Dean D. Richards IV

Dean D. Richards IV is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Curriculum & Teaching and a lecturer in the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies at the University of Kansas. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas and a Master of Science in Education from the University of Central Missouri.

His teaching focuses on elementary methods, ethical/sociological foundations of education, multicultural education, and curriculum planning. Prior to his current role, he served as an assistant professor at Baker University for three years and as a guest lecturer at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. Before entering higher education, he taught grades 4-8 in under-resourced urban schools for 13 years.

His research emphasizes teacher candidate disposition assessment, equity in education, and critically aware pedagogical approaches. He actively advocates for democratic and culturally relevant teaching practices to address systemic inequities in education.