Brian Vedder

Background

About Brian Vedder

After teaching middle school English Language Arts in Richmond, California for six years, I decided to advance my pedagogical expertise through a PhD in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies from the University of Denver. Over the course of this degree, I hope to discover ways to expand my professional practices as a teacher, a leader, a researcher, a writer, and a dreamer. I yearn to create emancipatory research projects, liberating initiatives in higher education, and radical shifts in our K-12 education system through community-aligned and participatory-focused partnerships. Using a three-pronged approach, I aim to address how fresh studies and questions can lead to transformation in curricular practices, leadership approaches, and policy advancements. Right now, my focus as a progressing PhD student is to build my own theoretical approach critiquing White Supremacy and refine my focus on students with substance abuse problems. My long-term goals include designing and leading Teacher Preparation Programs, becoming a tenure-track professor of Education, and conducting research on more connected, responsive learning environments for students of color and those struggling to find their own sense of belonging on campus.