Eleven Education Faculty Members Earn Promotions
by Office of Communications / Sep 10, 2026
Seven tenure system faculty members and four specialized faculty members have new titles as of the beginning of the 2026-27 school year.
The College of Education is proud to announce that 11 faculty members have been promoted by the Office of the Provost, effective in August 2026. Congratulations to each of these scholars, who demonstrate strong research capabilities, excellence in teaching, and a strong commitment to the mission of Education at Illinois.
This outstanding group of faculty reflects the caliber of scholarship, leadership, and engagement that is synonymous with the College of Education,” says Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs Tamara Bertrand Jones. "We are excited for their continued excellence in mentoring their junior colleagues and students, contributing to the disciplines, and to the College and the campus.”
Tenure System Faculty
Paul Bruno, Associate Professor
Education Policy, Organization & Leadership
Bruno’s research centers on quantitative methods to study school finance, school choice, resource allocation in schools, and teacher quality. Bruno is a decorated reviewer and serves on the Editorial Board of AERA Open.
Osly Flores, Associate Professor
Education Policy, Organization & Leadership
Flores’ research interests focus on investigating and furthering research and practices of school leaders who move toward fairness and justice in leadership. He was named an AERA Division A Emerging Scholar in 2024.
Jina Kang, Associate Professor
Curriculum & Instruction
Her research focuses on analytical approaches to understand the use of new technologies and methodologies in diverse learning environments, aiming to support educational practices and advances for all stakeholders. Kang is a member of the NSF-funded INVITE AI Institute housed in the College of Education.
Giselle Martinez Negrette, Associate Professor
Curriculum & Instruction
Martinez Negrette's research interests center on bilingual/multilingual education, English as a Second Language (ESL), sociolinguistics, and International Comparative Education. The National Academy of Education awarded Martinez Negrette the Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship in 2025.
Stephanie Sanders-Smith, Professor
Curriculum & Instruction
Through her scholarship, Sanders-Smith addresses ongoing conversations in the field of early childhood education about culturally sustaining practices in early education. Since 2015, she has served as the inaugural Yew Chung-Bernard Spodek Scholar in Curriculum & Instruction
Stephanie Toliver, Associate Professor
Curriculum & Instruction
Toliver employs arts-based and consciousness-raising approaches to understand how Black communities, youth, and their teachers read, write, and imagine toward educational worlds where Black life, knowledge, and futurity are centered and free. Toliver earned the Campus Distinguished Promotion which recognizes those whose contributions have been extraordinary in terms of quality of work and achievement
Asif Wilson, Associate Professor
Curriculum & Instruction
Wilson’s research broadly focuses on justice-centered pedagogies in P-20 educational contexts; the historical and contemporary forces that shape them; how teachers engage in and conceptualize them; and how students experience justice-centered educational spaces. Wilson has worked with the Illinois State Board of Education to develop professional learning opportunities for social science teachers.
Specialized Faculty
Lisa Kinderman, Clinical Associate Professor
Educational Psychology
Kinderman is a licensed clinical psychologist and has a special interest in the study of integrative health, wellness, and positive psychology. She was a co-founder of the Healing Training and Research Clinic in 2026.
Emily Tarconish, Teaching Associate Professor, Special Education, Education Policy Organization & Leadership
Emily's work centers on disabled students’ lived experiences within education and on disability identity development, focusing on their perspectives on inclusive teaching practices and available resources. She has partnered with Experience Champaign-Urbana to develop Accessible CU, a guide to accessible businesses.
Allison Witt, Teaching Professor
Education Policy Organization & Leadership
Witt's research includes state and national education policy related to higher education and teacher preparation. Witt also serves as the Director of International Programs for the College of Education.
Kary Zarate, Teaching Associate Professor
Special Education
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