Your instructors are more than NYU Steinhardt faculty – they are your mentors, supporters, challengers, and advocates.

They will push you and they will support you to innovate unique and transformational solutions to persistent challenges within your organization.

Our principal team consists of expert faculty from the NYU Steinhardt Department of Administration, Leadership, and Technology.

NYU EdD Faculty member, Noel Anderson
Noel S. Anderson, Founding Faculty

"We want students to have a collaborative experience in which they ignite a transformation in education from across sectors."

Dr. Noel S. Anderson currently holds the positions of Steinhardt Director of Leadership and Innovation and Clinical Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. He is responsible for leading and growing the Steinhardt EdD in Leadership and Innovation, Executive Education Leadership programs, and other innovation initiatives within NYU’s global network.

For over 25 years, Noel S. Anderson has served in a variety of leadership positions in the public and private sectors. He has led in large public school districts, higher education institutions, and national non-profit organizations. Prior to NYU, Noel was National Senior Program Director (Chief Program Officer) for Year Up, Inc, a national workforce and education organization that develops young people for internships and job placement in Fortune 500 companies, and was responsible for overseeing program development, innovation, and quality for a growing network of over 15 cities across the United States, serving over 3000 young adults yearly. He also served as interim Executive Director for Year Up, New York, Year Up’s largest market, directing corporate partnerships, fundraising, leading a staff of 40, and managing a budget of $8 million.

Before leading at Year Up, Noel was a tenured Associate Professor and interim Chairperson in the Department of Political Science at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. His academic research focuses on career and post-secondary pathways for low-income youth and race and equity in education. Much of his research integrates the capabilities approach (a theory developed by Amartya Sen, Nobel Prize winner in welfare economics) to education and equity, one of only a handful of U.S. scholars applying this complex methodology to education.

Noel has taught and lectured around the world. He was Visiting Professor of Politics at Bogazici University in Istanbul, Turkey, and has shared his research widely in Europe and South Africa on “disconnected youth” (those not working or in school).

Noel has authored and edited numerous scholarly articles and books on urban education, youth development, and youth labor markets, emphasizing youth voice. His most recent co-authored book is Working to Learn: Disrupting the Divide between College and Career Pathways for Young People (Palgrave-Macmillan, 2020), which blends research, policy analysis, and assessments from professional practice to examine how young people navigate and integrate the worlds of work and school in Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.

Noel has earned over a dozen awards and fellowships. Recently he was Presidio Institute Cross-Sector Leadership Fellow. He also received the prestigious Whitney M. Young, Jr. Education Leadership Award from the National Urban League for developing “Project Ready”, NUL’s signature college access program. He served on then presidential candidate Joseph Biden’s Education Policy Committee, lending his expertise to inform the campaign’s national platform on career readiness.

View Dr. Anderson's full CV.

Lisette Nieves, Founding Faculty

"We want students who are passionate about learning and want to apply a scholarly lens to their practice."

Dr. Lisette Nieves is a Distinguished Clinical Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at NYU Steinhardt and President of the Fund for the City of New York, an institution charged with developing and helping to implement innovations in policy, programs, practices, and technology in order to advance the functioning of government and nonprofit organizations in New York City and beyond. Key FCNY programs include the Cash Flow Loan Program, The Partnership Program, and the Sloan Public Service Awards.

Prior to the Fund Lisette was the Director of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and a Full Clinical Professor at NYU Steinhardt where she co-led the design and implementation of a new doctoral program in Leadership and Innovation as well as taught Organizational Theory and Behavior and Educational Policy Analysis. Lisette is also a Distinguished Clinical Instructor with NYU, overseeing doctoral students and supporting research initiatives. Lisette holds a B.A. from Brooklyn College, a B.A./M.A. from the University of Oxford, an M.P.A. from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University, and a doctorate with distinction in Higher Education Management at the University of Pennsylvania. She is a Truman Scholar, Rhodes Scholar, Aspen Pahara Fellow, and a Richard P. Nathan Public Policy Fellow.

For over 25 years, Lisette has served in a variety of cross-sector leadership positions. She is an experienced social entrepreneur, public sector leader, and scholar. Lisette founded Lingo Ventures which is focused on growth, talent recruitment/retention, and change management. Lisette served as the Belle Zeller Distinguished Visiting Professor in Public Policy at the City University of New York at Brooklyn College. Lisette has also held senior leadership positions in the municipal and federal government. She most recently served as an Obama appointee on the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, where she co-chaired the higher education subcommittee and supported the production of two reports and convenings.

