2026 Research Fellows

Meet the 2026 SEF Research Fellows

The Southern Education Foundation proudly welcomes the seven members of the 2026 SEF Research Fellows cohort, a group of emerging and established scholars dedicated to advancing education justice across the South.

The SEF Research Fellows Program supports early- to mid-career researchers working at the intersection of research, policy, and practice. The SEF Research Fellows Program supports the work of Fellows engaged in actionable, evidence-based research to inform policy and practice. Our first cohort of Fellows are exploring critical issues, including:

  • Educational access and opportunity
  • Desegregation
  • Educational technology
  • Curriculum
  • Student well-being

By connecting rigorous research to real-world impact, Fellows help inform policies and practices that increase opportunity and improve outcomes for students and communities across the region.

Dr. Chris Curran

Professor of Educational Leadership, University of Florida

Focus: Education leadership, policy, and equity

Bio: Dr. Curran is a professor of educational leadership whose work examines how policies and leadership practices impact student outcomes.

Dr. Eldrin L. Deas

Researcher and Consultant

Focus: Education and workforce development

Bio: Dr. Deas is a researcher and consultant whose work bridges education and workforce systems.

Romeka R. Mack

Director of Accreditation and Accountability, Yazoo City Municipal School District

Focus: Dual enrollment access and graduation outcomes

Bio: Mack is an education leader whose work focuses on accountability, data-driven decision-making, and expanding access to high-quality opportunities for all students.

Isabela Porfirio Maia

Student, Federal University of Bahia

Focus: Education research and policy (international perspective)

Bio: Maia is a researcher whose work contributes to global conversations on education access and opportunity.

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Dr. Brianna Nargiso Newton

Education Policy Researcher

Focus: Mixed-methods research in education policy

Bio: Dr. Newton is a mixed-methods researcher focused on improving educational systems and outcomes through data-informed policy.

Dr. Daniel Sparks

Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas

Focus: Higher education access and policy

Bio: Dr. Sparks is an assistant professor whose research explores college access, affordability, and student success.

 

Dr. Rachel E. Williams

Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Focus: Education policy, politics, place/space, and political economy

Bio: Williams is an Assistant Professor whose work examines education policy and politics at the intersection of race, place, and political economy.

Learn more about the SEF Research Fellows Program and how we are advancing education justice across the South.