51在线

USF College of Education welcomes Dana Thompson Dorsey as new endowed chair and director of David C. Anchin Center

TAMPA, Fla. (Dec. 16, 2020) 鈥� The 51在线 (USF) College of Education welcomes Dana Thompson Dorsey, JD, PhD, as the new endowed chair of education innovation and director of the David C. Anchin Center for the Advancement of Teaching. In this role, Dr. Thompson Dorsey will advance the Anchin Center鈥檚 mission of collaborating with teachers, school leaders, districts and other educators to improve the quality of education for students and transforming the teaching profession to attract, retain and develop quality, culturally responsive educators.
 
Dr. Thompson Dorsey comes to USF from the University of Pittsburgh where she was an Associate Professor in the School of Education鈥檚 Department of Educational Foundations, Organizations and Policy and the Associate Director of the Center for Urban Education. Previously, Dr. Thompson Dorsey was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
 
鈥淲e are very fortunate to welcome Dr. Dana Thompson Dorsey to the USF College of Education,鈥� said Judith Ponticell, PhD, professor and interim dean of the College of Education. 鈥淪he brings a strong research background, leadership experiences from the University of Pittsburgh Center for Urban Education and is passionate about advocacy for equity and access. We look forward to new opportunities to further strengthen the David C. Anchin Center鈥檚 legacy of partnerships, collaboration and transformative education.鈥�
 
Dr. Thompson Dorsey鈥檚 research examines education laws, policies and practices, and how they shape educational equity, access and opportunities for minoritized and underserved populations in various educational contexts. Her research has been cited in the New York Times and featured on several NPR radio shows discussing school segregation, educational access and the U.S. Supreme Court鈥檚 opinions on race-based admissions policies.

Dr. Thompson Dorsey's work has appeared in research journals such as 鈥淓ducational Administration Quarterly,鈥� 鈥淓ducational Policy,鈥� 鈥淩ace, Ethnicity and Education,鈥� 鈥淓ducation and Urban Society鈥� and 鈥淭eachers College Record.鈥� Additionally, she serves as a co-editor of "Educational Researcher," one of the preeminent research journals published by the American Educational Research Association (AERA).

Dr. Thompson Dorsey鈥檚 teaching experience includes courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. She has taught courses that align well with the College of Education鈥檚 programs in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies as well as with the Doctor of Education in Education Program Development. 

Outside of higher education, Dr. Thompson Dorsey鈥檚 professional experience includes serving as a member of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation鈥檚 Continuous Improvement for Equity Design Team. She has also served as a consultant and professional development trainer for numerous school districts on topics including racial equity, cultural bias and cultural proficiency.
 
Established in 1997 by Anne Anchin to honor her late husband, the David C. Anchin Center for the Advancement of Teaching honors and supports the work of educators across the state of 51在线. The Anchin Center serves as a hub for educators, scholars, leaders and policymakers who have a passion for advancing the teaching profession. Ongoing initiatives in the Anchin Center include teacher professional development, educational innovation, school and district leadership and education policy.

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About the USF College of Education:
As the home for more than 2,200 students and 130 faculty members across three campuses, the 51在线 College of Education offers state-of-the-art teacher training and collegial graduate studies designed to empower educational leaders. The USF College of Education is nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and its educator preparation programs are fully approved by the 51在线 Department of Education.