The UMKC School of Education has appointed Eric Camburn, Ph.D., as the Sherman Family Foundation Endowed Chair and Director of the Urban Education Research Center, holding the appointment of professor in the Division of Educational Leadership, Policy and Foundations.

Camburn brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role.  Prior to joining UMKC, he served as Deputy Director of the Wisconsin Center for Education Research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.  He also served as chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis.

For three decades, Camburn has conducted research on school improvement, school leadership, and inequalities in educational opportunity.  His research has contributed to the field’s understanding of social inequalities in the secondary and postsecondary outcomes of urban students, of factors that promote and impede the progress of urban students at key junctures, and the professional learning of K12 educators.

“Dr. Camburn is eminently qualified for the position,” said Dean Justin Perry.  “We are thrilled that he is taking on this key role in advancing our research enterprise and the mission of the university, which is all made possible by the support of the Sherman Family Foundation.”

Camburn has been awarded more than $9.7 million in research support from the Institute of Education Sciences.  He has published 22 journal articles, eight book chapters, and 10 technical reports.  Prior to his work at Wisconsin, Camburn served as an assistant research scientist and associate director of survey studies at the University of Michigan from 1997 to 2004.  From 1991 to 1997, he was a research associate in the Consortium on Chicago School Research at the University of Chicago. Camburn has also worked collaboratively with multiple urban districts over the years to help advance their improvement initiatives.

“We look forward to the important work that the Center will undertake under the seasoned leadership of Dr. Camburn, and are excited about the potential impact the Center can have on education systems in Kansas City and beyond,” said  Joseph Allen, Executive Director of the Sherman Family Foundation.