Kristen Wilcox

Dr. Kristen C. Wilcox is a Professor in the Educational Policy and Leadership Department at the University at Albany and serves as Research & Development Director of NYKids.org, a groundbreaking University-School Improvement Hub that bridges research and practice to improve educational outcomes. As an accomplished educator and scholar, Dr. Wilcox teaches graduate courses in instructional leadership, research methods, and continuous quality improvement in education and human services, preparing the next generation of educational leaders through her innovative approaches to teaching and mentorship. Dr. Wilcox has established herself as a leading bridging and translational scholar who connects research, policy, and practice. Her work addresses critical questions about the complex relationships between educational policy, leadership effectiveness, curriculum development, and instructional excellence. Her research focuses on understanding the variability in children's and youth's educational experiences, examining how factors such as culture, language, and economic disadvantage influence student outcomes and success trajectories. Her scholarly contributions have been recognized through publication in premier educational journals including the Journal of Educational Change, Peabody Journal of Education, Educational Administration Quarterly, and Teachers College Record. Dr. Wilcox has authored and co-authored numerous books that provide practical, research-based guidance for educational practitioners. Her notable publications include Innovation in Odds-beating Schools, Best Practices from High Performing High Schools, and Best Practices from High Performing Middle Schools. Beyond these major works, she has contributed to numerous edited volumes, book chapters, research briefs, newsletters, and blog posts, many of which are featured on the NYKids website and serve as essential resources for educators nationwide. Dr. Wilcox's research has directly informed the development of improvement science-based resources and practical tools that support system-wide educational transformation. She actively shares these evidence-based strategies with practicing professionals through institutes, workshops, and professional development sessions throughout New York State and beyond, ensuring that research findings translate into meaningful classroom and school-level improvements.