 · 2-3:30 p.m.
- Where
- Wesley W. Posvar Hall230 S Bouquet St · Pittsburgh, PA · 15213
About this event
Dissertation Defense for Sierra B. Stern
Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2026
Time: 2 p.m. ET
In-Person Location: Posvar Hall, Room 5914 (SOE Welcome Center Conference Room)
Zoom Link: Available upon request. Contact Hayley Weddle at hweddle@pitt.edu .
Dissertation Title: "Understanding State Education Agencies: Examining Policy, Practice, and Research Partnerships "
Dissertation Description:
This three-article dissertation examines the roles, responsibilities, and challenges of state education agencies and their work in educational policy. The dissertation includes a systematic literature review, a critical policy analysis of state policies and planning for multilingual learner equity, and a qualitative case study of researchers’ learning about state-level systems through a research-practice partnership. Together, these studies explore how state education agencies navigate complex policy environments, approach educational equity, and collaborate with researchers to improve systems.
Dissertation Committee: Dr. Hayley Weddle (Chair), Dr. Eleanor Anderson, Dr. Michael Gunzenhauser, Dr. Leigh Patel, Dr. Megan Hopkins
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