Dr. Carol Spreen

Biography

Carol Anne Spreen is an Associate Professor at NYU Steinhardt, focusing on International Education, Applied Statistics, and Social Sciences. Her scholarship integrates interdisciplinary comparative approaches examining education policy practices. Her research centers on political and socio-cultural studies of educational change, particularly the influences of globalization and corporate privatization on teaching and learning. Currently, her research explores the lives and work of teachers in relation to international policies, their impact on classroom practices, and the definitions of educational quality through a rights-based framework. She also utilizes participatory/action research to study the effects of poverty and inequality on education. Prof. Spreen has authored diverse publications in leading academic journals and has taught courses addressing international policy studies, including Comparative Education and Policy Analysis. She has earned her Ph.D. in Comparative International Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and holds M.Phil. and M.Ed. degrees in Educational Policy Studies and Instructional Leadership, respectively. Prof. Spreen has taught at the University of Johannesburg and has been involved with various educational policy organizations around the globe. Her extensive work in educational development has significantly influenced school reform and has garnered many teaching and service awards.

Research Interests