As we wrap both the year and the fall semester, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the educators, students, faculty, and community members who continue to advance the mission of the Center for Urban Education. Your commitment to equity-driven research, teaching, and practice has forwarded meaningful progress and renewed purpose. 

At our recent year-end writing retreat, we reflected on the things we wanted to celebrate, what we wanted to remember (and forget) about this year, and the seeds we are planting for next year. I encourage you to do the same as you both look back on 2025 and forward to 2026.  

As we look ahead to January, we’re excited to welcome our new CUE faculty and student affiliates, and to launch fresh initiatives that deepen our impact. Thank you for all you’ve contributed this year, and I wish you a restful break and a strong start to 2026.

In CUE-mmunity, 

Lori Delale-O’Connor 
Interim Director, Center for Urban Education 

P.S. Please consider becoming a CUE affiliate, open to graduate students, staff, and community educators -- details further below!

Save the date! We are excited to announce our programming for the upcoming 2026 Spring Semester. Full descriptions of the events, as well as registration links, will become available after winter break.

January 27: Doctoral Candidate Samuel Allen, Dr. Audrey Murrell, and Dr. Frits Pil 

February 10: Dr. Dominique Branson

February 17: Dr. Allyce Pinchback-Johnson + Black Women for a Better Education  

March 3: Dr. Sergio Gonzalez

March 17: Dr. Max Schuster, Dr. Hayley Weddle, Dr. Mariko Yoshisato Cavey

March 24: Dr. Heather McCambly

April 21: Dr. Jamaal Gosa 

February 19 (in partnership with CGSE)  
April 22

June 25-26

PLUS: Stay tuned for upcoming announcements on CUE’s celebration of Dr. Helen Faison, to be held in February 2026! Date and registration details to follow.

The Center for Urban Education (CUE) invites graduate students, staff, and community educators to apply for affiliation with the Center. We envision an active community of interdisciplinary scholars who engage in urban education concerns.

Partnering with CUE provides affiliates with the opportunity to build collaborative research, share, discuss, and develop ideas in urban education, foster and enrich collegiate teaching, and publish research and scholarly manuscripts.

Apply by January 5!