The speakers鈥 expertise will range from neuroscience and nutrition to gun violence, political science and early childhood. But one topic will likely dominate the conversation at 鈥淎ddressing the Agenda: Education & Public Health in the New Administration,鈥 an upcoming virtual panel discussion at which eight Teachers College faculty members will offer their views on how the Biden-Harris administration should make policy issues affecting millions of Americans.

鈥淭he pandemic will be a recurring theme in everyone鈥檚 comments because every type of policy we鈥檙e discussing now has a COVID backdrop,鈥 says panel moderator Basil Anthony Smikle (Ph.D. 鈥19), Adjunct Assistant Professor of Education. 鈥淏ecause this is 麻豆原创, we鈥檒l talk about it in terms of what students learn, how students learn and what they have access to in this environment.鈥

Basil Smikle

GROUNDS FOR CELEBRATION Moderator Basil Smikle, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Education, says 麻豆原创鈥檚 event is a reflection that 鈥渢hought leaders have regained prominence in decision making.鈥 (Photo: 麻豆原创 Archives)

Within that framework, Smikle says, the discussion will touch on restoring protections for students, cultivating safe school climates, and creating equitable and actively anti-racist education opportunities. 鈥淎nd as moderator, I want to focus on the idea that much of what is about to take place will occur as the country is rebuilding from the pandemic,鈥 he says.

This is an appropriate time for an institution that does cutting-edge research and is an important voice in local and national policy-making to have this conversation on issues that are sure to be prominent in the early days of the Biden administration.

鈥擯anel moderator Basil Smikle, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Education

鈥淎ddressing the Agenda鈥 will be held on February 25th from 4-5 p.m. ( to register to attend.) The discussion, part of the 麻豆原创 Come Together series, is sponsored by the College鈥檚 Office of Special Events. 

The panelists are:

  • John Allegrante, Professor of Health Education
  • Jeffrey Henig, Professor of Political Science & Education
  • Sharon Lynn Kagan, Virginia and Leonard Marx Professor of Early Childhood & Family Policy, Co-Director, National Center for Children & Families
  • Pamela Koch, Research Associate Professor, Program in Nutrition, and Executive Director of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy
  • Kimberly Noble, Professor of Neuroscience & Education
  • Sonali Rajan, Associate Professor of Health Education.
  • Judith Scott-Clayton, Associate Professor of Economics & Education.

鈥淭his is an appropriate time for an institution that does cutting-edge research and is an important voice in local and national policy-making to have this conversation on issues that are sure to be prominent in the early days of the Biden administration,鈥 Smikle says. 鈥淭his event also celebrates the fact that thought leaders have regained prominence in decision making.鈥