In three decades, Sherman Dorn has taught more than 2,500 students at all levels in higher education, led academic units in two large public research universities, written or co-edited four books, learned and written about the history of education policy in the United States, and never been bored. His current project is a history of educational broadcasting in the United States since WW2.
In his scholarship, he looks skeptically on the collective definitions of education problems: are we seeing issues correctly? In his research, he has focused on how we defined dropping out of high school as a problem, how we think of public-private distinctions in education, how school accountability evolved, how we have defined schools as communities, and how the modern politics of education evolved in an arena (broadcasting) where the federal government has primacy. Sherman Dorn believes that as individuals, we have holes in our mental model of social problems, and as a society, those holes are reflected in what we think are educational problems and how we try to solve them. We need to identify those mental holes so we are not limited by them.
Between July 2014 and December 2020, he was the director of the Division of Educational Leadership and Innovation, supporting the faculty, academic professional and staff colleagues who work closely with the division's students. The best part of the job was always figuring out how to say "yes" to ideas coming from great colleagues.
- Ph.D. History, University of Pennsylvania 1992
- M.A. Demography, University of Pennsylvania 1992
- B.A. History (Magna Cum Laude), Haverford College 1987
Guiding Research Questions:
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How has the historical definition of any problem in education (such as dropping out or the lack of accountability) reflected evolving concerns about education and society?
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How have the historical and evolving definitions of problems of education hidden alternative ways of framing our challenges?
Selected recent publications and presentations
Dorn, S., & *Kim, W. (2022). 교육이라는 복음의 연방화, 1945-2010 [Federalizing the education gospel, 1945-2010]. 교육사학연구 [Education History Research], 32(1), 145-171.
Ydesen, C., & Dorn, S. (2022). The No Child Left Behind Act in the global architecture of educational accountability. History of Education Quarterly, 62(3), 268-290. https://www.doi.org/10.1017/heq.2022.11
Dorn, S., & *Kim, W. (2022, April). Where were the states? American federalism and broadcasting since 1945. Presentation at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (San Diego, CA).
*Kim, W., & Dorn, S., (2021, November). Localized modernization through educational television: USAID and educational television in South Korea. Presentation at the annual meeting of the History of Education Society (San Diego, CA).
Dorn, S. (2021, September 29). Violence over schools is nothing new in America. Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/09/29/violence-over-schools-is-nothing-new-america/
Dorn, S. (2021, August 4). The cycle of public panic over childhood that got us to QAnon. Zocalo Public Square. Retrieved from https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2021/08/04/history-childhood-qanon/ideas/essay/
Dorn, S. (2021, February 15). We worried about kids and the internet. We should have been worried about adults. Slate. Retrieved from https://slate.com/technology/2021/02/moral-panics-technology-internet-children-adults.html
*Chapman, K. P., *Ross, L., & Dorn, S. (2020). Opting out in the Empire State: A geographic analysis of opting out in New York, spring 2015 and 2016. Teachers College Record, 122(2). Retrieved from https://www.tcrecord.org/content.asp?contentid=23062
Dorn, S., & Kim, W.* (2019, November). Budgeting for Big Bird: Fundraising for Sesame Street and the meaning of public in educational television. Presentation at annual meeting of the History of Education Society (Columbus, OH).
* - Student collaborators.
Postwar history of educational broadcasting
Three major forces catapulted education onto the national stage in the immediate post-WW 2 era: the mass spread of broadcast culture, especially television; the civil rights movement; and the Cold War. My current major research project is a history of educational broadcasting in the United States, roughly bookended by the premier of The Howdy-Doody Show as the first nationally-broadcast children's television show in December 1947, on the one hand, and the rise of Youtube in the late 2000s, on the other. This includes the history of well-known shows on public television such as Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, and also commercial broadcasting that we can consider educational, including Schoolhouse Rock.
All of this happened in an arena where the federal government owns the pipeline: since 1934, the Federal Communications Commission has governed the electromagnetic spectrum as part of its authority. How has that federal primacy shaped the politics of education in broadcasting?
Archival research travel is supported by the Spencer Foundation, award 20200163.
