Six USC Rossier professors ranked among Education Week’s top scholars for public influence in education

USC Rossier is proud to announce that several of its esteemed faculty members have been named among the nation’s top scholars for public influence in the 2025 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings. With guidance from the 24-member selection committee, the rankings, unveiled by Education Week, recognize scholars who have made significant contributions to public debates on education policy, practice and reform.

The RHSU Edu-Scholar rankings highlight the work of leading academics who not only excel in their research but also actively engage in shaping public discourse through media, policy making and advocacy. USC Rossier professors featured in this prestigious list have demonstrated a commitment to advancing educational equity, reform and innovation at the local, state and national levels.

“We are thrilled to see our faculty’s work being recognized in this important way,” said USC Rossier Dean Pedro Noguera. “These scholars represent the forefront of thought leadership in education, and their influence extends far beyond the classroom. At USC Rossier, we take pride in fostering an environment where research has the power to drive real-world change.”

The USC Rossier professors named in the 2025 Edu-Scholar rankings include:

• Shaun Harper (#8) is the founder of the USC Race and Equity Center. His research focuses primarily on race, gender and other dimensions of equity in educational, corporate and policymaking contexts. Harper was a member of the RHSU selection committee.
• USC Rossier Dean Pedro Noguera’s (#9) research focuses on how schools are influenced by social and economic conditions and demographic trends in local, regional and global contexts. Noguera was also a member of the RHSU selection committee.
• Professor Morgan Polikoff (#36) specializes in K–12 education policy, curriculum, standards, accountability and assessment, with a particular focus on how COVID–19 has affected the educational experiences of American families. He is co-faculty director of the USC EdPolicy Hub.
• Dean’s Professor of Leadership Adrianna Kezar (#42) is a leading authority on change and leadership in higher education and serves as director of the USC Pullias Center for Higher Education.
• Estela Mara Bensimon (#133), founder of the USC Center for Urban Education (CUE), developed the Equity Scorecard, a transformative tool for using inquiry to promote institutional change and foster equity.
• Professor Julie Marsh (#143) is the executive faculty director of the Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE), an independent nonprofit research center, and the director of qualitative research for the National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice (REACH).

These distinguished faculty have leveraged their research and expertise to inform public policy discussions, write influential opinion pieces and participate in national and international dialogues on key issues in education, such as access, equity and the future of learning in the digital age.

For the full list of honorees and to learn more about the rankings, visit Education Week.