Nathan Tanner

Nathan Tanner is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership within the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Nevada, Reno. His research examines colonialism, racism, and religion in American education through archival, oral history, and community-based methodologies.

Dr. Tanner's educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership (concentration: history of education) from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Graduate minor in American Indian and Indigenous Studies from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

His scholarship centers on historic intersections of power structures in educational systems, with emphasis on Native American and Indigenous educational experiences. He employs decolonizing research approaches to highlight systemic inequities and inform policy solutions for contemporary educational challenges.

Recent publications (2022-2025) reveal consistent focus on racial justice in education, Indigenous activism, and critical analyses of privatization. His work spans historical case studies (e.g., Intermountain Indian School), contemporary policy critiques (charter schools, tribal IRB processes), and theoretical frameworks (hauntological pedagogies), bridging education history, critical race theory, and Indigenous studies.

Scientific Awards

• Humanities Research Institute Dissertation Fellow (2024-2025) at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Dr. Tanner brings extensive teaching experience from ESL instruction in China, middle school social studies in Utah, and university-level instruction at Illinois. While his current role involves graduate student mentoring in educational leadership, specific advisees are not documented in available sources.