Dr. James Spillane

Biography

James P. Spillane is the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Professor of Learning Organizational Change at the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University. He is also a professor of Human Development and Social Policy, a professor of Learning Sciences, and a faculty associate at Northwestern's Institute for Policy Research. Spillane has published extensively on issues of educational policy, implementation, school reform, and school leadership. His work focuses on the policy implementation processes at various levels, including state, district, school, and classroom, with an emphasis on the intergovernmental relationships between policy and practice. Current research projects include studies on the connections between organizational infrastructure and instructional advice-seeking in schools, as well as the socialization of new school principals. His work has garnered support from numerous esteemed organizations including the National Science Foundation and the Institute of Education Sciences. He is the author of several influential books and many journal articles and book chapters that contribute significantly to the field of educational research. In recognition of his contributions, he was elected to the National Academy of Education in 2013 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2020.

Research Interests