Vicki Park

Dr. Vicki Park serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at San Diego State University (SDSU), where she bridges research and practice to enhance educational opportunities for diverse student populations. Her work centers on translating academic insights into actionable school improvement strategies while grounding research in real-world educational challenges.

Dr. Park's academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Urban Education Policy (K-12 administration emphasis) from the University of Southern California
• M.Ed. and teaching credentials from UCLA

Her research program investigates critical intersections of education policy, urban school reform, and organizational learning through socio-cultural theoretical lenses. Employing qualitative methodologies, she examines how schools implement policies and engage in continuous improvement processes, with particular focus on equity for diverse learners. Current work includes the Spencer Foundation-funded study on adaptive assistance partners in low-performing schools, which explores collaborative approaches to school transformation.

Scientific awards: None explicitly mentioned in available documentation.

Dr. Park currently leads the Spencer Foundation research initiative examining organizational learning in school improvement contexts. While no current advisees are listed, her research profile suggests active supervision opportunities for graduate students interested in qualitative studies of policy implementation and equity-focused educational leadership. Her prior K-12 teaching experience informs a practitioner-oriented mentoring approach that values both theoretical rigor and practical applicability.

Though no formal laboratory structure is described, Dr. Park's research group operates within SDSU's Department of Educational Leadership, focusing on collaborative inquiry into school reform processes and policy implementation dynamics in urban educational settings.