Social Justice Education Faculty
Learn more about the faculty in Social Justice Education
Cynthia Gerstl-Pepin
Program Coordinator for Social Justice Education
Professor; Cynthia Gerstl-Pepin is internationally recognized as a leading academic authority on educational politics and ethical leadership.
Justin Coles
Associate Professor
Director of Arts, Culture, and Political Engagements at the Center of Racial Justice and Youth Engaged Research
Justin A. Coles, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Social Justice Education in the department of Student Development.
Jamila Lyiscott
Co-Founder, Center of Racial Justice and Youth Engaged Research
On Sabbatical Fall 2025
Jamila Lyiscott a.k.a 'Dr. J' is an Associate Professor of Social Justice Education.
Nina Tissi-Gassoway
Professor of Practice
Dr. Nina Tissi-Gassoway (they/them & she/her) is a Professor of Practice in Higher Education and Social Justice Education and Coordinator for the SJE program.
Jia Zheng
Assistant Professor in the Department of Student Development
Ximena Zúñiga
Chancellor's Leadership Fellow
Ximena Zúñiga, PhD (University of Michigan), is a scholar in social justice education and lead expert on dialogues across differences in higher education
Dave Neely
Social Justice Education
Warren Blumenfeld
Department of Student Development
Benita Barnes
Benita Barnes' research areas include graduate education, student development theory, research methods, and historically Black colleges and universities.
