Education and Social Policy: Faculty and Staff

The education and social policy Ph.D. program is a collaborative, interdisciplinary effort between the University of Delaware's College of Education and Human Development and the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration. Faculty members involved with the program are listed below. 

Sarah Bruch


Program Director
 608-335-5676

Sarah K. Bruch is an associate professor in the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration and the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware. She received a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a Master of Public Administration from the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington.

Her research focuses broadly on social stratification and public policy. In particular, she focuses on integrating theoretical insights from relational and social theorists into the empirical study of inequalities. She brings this approach to the study of social policy, education, race, politics, and citizenship.

Florence Xiaotao Ran


Associate Program Director
 302-831-8695

Anamarie Auger Whitaker


Associate Program Director
 302-831-4018

Jasmin Rivers


Graduate Services Coordinator
 302-831-4933
Name/ProfileEmailResearch Focus
Sarah Bruchskbruch@udel.eduSocial stratification and inequality; race and ethnicity; social policy and politics; sociology of education; education policy; quantitative methods; political sociology.
Amy Schwartzaeschwar@udel.eduEducation policy and urban economics, focusing on the nexus of schools, neighborhoods and public services and the causes and consequences of children’s academic, social and health outcomes.
Joseph Trainorjtrainor@udel.eduRisk, Risk Perception, and Warnings; Organizational management; Justice and Equity; Infrastructure; Community Engagement and Civil Society; Disaster Science; Emergency Management; Quantitative Research; Survey Research; Qualitative research; Mixed methods; Interdisciplinarity, Research and Practice Integration
Name/ProfileEmailResearch Focus
Ann M. Avilesamaviles@udel.eduEquity and Diversity in Families and Communities, Early Childhood and Adolescent Social-Emotional DevelopmentEducation and Social PolicyFamily Policy and Services
Martha Buellmjbuell@udel.eduEarly ChildhoodLiteracy and Language, Language Development, Equity and Diversity in Early Childhood, Teacher Preparation and Professional Development, Early Childhood Teacher Preparation, Education and Social Policy, Early Care and Education Policy, Education Leadership and Administration
Roderick L. CareyRLCarey@udel.eduEquity and Diversity in K-12 Education, Education and Social PolicyTeacher Preparation and Professional Development, K-12 Teacher Preparation
Valerie Earnshawearnshaw@udel.eduHealth, Equity and DiversitySocial Determinants of Health
Rena Hallamrhallam@udel.eduEarly ChildhoodEducation and Social Policy, Early Care and Education Policy, Teacher Preparation and Professional Development, Early Childhood Teacher Preparation
Jason Hustedtjhustedt@udel.eduEducation and Social Policy, Early Care and Education Policy, Early ChildhoodFamily Policy and Services
Allison Karpynkarpyn@udel.eduSocial Determinants of Health, Education and Social Policy, Social Policy and Program Evaluation
Barbara Settlessettlesb@udel.eduEquity and Diversity in Families and Communities, Early Childhood and Adolescent Social-Emotional DevelopmentEducation and Social PolicyFamily Policy and Services
Anamarie Whitakerawhit@udel.eduEarly ChildhoodSocial-Emotional DevelopmentEducation and Social Policy, Early Care and Education Policy
Name/ProfileEmailResearch Focus
Lauren Bailes

lbailes@udel.eduRESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
Education and Social Policy, K-12 Education Policy, Education Leadership and Administration
Dominique Bakerdjbaker@udel.eduRESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
Diversity and Equity in K-12 Education, Diversity and Equity in Post-secondary and Higher Education, Education and Social Policy, Equity and Diversity, Higher Education Policy, K-12 Education Policy
Laura Desimonelauramd@udel.eduEducation and Social Policy, K-12 Education Policy, Teaching and Learning
Elizabeth Farley-Rippleenfr@udel.eduRESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
Education and Social Policy, K-12 Education Policy, Education Leadership and Administration
Gary T. Henrycehd-dean@udel.eduEducation and Social Policy, K-12 Education Policy, Education Leadership and Administration
Erica Litkelitke@udel.eduSTEM Education, Math Teaching & Learning
Henry Mayhmay@udel.eduQuantitative Methods, Education and Social Policy, K-12 Education Policy, Education Leadership and Administration
Florence Xiaotao Ranfxran@udel.eduEducation and Social Policy, Higher Education Policy
Kenneth A. Shoreskshores@udel.eduEducation and Social Policy, K-12 Education Policy
Sanford R. Studentsrstu@udel.eduResearch Methods and Data Science, Measurement and Psychometrics
Bryan A. VanGronigenbvg@udel.eduEducation and Social Policy, K-12 Education Policy, Education Leadership and Administration