Abigail Beneke

Abigail Beneke is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s School of Human Ecology. Her research critically examines K-12 education policy and practice, focusing on how systemic racism and injustice are challenged or perpetuated through everyday educational practices. She holds a PhD in Educational Policy Studies from UW-Madison.

Her research interests include school discipline reform, critical race theories, and the intersection of policy with classroom realities. She has conducted comparative studies on school policymaking and explored frameworks for integrating care into educational systems. Her work also critically addresses the role of policing in schools, particularly in the context of movements like Black Lives Matter.

Beneke’s publications analyze the school-prison nexus, the complexities of school discipline reforms, and the racialized dimensions of educational policies. Her articles often highlight systemic inequities and advocate for transformative approaches to education.

Her email is abeneke@wisc.edu.