Dr. Carol Lee

Biography

Carol D. Lee is professor emerita (the Edwina S. Tarry Professor) of Education in the School of Education and Social Policy and in African-American Studies at Northwestern University. Lee has led the National Academy of Education and has over five decades of experience working to help students from minority backgrounds excel in environments with low expectations, poverty, and negative stereotypes. She pioneered the concept of 'cultural modeling,' which has become a standard approach in the field. In 2021, she received the McGraw Prize in Education, the James Squire Award from the National Council of Teachers of English, and the Distinguished Contributions to Research in Education Award from the American Educational Research Association. A member of several prestigious academies, including the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, her research focuses on the cultural supports for learning of African-American youth. Throughout her career, Lee has authored numerous books and over 108 journal articles. She has served in various leadership roles, including as past president of the American Educational Research Association and has received multiple awards for her contributions to education. Lee is married to Dr. Haki R. Madhubuti, a poet and publisher, and has six adult children and nine grandchildren.

Research Interests

Awards