Karen Symms Gallagher

ksgallagher
Karen Symms Gallagher
Emery Stoops and Joyce King Stoops Dean, Rossier School of Education,
University of Southern California

Karen Symms Gallagher is the Emery Stoops and Joyce King Stoops Dean of the Rossier School of Education at University of Southern California (USC). Under her leadership, the school has pioneered the practitioner-focused education doctorate that serves as a national model; and has launched its groundbreaking online Master of Arts in Teaching degree. She was honored with USC’s inaugural Provost’s Prize for Innovation in Educational Practice. Gallagher is chair of the board of directors of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation; was previously the dean of education at the University of Kansas; and directed the Commission on Educational Improvement for Ohio. She has a long career of proactively collaborating on teacher preparation improvement, joining with other education leaders to form Deans for Impact, an organization that aims to improve educator preparation through data-driven initiatives. Gallagher received her PhD in educational leadership and administration from Purdue University.

updated 2025

Contributing topics
Access, quality & alignment in early childhood education
College access & postsecondary success
Continuous school improvement & support
Education finance
Educational governance & policy
Educator workforce & effectiveness
Supporting students’ social-emotional, mental & physical health
Understanding, measuring & improving student outcomes
Contributing initiatives
COVID-19 Recovery
LCFF Research Collaborative
PACE/USC Rossier Voter Poll
Commentary by Karen Symms Gallagher
: Supporting Online Learning in a Time of Pandemic
Karen Symms Gallagher in the Media
: Our Children’s Education Should Be a Priority as California Recovers From Coronavirus
: Poll: Voters, Skeptical of School Quality, Support More Funding
: USC Rossier/PACE Poll: California Voters Support New Public School Accountability Efforts
: PACE/USC Rossier Poll: Californians Support Teachers, Schools but Accountability Concerns Remain
: Parent Awareness of California School Finance Accountability Law Abysmal
Publications by Karen Symms Gallagher
How a Research Center Based at USC Rossier, Stanford and UC Davis Is Helping California Forge Its Own Path in Advancing Its Education System
Setting the PACE
How a Research Center Based at USC Rossier, Stanford and UC Davis Is Helping California Forge Its Own Path in Advancing Its Education System
Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE) is a consortium of researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from USC Rossier, Stanford, and UC Davis Schools of Education working to improve education policy in California. PACE's focus has been…