Dr. Matthew Hartley

Biography

Matthew Hartley is a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education (Penn GSE), where he chairs the Board of Advisors and serves as the Executive Director of Penn AHEAD, the Alliance for Higher Education and Democracy. His scholarship delves into how colleges and universities define and attempt to fulfill their educational purposes, with a focus on leadership, reform, and the democratic role of institutions in society. He has collaborated extensively with university leadership in the U.S. and several other countries. Dr. Hartley earned his Ed.D. and Ed.M. in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from Harvard University, alongside a B.A. in Art History from Colby College. He has served in various roles at Penn GSE, including as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Deputy Dean, overseeing multiple facets of student affairs. His research interests include academic governance, civic engagement, and higher education reform, particularly in response to reforms that grant greater autonomy to universities. His expertise has led him to contribute to projects with the World Bank and the Council of Europe, as well as to receive a national research award from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Education and Science.

Research Interests

Experience