2020 News Stories
USF College of Education welcomes Dana Thompson Dorsey as new endowed chair and director of David C. Anchin Center
Dana Thompson Dorsey, JD, PhD
TAMPA, Fla. (Dec. 16, 2020) — The University of South Florida (USF) College of Education welcomes Dana Thompson
Dorsey, JD, PhD, as the new endowed chair of education innovation and director of
the David C. Anchin Center for the Advancement of Teaching. In this role, Dr. Thompson Dorsey will advance the Anchin Center’s mission of collaborating
with teachers, school leaders, districts and other educators to improve the quality
of education for students and transforming the teaching profession to attract, retain
and develop quality, culturally responsive educators.
Dr. Thompson Dorsey comes to USF from the University of Pittsburgh where she was an
Associate Professor in the School of Education’s Department of Educational Foundations,
Organizations and Policy and the Associate Director of the Center for Urban Education.
Previously, Dr. Thompson Dorsey was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational
Leadership and Policy at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
“We are very fortunate to welcome Dr. Dana Thompson Dorsey to the USF College of Education,”
said Judith Ponticell, PhD, professor and interim dean of the College of Education.
“She brings a strong research background, leadership experiences from the University
of Pittsburgh Center for Urban Education and is passionate about advocacy for equity
and access. We look forward to new opportunities to further strengthen the David C.
Anchin Center’s legacy of partnerships, collaboration and transformative education.”
Dr. Thompson Dorsey’s research examines education laws, policies and practices, and
how they shape educational equity, access and opportunities for minoritized and underserved
populations in various educational contexts. Her research has been cited in the New York Times and featured on several NPR radio shows discussing school segregation, educational
access and the U.S. Supreme Court’s opinions on race-based admissions policies.
Dr. Thompson Dorsey's work has appeared in research journals such as “Educational Administration Quarterly,” “Educational Policy,” “Race, Ethnicity and Education,” “Education and Urban Society” and “Teachers College Record.” Additionally, she serves as a co-editor of "Educational Researcher," one of the preeminent research journals published by the American Educational Research Association (AERA).
Dr. Thompson Dorsey’s teaching experience includes courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. She has taught courses that align well with the College of Education’s programs in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies as well as with the Doctor of Education in Education Program Development.
Outside of higher education, Dr. Thompson Dorsey’s professional experience includes
serving as a member of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Continuous Improvement
for Equity Design Team. She has also served as a consultant and professional development
trainer for numerous school districts on topics including racial equity, cultural
bias and cultural proficiency.
Established in 1997 by Anne Anchin to honor her late husband, the David C. Anchin
Center for the Advancement of Teaching honors and supports the work of educators across
the state of Florida. The Anchin Center serves as a hub for educators, scholars, leaders
and policymakers who have a passion for advancing the teaching profession. Ongoing
initiatives in the Anchin Center include teacher professional development, educational
innovation, school and district leadership and education policy.
About the USF College of Education:
As the home for more than 2,200 students and 130 faculty members across three campuses,
the University of South Florida College of Education offers state-of-the-art teacher
training and collegial graduate studies designed to empower educational leaders. The
USF College of Education is nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation
of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and its educator preparation programs are fully approved
by the Florida Department of Education.