Lisette also served as the founding Executive Director of Year Up NY, an innovative workforce development program, wherein the span of five years she grew the organization from a $250,000 seed grant to a $6 million operation with over 20 corporate partnerships. Her interest in the workforce and education led to her dissertation on the relationship between student work and school roles, for which she received the 2016 Dissertation of the Year Award by the (NCSD – AACC). Her areas of interest include community colleges, college pathways, workforce and education partnerships which are all represented in her co-authored new book, Working to Learn: Disrupting the Divide between College and Career Pathways for Young People

Her board affiliations include the Edwin Gould Foundation, AVID, The Education Trust, NewSchools Venture Fund, Jobs for the Future (JFF), and a Trustee of the New York Public Library. She served as the Founding Chair of the Guttman Community College Foundation Board.

View Dr. Nieves' full CV.

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Ginasophia Altieri
Adjunct Faculty, Capstone Advisor

Ginasophia is an Associate Director at the University of Pennsylvania’s Office of Research Services where she reviews and approves proposals for extramurally funded sponsored research projects. She provides oversight, administrative structure, and consultation to researchers to improve their ability to obtain and manage sponsored research funding. Currently, the Office of Research Services receives more than US $1.2 billion in external funding annually and is one of the top recipients of competitive research grants.

Ginasophia previously worked at the City University of New York, Columbia University, and Weill Cornell Medical College. Ginasophia also serves as a reviewer for the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE). Ginasophia received a Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University's College of Arts and Sciences, a second Bachelor of Arts degree from Queens College (Magna Cum Laude), and a doctorate in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education.

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Trish Beck
Clinical Faculty, Program Director

Trish Beck is Clinical Assistant Professor of Education Leadership and Policy Studies in the Department of Administration, Leadership, and Technology at NYU and the Program Director for the EdD in Leadership and Innovation. Trish obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Mount Saint Mary College, her Master of Science in Leadership and Health Care Management from Northeastern University, and her Doctor of Education, Leadership, and Innovation from New York University. Additionally, she is a Board-Certified Nurse Executive, a Board-Certified Healthcare Executive, and a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Dr. Beck’s research centers on leadership theory and development. She has extensive leadership experience within the non-profit and private sectors and has had numerous leadership roles including Chief Operating Officer, Associate Chief Nursing Officer, and Assistant Vice President. With empathy and empowerment, she has been successful in engaging and motivating teams and subsequently driving innovation and improvement. As a steadfast servant leader, Trish has a strong belief in the power of relationships. A large component of each of her roles has been serving as a mentor and coach to the members of her teams, committed to sharing the knowledge and skills she has been fortunate to have earned throughout her career.

In addition to leadership experience, Trish has a tremendous ability in strategic operations and program development. With her ability to foster a culture of collaboration amongst different teams she has led the development of several organizations and programs to meet the community need and create social impact.

Trish believes in a student-centered approach, fostering a safe and supportive environment allowing for students to lean into the vulnerability needed to excel as a scholar. Passionate about teaching, Trish has had informal teaching roles throughout her career. She has created numerous learning curriculums with a focus on leadership and innovation.

View Dr. Beck’s full CV.

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Lisa Belzberg
Capstone Advisor

Dr. Lisa Belzberg is the Founder of the non-profit organization PENCIL (Public Education Needs Civic Involvement in Learning). She has worked for political campaign consultant David Garth, as a producer of The Charlie Rose Show, as a Principal at Leeds Equity Partners, and she is currently an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and Senior Advisor at YearUp.

Dr. Belzberg was named one of the "10 Most Influential New Yorkers" by New York magazine. She is an active Board member of OneFamily Fund, Action Canada, THEIRWORLD, The JDC, served on The Governor’s NY Education Reform Commission, and sits on the Dean’s Council for NYU’s Steinhardt School of Education. Dr. Belzberg holds a BA from Barnard College, an MSc from The London School of Economics, and a PhD in Education from New York University.

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Ben Maddox
Adjunct Faculty, Capstone Advisor

As New York University’s Chief Instructional Technology Officer, Ben Maddox collaborates with Deans, Faculty, students, and staff across NYU Schools and Units globally to enable the University's Teaching and Learning Technology mission. Ben holds a Bachelor's Degree from Baylor University, a Master's and Advanced Certificate degree from the Steinhardt School at NYU, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Pennsylvania.

Ben’s academic work focuses on intersections between and across technology, innovation, leadership practices, internationalization, learning, and higher education. Ben is a member of several non-profit boards and teaches at NYU’s Steinhardt School of Education in the Administration, Technology, and Leadership at both the master’s and doctoral levels.

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Madeline Pumariega
Adjunct Faculty

Madeline Pumariega is the fifth and first female president of Miami Dade College, the institution she attended decades earlier as a student-athlete. She has prioritized working with industry, tailoring programs that deliver talent. Her transformative approach accelerates students’ entry into the workforce upon the completion of rapid credentials or degrees.

