Betty Malen

Betty Malen was a former professor emeritus of education in the Department if Education Policy and Leadership at the University of Maryland, where she taught and researched education for three decades. She was also an affiliate professor in the UM School of Public Policy. A former public school administrator, she previously held professorial positions at the University of Utah and the University of Washington. Malen specialized in education politics and policy. Her research brought the discipline of political science to the examination of education problems and relied heavily on the effective application of case study designs and qualitative research methods. She is broadly recognized for her work on the political determinants and the substantive effects of prominent education reforms. She was the University of Maryland Distinguished Scholar-Teacher Award for her commitment to education. Malen earned her PhD in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Minnesota.

updated 2025