Lihi Rosenthal

Lihi Rosenthal is the Program Director of UC Berkeley’s Leaders for Equity and Democracy (LEAD) EdD program, which focuses on advancing equity in school systems. She teaches in the Principal Leadership Institute and has served as adjunct faculty at Loyola Marymount University. Her career spans teaching, school leadership, and system-level roles at Seneca Family of Agencies, where she managed a $50M budget and pioneered the Unconditional Education model. She holds degrees from Stanford University, National-Louis University, UC Berkeley, and East Carolina University.

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts with Interdisciplinary Honors, Stanford University
• Master of Education, National-Louis University
• Master of Arts in Education, UC Berkeley
• Doctor of Education, East Carolina University

Research interests include trauma-informed leadership, special education equity, systems theory integration, and transdisciplinary approaches to education. Her work emphasizes holistic support for vulnerable youth and systemic reforms to address educational disparities. She co-authored a seminal book on Unconditional Education and contributed to federal grant-funded initiatives.

Publications highlight her focus on trauma-responsive practices, leadership development, and innovative educational models. She has received a federal i3 grant and presented widely at national conferences. Her advisory roles include the California Special Education Task Force and the Special Education Leadership Fellows.

As an advocate for marginalized communities, Lihi has led large-scale initiatives linking education, mental health, and juvenile justice. Her work bridges theory and practice, aiming to create inclusive and supportive learning environments nationwide.