Before becoming president, Pumariega was appointed the first female and Hispanic chancellor of the Florida College System. In 2019, she became the executive vice president and provost of Tallahassee Community College. She previously served as president of Take Stock in Children. She’s hit the ground running since starting in January 2021, focusing on academic excellence, innovation, inclusion, a culture of care, data-driven decision making, and supporting Miami’s growing tech scene.

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Gisele Shorter
Capstone Advisor

Dr. Gisele C. Shorter is the Program Officer for K-12 education at the Raikes Foundation. She provides strategy, policy, impact scaling, and fundraising consulting services to non-profits, coalitions, and advocacy groups to help them expand their reach and strengthen their impact.

Gisele’s career is rooted in a deep belief that an equitable society starts with an equitable education system. For 20 years, she has led large-scale community-based programs, research, and policy initiatives to advance justice and equity, close health disparities, and ensure access and opportunities for Black and Brown youth and communities to flourish. Dr. Shorter has led youth development, education, and community-based organizations through programmatic resets, large-scale culture change initiatives, and strategic reengineering. In 2018 she was recruited to the Raikes Foundation to lead the K-12 School & System Redesign portfolio focused on a commitment to grow the foundation’s impact and to advance justice and equity in the redesign of our national public education system by leveraging the science of learning and development.

Gisele began her career in the private sector with leadership experiences including Volume.com, an AOL Time Warner company, where she was Head of Research, and ESPN, Inc. where she was a Program Management Associate. She has successfully leveraged her private sector experience, community connections, and academic training to drive positive change on behalf of the most vulnerable youth and communities.

Dr. Shorter earned her EdD from Columbia University Teachers College. She holds an MPA from Long Island University and a BA from Amherst College. She is a Pahara Aspen Fellow and an active member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

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Lisa Spinali
Adjunct Faculty

Lisa Spinali is an experienced lecturer, coach, and facilitator who nurtures excellence in students and clients. Lisa’s teaching focuses on partnerships and cross-sector strategies giving students practical approaches to real-world challenges.

In her consulting practice, clients include the California Community Foundation, Chancellor’s Office of Community Colleges, and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. She chairs the AmeriCorps Committee for California Volunteers and serves on the board of California CASA for foster youth. As Executive Director, Lisa led the merger between the San Francisco Education Fund and San Francisco School Volunteers, managed civic engagement funding for the Omidyar Foundation, and was executive-on-loan to the White House for the launch of AmeriCorps.

Lisa earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in Italian Literature from the University of California, Berkeley.

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Mellie Torres
Adjunct Faculty

Dr. Mellie Torres is a practitioner, evaluator, and applied researcher that works at the nexus of research, practice, and policy with and for BIPOC communities. Dr. Torres has a range of experiences in strategic learning, program evaluation, and applied research using a culturally-responsive and equity-informed lens to support and advance mission-driven impact.

Mellie has a PhD in Education from New York University, graduate degrees from Montclair State University (Mathematics Education) and the University of Michigan (Public Policy), and an undergraduate degree from Seton Hall (Mathematics). Before doctoral studies, Mellie taught high school math in her hometown of Newark, NJ, and worked in Chicago’s South Side with ShoreBank, a community development mission bank that equally prioritized profits and impact on people and the environment.

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Anne Washington
Assistant Professor of Data Policy

Dr. Anne L. Washington is an Assistant Professor of Data Policy in NYU Steinhardt’s Department of Applied Statistics, Social Science, and Humanities. She applies her expertise in digital government to emerging data governance issues in organizations with a public mission. As a computer scientist trained in organizational ethnography, she unites inductive qualitative research methods with technology tools. At the broadest level, her multi-disciplinary work considers the impact of technology on society through the lens of digital record keeping. The National Science Foundation has funded her research multiple times including a five-year NSF CAREER grant on open government data.

She holds a BA in computer science from Brown University, a graduate degree in Library and Information Science from Rutgers University, and a PhD in Information Systems and Technology Management from George Washington University. She has served as a fellow at the Data and Society Research Institute of New York and the Peter Pribilla Foundation of Munich and Leipzig Germany. She teaches in the Applied Statistics, Social Science, and Humanities department in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University.

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Ethan W Youngerman
Clinical Faculty, Capstone Advisor

Ethan Youngerman is a Clinical Associate Professor in NYU’s Expository Writing Program, where he has taught for twenty years. His research, which incorporates quantitative and qualitative methodologies, focuses on integrative learning as an undergraduate outcome and experience. His work has been published in Research in Higher Education, AERA Open, Innovative Higher Education, New Directions for Higher Education: Applied Learning in Higher Education, The Journal of Experimental Education, Learning Communities Research and Practice, and the most recent edition of The SAGE Encyclopedia of Higher Education.

He’s been a member of the research team for the Assessment of Collegiate Residential Environments and Outcomes (ACREO), a national study, since its launch in 2014. He holds an EdD in Higher Education and an MFA in Dramatic Writing, both from NYU.