Courses
2025 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
DCI 790 | Reading and Conference |
EPA 799 | Dissertation |
EPA 792 | Research |
EPA 784 | Internship |
EPA 790 | Reading and Conference |
EPA 590 | Reading and Conference |
EPA 590 | Reading and Conference |
EPA 790 | Reading and Conference |
TEL 405 | History of Ed&Policy Reform US |
TEL 405 | History of Ed&Policy Reform US |
2024 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
DCI 792 | Research |
EPA 792 | Research |
EPA 799 | Dissertation |
EPA 790 | Reading and Conference |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
SPE 792 | Research |
TEL 792 | Research |
EPA 590 | Reading and Conference |
EPA 590 | Reading and Conference |
EPA 790 | Reading and Conference |
TEL 405 | History of Ed&Policy Reform US |
TEL 405 | History of Ed&Policy Reform US |
TEL 712 | Mixed Methods Action Research |
SPE 799 | Dissertation |
2024 Summer
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
DCI 790 | Reading and Conference |
EPA 792 | Research |
EPA 799 | Dissertation |
EPA 790 | Reading and Conference |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
2024 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
EPA 799 | Dissertation |
DCI 790 | Reading and Conference |
EPA 792 | Research |
EPA 784 | Internship |
EPA 790 | Reading and Conference |
TEL 710 | Innov Disseminating Res |
DCI 702 | Transdisciplinary Seminar II |
TEL 792 | Research |
EPA 590 | Reading and Conference |
EPA 590 | Reading and Conference |
EPA 790 | Reading and Conference |
TEL 405 | History of Ed&Policy Reform US |
TEL 405 | History of Ed&Policy Reform US |
2023 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
DCI 792 | Research |
EPA 792 | Research |
EPA 799 | Dissertation |
EPA 790 | Reading and Conference |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 799 | Dissertation |
TEL 710 | Innov Disseminating Res |
TEL 710 | Innov Disseminating Res |
DCI 701 | Transdisciplinary Seminar I |
EPA 590 | Reading and Conference |
EPA 590 | Reading and Conference |
EPA 790 | Reading and Conference |
TEL 405 | History of Ed&Policy Reform US |
TEL 405 | History of Ed&Policy Reform US |
2023 Summer
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
TEL 595 | Continuing Registration |
DCI 790 | Reading and Conference |
EPA 792 | Research |
EPA 799 | Dissertation |
DCI 595 | Continuing Registration |
DCI 595 | Continuing Registration |
TEL 595 | Continuing Registration |
TEL 595 | Continuing Registration |
EPA 790 | Reading and Conference |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 710 | Innov Disseminating Res |
TEL 710 | Innov Disseminating Res |
2023 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
DCI 595 | Continuing Registration |
DCI 595 | Continuing Registration |
DCI 790 | Reading and Conference |
EPA 799 | Dissertation |
EPA 792 | Research |
EPA 784 | Internship |
EPA 790 | Reading and Conference |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
SPE 791 | Seminar |
DCI 595 | Continuing Registration |
TEL 710 | Innov Disseminating Res |
TEL 710 | Innov Disseminating Res |
EPA 702 | Prosem Education Policy II |
TEL 799 | Dissertation |
2022 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
DCI 792 | Research |
EPA 792 | Research |
EPA 799 | Dissertation |
EPA 790 | Reading and Conference |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 792 | Research |
TEL 710 | Innov Disseminating Res |
TEL 710 | Innov Disseminating Res |
EPA 701 | Proseminar Education Policy I |
2022 Summer
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
TEL 595 | Continuing Registration |
DCI 790 | Reading and Conference |
EPA 792 | Research |
EPA 799 | Dissertation |
DCI 595 | Continuing Registration |
DCI 595 | Continuing Registration |
TEL 595 | Continuing Registration |
TEL 595 | Continuing Registration |
EPA 790 | Reading and Conference |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 710 | Innov Disseminating Res |
TEL 710 | Innov Disseminating Res |
2022 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
TEL 595 | Continuing Registration |
TEL 595 | Continuing Registration |
DCI 595 | Continuing Registration |
DCI 595 | Continuing Registration |
DCI 790 | Reading and Conference |
TEL 595 | Continuing Registration |
EPA 799 | Dissertation |
EPA 784 | Internship |
EDA 505 | American Education System |
EDA 505 | American Education System |
EPA 790 | Reading and Conference |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 799 | Dissertation |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 792 | Research |
