Dana Nickson

Dana Nickson is an Assistant Professor of Education Equity and Justice in Leadership, Policy, and Politics at the University of Washington’s College of Education. She holds affiliate faculty roles at the Banks Center for Educational Justice, the CREATE Center at the University of Michigan, and the Danforth Educational Leadership Program. Her research focuses on Black families’ spatial and educational agency in racially unjust U.S. regions, emphasizing care, collectivity, and learning in marginalized communities.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Educational Studies (Foundations of Education and Policy), University of Michigan
• M.Ed. in Education, Culture, and Society, University of Pennsylvania
• B.A. in African American Studies, Northwestern University

Research Interests:

Nickson’s work explores how Black families and communities create spaces of care and learning in racially and economically unjust environments. Her research integrates qualitative methods to analyze educational policy, urban spatial dynamics, and systemic inequities. Key themes include Black families’ navigation of school choice, racialized spatial politics, and grassroots advocacy for equitable education systems.

Awards & Recognition:

• 2022 Art of Leadership Teaching Award
• 2021 AERA Division L Outstanding Dissertation Award
• 2021 Stanley E. & Ruth B. Dimond Best Dissertation Award

Teaching & Leadership:

Nickson teaches courses on educational policies in political contexts, equitable collaborations with communities, and urban education equity. She emphasizes participatory action research and community-driven solutions. Her work bridges academia and activism, advocating for liberatory educational leadership practices.

Labs & Initiatives:

She is affiliated with the Banks Center for Educational Justice and contributes to the Leadership for Learning (L4L) initiative, focusing on equitable systems transformation.