Rowhea Elmesky

Rowhea Elmesky is the Interim Chair and Associate Professor of Education at Washington University. Her work focuses on urban education, science education for marginalized communities, and restorative justice. She holds affiliations with the Interdisciplinary Program in Urban Studies, Center on Urban Research and Public Policy, Institute for Public Health, and Institute for School Partnership. Her research emphasizes collaborative, community-focused models to transform schools and communities through equitable pedagogical practices.

Elmesky’s academic journey includes a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, where she developed a longitudinal dataset of urban science classrooms. Her notable publications include *Improving Urban Science Education* (2006) and *The Power of Resistance* (2017). She is currently writing a manuscript analyzing longitudinal stories of Black youth navigating systemic violence in education and STEM.

Her research interests span cultural capital, antiblackness in disciplinary practices, and equitable STEM access. She has pioneered initiatives like the “Cogenerating a Community of Trust” project, transforming punitive school policies into restorative, student-centered frameworks. Her work has been recognized with awards such as the 2006 Choice Award for Outstanding Academic Titles.

Elmesky collaborates with school districts to design research that drives systemic change. Her projects often involve longitudinal studies, video ethnography, and participatory methodologies to amplify marginalized voices. She advocates for humanizing science education through wellness-focused curricula and anti-oppressive practices.