Susan Staats

Susan Staats, a Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Minnesota, is a cultural anthropologist whose work uniquely bridges mathematics education and linguistic anthropology. With a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from Indiana University (2003) and dual BS/MS degrees in Mathematics from Ohio State University, she applies interdisciplinary perspectives to enhance educational equity in mathematics classrooms.

• Key research contributions: Mathematical poetic discourse analysis
• Equity-focused concurrent enrollment pedagogy
• Social justice mathematics curriculum

Her work has been recognized with the Janet Duffin Award (2018) and CEHD Distinguished Teaching Award (2019). She coordinates the College Algebra through Modeling course for over 4,000 underserved students and serves on editorial boards and curriculum advisory committees.

Recent publications examine poetic methods in mathematics education, transgressive teaching in social justice contexts, and interdisciplinary approaches to mathematical discourse. Her service includes coordinating concurrent enrollment programs and contributing to the Council on Liberal Education.

• Major research themes:
  • Dialogic mathematical discourse
  • Equity in STEM education
  • Interdisciplinary curriculum design
  • Poetic analysis of classroom interactions

Scientific awards:

• CEHD Distinguished Teaching Award (2019)
• Janet Duffin Award (2018)
• Excellence in Research Award (2016)
• Morse-Alumni Award (2013)
• Article of the Year Award (2009)