Today, USC Rossier School of Education announced that Jessica T. DeCuir-Gunby, professor of education at USC Rossier, has been selected to serve as the Robert H. Naslund Chair in Curriculum and Teaching.
The Naslund Chair in Curriculum and Teaching plays a vital role in shaping USC Rossier’s teacher preparation program, which provides participants with in-class experience and a well-rounded curriculum to better prepare them for a high-impact career in education.
At USC Rossier, Professor DeCuir-Gunby’s research has focused on three core areas: (1) race and racial identity, which includes critical race theory (CRT); (2) applied research methods with an emphasis on mixed methods research; and (3) emotions and coping as related to race and racism. Much of her research explores how issues of race and racism impacts African Americans across the lifespan and in various educational contexts. Additionally, as a practical/applied methodologist, she writes about the research process, teaching others how to use specific methodological approaches from a race-conscious perspective.
Prior to joining the USC Rossier faculty, DeCuir-Gunby served as a professor of educational psychology and department head in the Department of Teacher Education and Learning Sciences at NC State University. She was a faculty member at NC State for nearly 20 years where she advised and mentored dozens of doctoral students and taught courses in mixed methods research, critical race theory, diversity and equity in education, lifespan development, adolescent development and educational psychology.
DeCuir-Gunby is an internationally recognized scholar and leader in the field of educational psychology. She is a fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA) and president-elect of APA Division 15 (Educational Psychology). She is a pioneer in advancing the study of race and racial identity development within educational psychology scholarship and practice. Also, her efforts recently earned her the coveted recognition as a 2023 American Education Research Association (AERA) fellow. She currently serves as an associate editor for the Review of Educational Research journal, as well as serves on the editorial boards for Educational Psychologist and Contemporary Educational Psychology.
“I am honored to be selected to serve as the Robert H. Naslund Chair in Curriculum and Teaching,” said DeCuir-Gunby. “I am deeply passionate about translating education theory and research into practice and using my position to help students, educators and parents advance educational equity in schools. I look forward to working with my colleagues in this new role to positively impact our curriculum and research at USC Rossier, as well as improve educational outcomes throughout the nation.”
“Jessica’s influence is widely felt throughout the study of educational psychology and beyond. Her work is among the most cited in her field, and she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this new role. Students and educators throughout the country will benefit from the tremendous work Jessica will do as the Naslund Chair in Curriculum and Teaching. On behalf of the entire USC Rossier community, I congratulate Jessica DeCuir-Gunby on this well-deserved honor,” said USC Rossier Dean Pedro Noguera.
Jessica T. DeCuir-Gunby
- Professor of Education
