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Before joining the UW ���ߺ���, Dr. Dana Nickson, assistant professor of education equity and justice in Leadership, Policy and Politics, worked in Chicago and Philadelphia schools, supporting students and families. But it was in Detroit, during her graduate studies, where she witnessed Black parents observed Black families traverse complex educational landscapes, crossing district lines, school types and municipal boundaries in pursuit of quality learning environments for their children.

These families, she recalls, “engaged schools and their communities in ways that resisted systemic inequities,” advocating not just for their own children but for entire neighborhoods.

Inspired by their efforts, Dr. Nickson’s research now centers place — the spatial histories, power dynamics and local relationships shaping Black families’ educational leadership. “By place, I mean what makes geographic location consequential to well-being,” she explains. Through participatory methods, she documents how families create “spaces of care, collectivity, and learning” in unjust landscapes.

Her goal? To honor “Black families’ multifaceted forms of educational agency,” often overlooked in mainstream narratives. “They partner with Black educators, build networks of care, and craft identity-affirming spaces for their children,” she says. “Formal leaders must learn from these acts.”

At UW, Dr. Nickson finds hope in her students, future educators and policymakers who take on challenging topics and work alongside communities. “Being historically grounded gives me hope,” she reflects. “My ancestors built joy amid oppression. Educators today can to...if they listen to families and act in right relationship.” 

Learn more about Dr. Nickson and her work here.