Teachers College at Columbia University in New York City has announced the appointment of five women to its full-time faculty.
Yaa Oparebea Ampofo is an assistant professor of teaching in the sustainability and education program. Her research focuses on the anthropology of socio-ecological change, exploring how education can better support human and planetary well-being. Dr. Ampofo is a graduate of Yale University, where she majored in environmental studies. She received her doctorate from the department of educational policy studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Alexandra Cooperstock is an assistant professor of sociology and education. She is interested in how ethno-racial and social class inequalities are produced and perpetuated in neighborhoods and schools. Before joining Teachers College, Dr. Cooperstock was a postdoctoral research associate at Brown University. Dr. Cooperstock earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and women’s studies from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in sociology with a minor in demography from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
Naomi Lifschitz-Grant was named associate professor of teaching in the art and art education program. She was was an associate professor of art education at University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Her work has been displayed in 35 group and solo exhibitions, including at Teacher College’s Macy Gallery. Dr. Lifschitz-Grant is a graduate of Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, where she majored in fine arts. She earned a master’s degree in education and a doctorate in art education at Teachers College.
Eleni Natsiopoulou is an assistant professor of teaching, sociology and education. She has been an adjunct professor at Teacher’s College for the past 12 years. Her current research projects explore how entire populations are disciplined through technology, as well as the effects this has on student intelligence, social structures, and power distribution. She holds a Ph.D. in international and comparative education and sociology from Teachers College.
Zoi Traga-Philippakos is an associate professor of literacy and education. She will serve as director of the Reading Specialist Program. Dr. Traga-Philippakos was an associate professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her work focuses on the science of reading and writing, strategy instruction, self-regulated learning, teacher professional development, and artificial intelligence in literacy education. Dr. Traga-Philippakos holds a master’s degree in reading and a Ph.D. in literacy from the University of Delaware.