Barbara Cozza

Barbara Cozza, Ph.D., is a full Professor of Educational Leadership at St. John’s University’s Department of Administrative and Instructional Leadership, housed within the School of Education. She has held leadership roles including Department Chairperson and Director of Instructional Leadership programs. Currently, she serves as Country Director for the Northeastern US in the Higher Education Teaching and Learning (HETL) organization. Dr. Cozza earned her BFA in Fine Arts from CUNY Hunter College, MS in Early Childhood Education from the same institution, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Fordham University.

Her research focuses on educational reform, particularly in leadership, curriculum design, and assessment. Key areas include women’s leadership in higher education, leadership coaching, multi-age teaching strategies, and school-university partnerships. She employs qualitative and mixed-methods research to address systemic challenges in education, emphasizing inclusivity, ELL integration, and technological advancements. Recent publications explore women’s leadership trajectories and multi-age learning communities.

Dr. Cozza teaches courses in curriculum leadership, qualitative research, and doctoral seminars. She actively collaborates with districts and institutions through professional development programs and summer academies. Her work bridges theory and practice, aiming to transform educational systems into equitable and dynamic environments.

Her professional development initiatives and research contributions highlight strategies like leadership mentoring, professional learning communities, and instructional rounds. She is also advancing a forthcoming book on inclusive classroom practices integrating multi-age teaching and international perspectives.