The E4 Early Career Visiting Scholars Program hosts a cohort of up to four visiting scholars each academic year to conduct K-12 education research at Northwestern University’s Center for Education Efficacy, Excellence, and Equity (E4).
The visiting scholars will research a range of issues facing underrepresented students, including children of color, multilingual learners, and students whose families live in poverty. In addition to collaborating with faculty and graduate students at SESP, visiting scholars will connect with researchers across campus, including the Center for Computer Science and Learning Sciences, a collaboration between SESP and Northwestern Engineering.
2023-2024 Cohort
Ana Paula Melo
Assistant Professor, Howard University
Ana Paula Melo is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Economics at Howard University. She earned a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Applied Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2021. Her research focuses on policies to alleviate inequality in educational outcomes, in particular the persistent socioeconomic, gender, and racial gaps.
Tommy Wells
Assistant Professor, Bellarmine University
Tommy Wells is an Assistant Professor of Education at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky. He received his B.A. in psychology and B.Mus. in voice performance (Northwestern University), master’s degrees in counseling and counselor education (Indiana University), educational psychology (Loyola University Chicago), and educational leadership and policy (Purdue University), and an Ed.D. in educational leadership and policy (Vanderbilt University). Dr. Wells studies K-12 trauma-informed practices and educator preparation/development.
2022-2023 Cohort
Sofía Bahena
Assistant Professor, University of Texas – San Antonio
Sofía Bahena is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She received her B.A. in business administration and sociology from Trinity University (2006), Ed.M. in human development and psychology (2013) and Ed.D. in cultures, communities, and education (2014) from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Dr. Bahena is passionate about promoting greater access to higher education, especially for those that would be the first in their family to attend college.
Camila Morales
Assistant Professor, University of Texas – Dallas
Camila Morales is an Assistant Professor of Economics in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas and a Faculty Affiliate with the Georgia Policy Labs. She received a PhD in Economics from Georgia State University where she worked with the Metro Atlanta Policy Lab for Education. Dr. Morales studies the impact of immigration policies on the labor market outcomes of young adults, and the efficacy of school-level programs and peer interactions on the academic achievement of immigrants/refugees and multilingual learners.
Applicants must:
- Hold a PhD, EdD or equivalent research degree
- Currently work as a tenure-track assistant professor
- May not hold tenure at the time of the application deadline
Preference will be given to:
- Early career researchers of color
- First-generation college-going research scholars
- Early career research scholars who will explore questions focused on, but not limited to, success in mathematics and algebraic readiness