Stephanie Mackler

Stephanie Mackler is a Professor of Education at Ursinus College, specializing in philosophical and humanistic approaches to education. Her work bridges educational theory, philosophy of the liberal arts, and existential inquiry, drawing on thinkers like Hannah Arendt and hermeneutics to examine the ethical and epistemological foundations of teaching and learning. She holds a Ph.D. and M.Phil from Columbia University and a B.A. from Mount Holyoke College.

• Degrees:
  • B.A., Mount Holyoke College
  • M.Phil, Columbia University
  • Ph.D., Columbia University

Mackler’s research focuses include Montessori philosophy, the role of meaning in education, and the intersection of cinema and educational administration. She has authored/co-authored influential works on Arendtian ethics, hermeneutic leadership, and cultural competence in teaching. Her 2009 book Learning for Meaning’s Sake received the Critics Choice Book Award from the American Educational Studies Association.

• Scientific Awards:
  • 2009 Critics Choice Book Award by AESA

Mackler teaches courses such as Critical Issues in Education, Educational Theory and Philosophy, and Rethinking College, fostering interdisciplinary exploration. She is actively engaged in expanding philosophical inquiry into educational practices and advocating for humanistic values in a technological era.

Contact: smackler@ursinus.edu