Thomas C. Pedroni

Thomas C. Pedroni serves as Associate Professor of Curriculum Studies and Policy Sociology in the College of Education at Wayne State University, where he directs the Detroit Data and Democracy Project. His interdisciplinary work bridges educational policy, critical race theory, and urban studies.

His academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction (University of Wisconsin, Madison)
• M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction (University of Wisconsin, Madison)
• Teaching Certificate in Secondary Social Studies (Tulane University)
• B.A. in Philosophy with Critical Social Theory emphasis (Miami University)

Dr. Pedroni's research investigates racial capitalism and neoliberal urban restructuring in educational contexts, focusing on Detroit's post-welfarist policy landscape. He examines how racialized state incursions shape urban schooling through voucher systems and market reforms, with particular attention to African American communities and anti-Blackness. His theoretical framework synthesizes post-structuralist and neo-Marxist approaches to analyze power dynamics in educational policy.

His 2003-2021 publications reveal consistent engagement with urban educational inequality, voucher reform politics, and critical spatial theory. Key thematic trajectories include the racialized dimensions of neoliberal governance, subaltern agency in policy advocacy, and the dismantling of comprehensive public education.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Spirit of Detroit Award (2016)
• Critics' Choice Book Award for Market Movements (2009)
• AERA Early Career Award nomination (2008)
• Oakland University Distinguished Faculty Honoree (2007)

Through his leadership in the Detroit Data and Democracy Project and Detroit Education Taskforce, Dr. Pedroni implements community-engaged scholarship focused on educational equity. His teaching in urban education foundations (TED2200, TED6200) connects classroom instruction with grassroots policy work, emphasizing the spatial dimensions of educational justice in post-industrial cities.