Curriculum and instruction professor recognized with AERA Dissertation Recognition Award

Wed, 07/11/2018

Janelle Laudick

LAWRENCE – Christopher Kirchgasler, assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum & Teaching at the University of Kansas, was selected to receive the 2018 Dissertation Recognition Award, granted by the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Division B.

This award is to recognize a scholar whose dissertation made an outstanding contribution to the field of curriculum studies. Curriculum studies research reflects a wide variety of perspective and methodologies regarding the nature and improvement of curriculum practice, teaching, theory and research at local, state, regional, national and international levels.

The award was presented, among other awards, at the Division B business meeting during the 2018 Annual Meeting earlier this year in New York City. More information on the award can be found here.

"I am honored to receive this award and am particularly gratified that the award comes from AERA's Division B, an innovative and cross-disciplinary collection of scholars who are committed to issues of equality, justice and inclusion,” Kirchgasler said. “The research in this dissertation forms the intellectual foundation for my forthcoming book project, "Making the Gritty Child: The Colonial Residues of Transnational School Reforms."

Kirchgasler received his doctorate in curriculum and instruction, with a minor in history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His work examines the historical, ethnographic and comparative qualities of schooling, particularly as they relate to notions of inclusion, equity and justice. His research directs attention to how contemporary transnational school reforms are "haunted" by colonial residues that define who and what are seen and acted on as the "problems" of individual and social development.

More information on Kirchgasler can be found here.

The Department of Curriculum & Teaching is housed in the KU School of Education, a nationally ranked school preparing educators and health/sport/exercise professionals as leaders.