Peter Demerath

Professor Peter Demerath is a scholar in Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development at the University of Minnesota. His research focuses on equity in education through an anthropological lens, emphasizing ethnographic methods. He holds degrees from the University of Massachusetts (Ed.D.), University of Pennsylvania (M.A.), and Haverford College (B.A.).

His work examines school culture, leadership, and student mindsets, with notable projects in Papua New Guinea and U.S. urban/suburban schools. Recent research includes trust-building in high-performing urban schools and emotion culture in school improvement. He advocates for decolonizing education and bridging anthropological insights with policy.

Notable awards include the 2005 Ohio State Distinguished Teaching Award and the 1999 Bereday Scholarship Award. His teaching spans cultural leadership, ethnography, and education policy. Current research explores psychological capital, neoliberalism’s impact on education, and decolonizing educational practices.