Zoë Corwin

Zoe Corwin is an Associate Research Professor affiliated with the Pullias Center for Higher Education. As a researcher with the Pullias Center, Corwin has conducted research on college preparation programs and access to financial aid for underserved students, college pathways for foster youth and the role of social media and games in postsecondary access and completion. Corwin teaches Applied Educational Ethnography with the Rossier School of Education.

She is co-editor of Preparing for College: Nine elements of effective outreach with SUNY Press and in addition to academic articles, has published several monographs designed for practitioners outlining effective college preparation strategies. Corwin currently directs the Collegeology Games project for the Pullias Center. The project capitalizes on game-based strategies and social media to engage students in college preparation, college application and financial aid processes.

Corwin held Haynes and Spencer Foundation dissertation fellowships while working on a qualitative study examining college access and persistence for youth in foster care. Previous to earning her Ph.D. in sociology from USC, Corwin taught middle and high school Spanish and global studies. Corwin holds an MA in Spanish from Saint Louis University in Madrid, a single subject secondary education credential & BCLAD certificate from the California State University, Northridge and a BA from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is a founding Board member of the New Los Angeles Charter Middle School.

USC Joint Educational Partnership, Community Engaged Teaching and Research Award, 2023

USC Rossier School of Education Mentoring Award, 2017

USC Rossier School of Education PASA Teaching and Mentoring Award, 2015

Spencer Foundation Dissertation Fellowship, 2006–2007    

John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation Dissertation Fellowship, 2006–2007

University of Southern California Dissertation Fellowship, 2006–2007       

James Irvine Foundation Senior Fellow, University of Southern California, 2003–2004      

Sociology Department Fellow, University of Southern California, 2000–2001 & 2007–2008

EDHP 551, EDUE 571

• Corwin, Z.B. & Tichavakunda, A.A. (2018) Facilitating access: The role of digital empowerment agents. In W.G. Tierney, Z.B. Corwin & A. Ochsner (Eds.) Digital equity and educational opportunity. Baltimore: MD: John Hopkins Press.
• Tierney, W.G., Corwin, Z.B, & Ochsner, A.(Eds.) (2018). Diversifying Digital Learning: Online Literacy and Educational Opportunity. Baltimore: MD: John Hopkins Press.
• Tierney, W. G., Corwin, Z. B., Fullerton, T. & Ragusa, G., (Eds.). (2017). Postsecondary play: The role of games and social media in higher education. Baltimore: MD: John Hopkins Press.
• Ochsner, A. & Corwin, Z.B. (2017). Implementing game‐based tools: Exploring the roles of a teacher maverick, administrative champion, and IT pioneer. Educational Technology Magazine, 57(2), 44-49.
• Corwin, Z. B. (2014). The paper trail of Lily Salazar. In W. G. Tierney & J. E. Colyar (Eds.), High School Students and the Challenge of Access: Many Routes, Difficult Paths. NY: Peter Lang.
• Tierney, W. G. & Corwin, Z. B. (2007).The tensions between academic freedom and institutional review boards. Qualitative Inquiry.
• Tierney, W. G., Corwin, Z. B., & Colyar, J. E. (Eds.). (2004). Preparing for college: Nine elements of effective outreach. Albany, NY: SUNY press.
• Corwin, Z.B, Colyar, J.E., & Tierney, W.G. (2004). Engaging research and practice: Extracurricular and curricular influences on college access. In W.G. Tierney, Z. B. Corwin, & J. E. Colyar (Eds.), Preparing for college: Nine elements of effective outreach. Albany, NY: SUNY press.
• Corwin, Z. B., Venegas, K. M., Oliverez, P. M., & Colyar, J. E. (2004, July). School counsel: How appropriate guidance affects educational equity. Urban Education, 39 (4), 442- 457.

Memberships

• American Educational Research Association
• Association for the Study of Higher Education

Dr. Zoë B. Corwin is a research associate professor at the University of Southern California and directs the Digital Equity in Education project for the Pullias Center of Higher Education. Her research program examines college preparation programs and access to financial aid for underserved students, college pathways for foster youth and the role of social media and games in postsecondary access and completion.

Corwin is co-editor of Diversifying Digital Learning: Online Literacy and Educational Opportunity and Postsecondary Play: The Role of Games and Social Media in Higher Education, both published by Johns Hopkins University Press, and Preparing for College: Nine Elements of Effective Outreach with SUNY Press. In addition to academic articles, she has published several monographs designed for practitioners outlining effective college preparation strategies.

Single Subject Teaching Credential (Spanish), California State University, Northridge