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Aaron Leo

Liberal arts professor

Education

  • Ph.D., anthropology, University of Albany - State University of New York
  • M.A., anthropology, University of Albany - State University of New York
  • B.A., anthropology, State University of New York at New Paltz

Credentials

  • Part time professor of liberal arts, 2020–present, Savannah College of Art and Design, SCADnow
  • Instructor, 2018–present, Educational Theory and Practice Department, University at Albany, Albany, NY
  • Instructor, 2015–present, Anthropology Department, University at Albany, Albany, NY
  • Teaching assistant, 2012–16, Anthropology Department, University at Albany, Albany, NY
  • Postdoctoral research fellow, 2018, NY Kids, University at Albany, Albany, NY
  • Research assistant, 2014–18, School of Education, University at Albany, Albany, NY

Awards, recognitions, and honors

  • United University Professions Individual Development Award, University at Albany, July 2019
  • Dissertation Research Award, University at Albany, December 2017
  • Benevolent Grant, University at Albany, October 2016
  • Dissertation Research Award, University at Albany, August 2016
  • Professional Development Grant, Graduate Student Association, University at Albany, 2015
  • Travel Grant, Graduate Student Association, University at Albany, 2013
  • Teaching Assistantship at University of Albany, 2012–16
  • Merit Scholarship, Sussex County Community College, 2005

Organizations

  • American Educational Research Association
  • Society for Applied Anthropology
  • American Anthropological Association
  • Society for the Anthropology of Work

Publications and presentations

Publications

  • "Success and Failure in the 'Land of Opportunities': How Social Class Informs Educational Attitudes among Newcomer Immigrants and Refugees." American Educational Research Journal, 2019.
  • With Wilcox, K.C., and Lawson H. "Culturally Responsive and Asset-Based Strategies for Parent and Family Engagement in Odds-beating Secondary Schools." The School Community Journal, 29(2), 255-280, 2019.
  • With Wilcox, K.C. "From 'Fake Teams' to Teacher Collective Efficacy via Research-Practice Partnerships." Impact on Instructional Improvement, 44(1), 18-26, 2019.
  • With Wilcox, K.C., Gregory, K., Yu, F. "Culturally and Linguistically Adapted School Systems: A Study of Promising Practices in Odds-Beating Elementary Schools." NYS TESOL Journal 4(2), 35-47, 2017.
  • "Reflections from the Field." Anthropology News, October 2014.

Reports

  • With Wilcox, K.C., and Kramer, C. "College and Career Readiness: Promises from Odds-Beating Secondary Schools." Albany, NY: State University of New York, 2018.
  • With Schiller, K. and Kramer, C. "Promising Practices: Preparing Critical Needs Students for College or Career: Case Study: Freeport High School, Freeport Union Free School District." Albany, NY: State University of New York, 2018.
  • With Wilcox, K.C., Lawson, H., Cala-Ruud, L., and Kramer, C. "Promising Practices: Preparing Critical Needs Students for College or Career: Case Study: Sherburne-Earlville Senior High School, Sherburne-Earlville Senior Central School District." Albany, NY: State University of New York, 2018.
  • With Gregory, K. "Promising Practices for Supporting Achievement of English Language Learners: Case study: Catskill Elementary School, Catskill Central School District." Albany, NY: State University of New York, 2016.
  • With Wilcox, K.C. "Promising Practices for Supporting Achievement of English Language Learners: Case study: Guilderland Elementary School, Guilderland Central School District." Albany, NY: State University of New York, 2016.

Presentations

  • With Wilcox, K. C. "Mutual agency of teachers and students in odds-beating high schools." Paper delivered at the American Anthropological Association Annual Meeting. Vancouver, CA, November 2019.
  • "Meritocracy, Individualism and Critique: Social Class and Educational Attitudes among New arrivals in the United States." Keynote presentation delivered at Student Research and Alumni Event, State University at New York, New Paltz, May 2019.
  • With Wilcox, K.C., Andress, N., and Tangorre, S. "COMPASS-AIM Check the Pulse 2: Continuous Improvement Institutes." Invited workshop Montgomery C. Smith Elementary School, Hudson, NY, May 2019.
  • With Wilcox, K. C. "Beating the Odds and Raising the Graduation Rate." Invited presentation at the University at Albany BIG Event, April 2019.
  • With Wilcox, K. C., Lawson, H. A., Schiller, K. S., Durand, F. T., and Kramer, C. "College and Career Readiness: Promising Practices from Odds­beating Secondary Schools." Workshop and presentation delivered at the Capital Region BOCES, Clifton Park, NY, February 2019.
  • "Stuck in the Middle: The Precarious Position of the 1.25 Generation." Paper delivered at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Toronto, CA, April 2019.
  • With Wilcox, K.C. "Breaking Down Barriers to Engage Families: Lessons from Odds-Beating Secondary Schools." Paper delivered at the Society for Applied Anthropology Annual Meeting, Portland, OR, March 2019.
  • With Kramer, C, Lawson, H, and Wilcox, K.C. "Striving for College & Career Readiness: Deriving Promising Practices from Odds-beating Secondary Schools in New York State." Paper presented at the Comparative International Education Society Northeast Regional Conference, Albany, NY, October 2018.
  • "Aspiration, Assimilation, and Attainment: Newcomers in the 'Land of Opportunity.'" Invited Talk, Educational Psychology Brown Bag Events, University at Albany, NY, November 2018.
  • "Leveled Aspirations and Class Reproduction: The ‘Immigrant Paradox’ and Educational Achievement," presented at Society for Applied Anthropology Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, April 2018.
  • "'And We're Just Separate from Everyone': Racializing Discourses among Muslim Immigrant Youth." Society for Applied Anthropology Annual Meeting, Santa Fe, NM, March 2017.
  • With Wilcox, K.C., Gregory, K, and Yu, F. "Striving for Equity of Opportunity: Adapting to ESL Policy Changes in New York State Schools," presented at American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Washington D.C., April 2016.
  • "Measuring ELL Achievement in US Public Schools," presented at American Anthropological Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, November 2013
  • "Refugee Resettlement in a Neoliberal State." American Ethnological Society Annual Meeting, New York, NY, April 2011.