Wayne AuView profile
Professor
Wayne Au serves as Dean and Professor at the University of Washington Bothell's School of Educational Studies, where he leads critical initiatives in educational equity and social justice. His academic foundation includes a Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Wisconsin, complemented by teaching certifications and a Liberal Studies BA from The Evergreen State College. Dr. Au's research centers on dismantling systemic racism through critical examinations of high-stakes testing, curriculum theory, and educational policy. His work reveals how standardized assessments perpetuate white supremacy while advocating for transformative approaches in social studies education. Key contributions include co-editing Teaching for Black Lives and Rethinking Ethnic Studies , which have reshaped K-12 curricula nationwide. His 15 most recent publications (2016-2021) demonstrate consistent focus on racial justice in education, with recurring themes of anti-racist assessment practices, critical curriculum development, and teacher activism against white supremacy. The body of work shows increasing engagement with Black Lives Matter movement applications in schools and historical analysis of testing's racist origins. Distinguished K-12 Educational Leader Award (2019) Foreword INDIES Gold Winner for Rethinking Ethnic Studies (2019) William H. Watkins Award for Scholar Activism (2017) University of Washington Distinguished Teaching Award (2015) Au actively mentors through M.Ed. programs including Critical Educational Change and Leadership (CECL) and Educating for Critical Race Theory (E-CRiT). His editorial leadership with Rethinking Schools connects academic research to classroom practice, while collaborations with organizations like the National Council for Social Studies amplify policy impact. Current projects focus on implementing ethnic studies frameworks despite political resistance, as documented in his 2020 Conversation article about California's vetoed requirements.










