Ebony Cain is an Associate Professor and Program Chair of Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy, and Organizational Leadership Programs at Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education & Psychology. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where her work explored urban school policy reforms. More recently, Dr. Cain was the 2019 Recipient of the Howard A, White Award, Pepperdine University’s highest honor for teaching excellence. Her research explores educational equity, critical methodologies, and urban school reform. Dr. Cain also taught at the University of Southern California (USC’s) Rossier Graduate School of Education in their Organizational Change and Leadership Program. Overall, Dr. Cain’s work captures her experiences as a non-profit leader, building programs that focus attention and services on educational inequity and academic advancement for at-risk students and communities. Across her work, she draws on her expertise as a researcher and leadership coach.
Robert A. Filback holds a Ph.D. in Education Policy and Administration from the University of Southern California (USC), where he also earned his M.S. in Teaching English as a Second Language and his B.S. in Chemistry. Currently serving as Chair of the Faculty Council and Professor of Clinical Education at USC's Rossier School of Education, Filback boasts extensive experience in academia, including roles as Chair of the MAT-TESOL Program and Founding Co-Chair of the Global Executive Doctor of Education Program. He has held various teaching positions, both domestically and abroad, and has contributed significantly to research and publication in the field. Filback has delivered numerous conference presentations, invited talks, and multimedia projects, showcasing his expertise in education policy, innovation, and leadership. As an active member of multiple professional affiliations and committees, he continues to make significant contributions to the field of education.
Jenifer Crawford is a Professor of Clinical Education in the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California. Crawford earned her Ph.D. in Urban Schooling from UCLA specializing in teachers’ leadership and advocacy in public schools in collaboration with linguistically and racially minoritized communities. A former teacher in the U.S., Mexico, and Brazil, she currently prepares multilingual teachers for diverse learners and contexts. Her research interests include critical praxis in language education rooted in critical pedagogy, an understanding of racial discourses, leveraging parent and community involvement, and integrating technology.