Elizabeth Zumpe

Elizabeth Zumpe, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Oklahoma's Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education. Her research focuses on collective agency and problem-solving mindsets in schools and districts facing adversity, with emphasis on research-practice partnerships (RPPs) and equity-focused continuous improvement. She holds a Ph.D. in Education from the University of California, Berkeley, and has over a decade of experience as a K-12 teacher with National Board Certification.

Her work explores how educators and researchers collaborate to solve complex educational challenges through action and design-based research. Recent projects include collaborations with high-poverty districts in California and Massachusetts, as well as Ed.D. program development emphasizing inquiry-based leadership. Key contributions include publications in the American Journal of Education and Journal of Educational Change, and authorship of books like Design-based School Improvement and Continuous Improvement: A Leadership Process for School Improvement.

Zumpe has presented internationally, including keynote addresses at the 2023 Carnegie Project for the Education Doctorate and the 2024 KBBB conference in Germany. Her research priorities include leveraging data dashboards, holistic learning systems, and evidence-based practices to address systemic inequities in education.

Professional affiliations include the K20 Center and the John W. Renner Science Education Center at OU. She advises on school improvement strategies and leads initiatives to strengthen leadership pipelines for underserved communities.