DCI 595 | Continuing Registration |
TEL 710 | Innov Disseminating Res |
TEL 710 | Innov Disseminating Res |
2021 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
EPA 792 | Research |
EPA 799 | Dissertation |
EPA 790 | Reading and Conference |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 799 | Dissertation |
TEL 710 | Innov Disseminating Res |
TEL 710 | Innov Disseminating Res |
2021 Summer
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
TEL 595 | Continuing Registration |
DCI 790 | Reading and Conference |
EPA 792 | Research |
EPA 799 | Dissertation |
DCI 595 | Continuing Registration |
DCI 595 | Continuing Registration |
TEL 595 | Continuing Registration |
TEL 595 | Continuing Registration |
EPA 790 | Reading and Conference |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
SPE 791 | Seminar |
TEL 710 | Innov Disseminating Res |
TEL 710 | Innov Disseminating Res |
TEL 710 | Innov Disseminating Res |
TEL 710 | Innov Disseminating Res |
2021 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
TEL 595 | Continuing Registration |
TEL 595 | Continuing Registration |
DCI 595 | Continuing Registration |
TEL 595 | Continuing Registration |
EPA 799 | Dissertation |
EPA 792 | Research |
EPA 790 | Reading and Conference |
TEL 792 | Research |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
TEL 780 | Practicum |
DCI 595 | Continuing Registration |
TEL 710 | Innov Disseminating Res |
TEL 710 | Innov Disseminating Res |
2020 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
EPA 792 | Research |
EDA 799 | Dissertation |
EPA 799 | Dissertation |
DCI 595 | Continuing Registration |
DCI 595 | Continuing Registration |
EPA 790 | Reading and Conference |
TEL 792 | Research |
2020 Summer
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
TEL 595 | Continuing Registration |
DCI 790 | Reading and Conference |
EPA 792 | Research |
DCI 595 | Continuing Registration |
DCI 595 | Continuing Registration |
TEL 595 | Continuing Registration |
TEL 595 | Continuing Registration |
EPA 790 | Reading and Conference |
DCI 795 | Continuing Registration |
EPA 795 | Continuing Registration |
EPA 795 | Continuing Registration |
TEL 405 | History of Ed&Policy Reform US |
2020 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
TEL 595 | Continuing Registration |
TEL 595 | Continuing Registration |
DCI 595 | Continuing Registration |
DCI 595 | Continuing Registration |
TEL 595 | Continuing Registration |
EPA 792 | Research |
EPA 790 | Reading and Conference |
EPA 691 | Seminar |
DCI 795 | Continuing Registration |
EPA 795 | Continuing Registration |
DCI 595 | Continuing Registration |
EPA 795 | Continuing Registration |
2019 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
EPA 792 | Research |
DCI 595 | Continuing Registration |
DCI 595 | Continuing Registration |
EPA 691 | Seminar |
EPA 790 | Reading and Conference |
2017 Review of Research Award, American Educational Research Association, for Alfredo J. Artiles, Sherman Dorn, and Aydin Bal, "Objects of Protection, Enduring Nodes of Difference: Disability Intersections With 'Other' Differences, 1916-2016." Review of Research in Education, Vol 40, March 2016.
Associate editor, 2022- , Review of Educational Research.
Associate editor, 2022- , Education Policy Analysis Archives.
Editor, 2004-2008, Education Policy Analysis Archives.
History of Education Society; American Educational Research Association; Association of Education Finance and Policy; Arizona Educational Research Organization
Arizona State University: Leadership and Innovation (EdD) and Educational Policy and Evaluation (PhD). University of South Florida: Interdisciplinary Education (PhD). Selected student list: Shawn Ryan, EdD, Arizona State University, 2022; Emeka Ikegwuonu, PhD, Arizona State University, 2020; Kevin Jaramillo, EdD, Arizona State University, 2019; James Lett, EdD, Arizona State University, 2018; Mary Elizabeth Azukas, EdD, Arizona State University, 2018; Ariana Lopez, EdD, Arizona State University, 2018; Sean Lazarus, EdD, Arizona State University, 2018; Michelle Vlahoulis, EdD, Arizona State University, 2018; Kacie Nadeau, PhD, University of South Florida, 2017; Brent Lamons, PhD, University of South Florida, 2012; Peter Gamache, PhD, University of South Florida, 2011; Judy Castillo, PhD, University of South Florida, 2011.
Arizona State University, 2014-present; University of South Florida, 1996-2014; Vanderbilt University, 1993-1996; University of Delaware, 1992-1993