GSE Faculty Promotions

March 30, 2011 - The Provost’s Staff Conference has announced two promotions at the Graduate School of Education. Sigal Ben-Porath and Shaun Harper have been promoted to the rank of associate professor.

Dr. Ben-Porath received her doctorate in philosophy, with an emphasis on social and political thought, from Tel Aviv University. Her research focuses on civic education, social effects of war, and normative aspects of educational and social policy. Her areas of expertise include philosophy of education, political philosophy, and gender studies. She has published a book on civic education in wartime as well as articles on related topics and on the rights of weak groups in a just society and on government regulation of intimate life. Her current research focuses on choice as a democratic value and its role in democratic policy-making.

Prior to his appointment at GSE in 2007, Dr. Harper was an assistant professor and research associate in the Center for the Study of Higher Education at Penn State University. He also formerly served as an assistant professor and executive director of the Doctor of Education Program at the University of Southern California. His research focuses on racism and gender disparities in higher education; black male college access and achievement; and college environments, student outcomes, and engagement. He serves as co-director of Penn GSE's Grad Prep Academy.