Joan DeJaeghere

Joan DeJaeghere is a Professor in the Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development department at the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on educational equity, gender and education, youth transitions, and qualitative longitudinal methodologies. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota (2002), an M.A. in Educational Psychology (1995), and a B.A. in International Relations/Spanish from Drake University (1990).

DeJaeghere’s work emphasizes collaborative international research, particularly in Vietnam, India, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and South Africa. She has led major projects like the AusAid-funded study on ethnic minority women’s education in Vietnam and the RISE project in Vietnam (2016–2022). Her pedagogical approach integrates hands-on research and global internships to cultivate student engagement.

Her research interests include applying critical feminist and capabilities theories to address educational inequities. Notable contributions include reframing youth livelihood evaluations, decolonizing educational programs, and advocating for relational capability frameworks. She teaches courses such as Gender, Education and Development, and Qualitative Longitudinal Research in Education.

• Professional Affiliations: Comparative and International Education Society (CIES), Human Development and Capability Association (HDCA), Mixed Methods International Research Association (MMIRA)
• Awards: Global Engagement Award (2018), CEHD Excellence in Research Award (2015), Fulbright Scholar (2013)

DeJaeghere’s work bridges theory and practice, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and policy impact. Current research explores teacher competencies in Vietnam and gender-responsive education programs for marginalized groups.