Simona Goldin

Simona Goldin is a Research Professor in the Department of Public Policy at the University of North Carolina. She holds dual roles as a Faculty Fellow at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute and a Teaching Fellow with IAAR-SLATE (Student Learning to Advance Truth and Equity). Her work focuses on equitable education practices, particularly in transforming teacher preparation to address systemic racial inequities. Goldin co-leads the Equity in Schools Project Team under the UNC Commission on History, Race, and a Way Forward.

Dr. Goldin’s research emphasizes trauma-informed teaching frameworks that counter deficit narratives about marginalized communities. She explores how innovations like home visits and performance assessments can strengthen family-school partnerships. Her recent grants include a Spencer Foundation project on race and family-school relations, and a Gates Foundation initiative evaluating staffing models in education.

Goldin earned a master’s in management/urban policy analysis from The New School University and a Ph.D. in educational studies from the University of Michigan. Her scholarship bridges policy analysis with classroom practice, advocating for systemic changes that center community voices in education.