Amanda Lewis

Amanda E. Lewis is a Professor and Director of the Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. She holds joint appointments in the Department of Black Studies and Sociology. Her research examines how race influences educational opportunities and everyday negotiations of racial identity. Lewis earned a PhD in Sociology (University of Michigan), MA in Sociology (University of Michigan), MA in Education (UC Berkeley), and BA in Educational Studies (Brown University).

Her work bridges sociology, education, and public policy, with a focus on racial inequities in schools and urban contexts. Key publications include Despite the Best Intentions (2015) and Race in the Schoolyard (2003), both analyzing systemic racial dynamics in education. As IRRPP Director, she leads projects like the State of Racial Justice in Chicago, documenting racial/ethnic disparities in the city.

Her research has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, Spencer Foundation, and Russell Sage Foundation. She frequently lectures on racial equity and consults on educational reform strategies.