Rachel S. White

Rachel S. White is an Associate  Professor in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies in the College of Education at the University of Tennessee–Knoxville. White was previously an assistant professor in the educational leadership program at Old Dominion University, and was also a postdoctoral research associate at the USC Rossier School of Education. She is the founder and principal investigator of The Superintendent Lab. Her research agenda centers around 1) issues of power, voice, diversity, and inclusion in education policy making and implementation processes, and 2) examining structures and policies that contribute to or counteract equitable and socially just K-12 education systems. As such, she examines the politics of education policy making and implementation, with a focus on whose voices are heard in the policy making and implementation processes, and how decisions made by political and educational leaders at the school, district, and state level impact the educational experiences of students and teachers. White received her PhD in education policy from Michigan State University.

updated 2025