David Gamson

David A. Gamson

Associate Professor of Education

Educational Theory & Policy
310D Rackley Building
University Park, PA 16802-3203
Email: dag17@psu.edu
Phone: 814-865-2583
Fax: 814-865-1480

Areas of Expertise

• History of Education
• Education Policy Studies
• Educational Reform (past and present)

Publications (Full CV Available Here)

• Gamson, David. (2003, forthcoming) "Rethinking Progressivism: The District Perspective," in Paedagogic Historica (Summer).
• Mintrop, Heinrich, David Gamson, Milbrey McLaughlin, Pia Lindquist Wong, and Ida Oberman, "Design Cooperation: Strengthening the Link Between Organizational and Instructional Change in Schools," Educational Policy 15 (September 2001).

Professional Experience & Activities

• Education Consultant for THE NOYCE FOUNDATION, Palo Alto, CA. March-August 1997.
• Education Consultant for SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION, San Francisco, CA. Member of evaluation team headed by Milbrey McLaughlin. 1994-1996.
• Education Department Graduate Intern for THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS, Philadelphia, PA. Staff member of court-appointed Philadelphia Desegregation Panel. Summer 1994.
• Education Consultant for THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, San Jose, CA. Member of the Foundation's "Partners for Success" school reform funding committee. Spring/Summer 1995 and 1996.
• Director of Marketing for FANLIGHT PRODUCTIONS, Boston, MA. 1986-1987.
• General Manager/Assistant to the President for ACTION FOR CHILDREN'S TELEVISION (ACT), Cambridge, MA.1985-1986. ACT was a national citizens' advocacy group working to improve broadcasting practices for children's television. (ACT closed in 1991.)

Honors & Awards 

• Awarded Alumni Society Faculty Research Initiation Grant, 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2002 (between $600 and $8,500).
• Awarded Spencer Foundation Small Grant, 2000-01 ($35,000).
• Fellow in the Advanced Studies Fellowship Program at Brown University, 2001-2004 ($50,000).
• Awarded Spencer Foundation Dissertation Fellowship.
• Awarded Stanford University Graduate Research Opportunity Grant.
• Awarded Commonwealth of Australia Postgraduate Scholarship.

Education

• Ph.D. in Education, 2001. STANFORD UNIVERSITY.
  Dissertation: District by Design: Progressive Education Reform in Four Western Cities, 1900-1940.
• M.A. in American History, 1998. STANFORD UNIVERSITY.
• M.A., with Merit, in English Literature, 1991. UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY, Sydney, Australia.
• A.B. in History, Minor in English Literature, 1985. BOWDOIN COLLEGE, Brunswick, ME.