Emily Handsman

Emily Handsman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at Rutgers University and former Annenberg Postdoctoral Research Associate. Her research focuses on cultural, political, and organizational change in K-12 schools, examining how schools respond to societal shifts and implement equity initiatives.

Handsman's primary research interests include:

• Equity implementation in suburban school districts
• Evolution of character education in the US
• Mathematics education reform
• Organizational resistance to change in educational institutions
• District-university partnership dynamics

Her publications demonstrate a consistent focus on educational equity and policy implementation, with recent work examining diversity ideologies in institutions and leadership approaches for equity. The trajectory shows increasing emphasis on systemic analysis of educational institutions.