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Nicole Mirra is an Associate Professor in the Department of Education at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she also serves as the Faculty Director of the UCLA Teacher Education Program (TEP). Her research employs participatory design methods to create inclusive learning environments across classroom and community contexts, aiming to empower teachers and youth to challenge social injustices and create liberatory futures. Mirra's scholarship is informed by critical sociocultural theories, and she focuses on democracy, literacy, race, and pedagogy. She investigates counter-stories from communities positioned at civic margins and collaborates with educators and youth in both formal and informal learning settings to develop educational interventions that aspire to realize new civic possibilities while addressing systemic inequities. Her innovative pedagogical practices aim to cultivate a principle-oriented teacher civics that promotes social equity in education. Prior to her academic career, she taught English Language Arts and debate in schools in Brooklyn, New York, and Los Angeles, California.
Department of Economics admits primarily for the PhD program.