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Pedro Noguera        

Professor of Education, Founder of the Center for the Transformation of Schools UCLA

Pedro Noguera is one of the nation’s leading scholars on issues related to race, inequality, and education. Prior to coming to USC to serve as the Emery Stoops and Joyce King Stoops Dean of the Rossier School of Education, he served as a Professor of Education and holder of endowed chairs at UCLA, NYU, Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley.

He is the author of 15 books. His most recent book "A Search for Common Ground: Conversations About the Tough Questions and Complex Issues Confronting K-12 Education in the United States Today" with Rick Hess was the winner of the American Association of Publishers Prose Award in 2021.

Noguera has served as an advisor to several states, school districts, foundations, and nonprofits. In 2022 he was appointed to President Biden’s National Commission on Hispanics. In 2014 he was elected to the National Academy of Education and Phi Delta Kappa honor society, and in 2020 Noguera was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Noguera has received seven honorary doctorates from American universities and received awards from the Center for the Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, and from the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at NYU for his research and advocacy efforts aimed at fighting poverty. In 2023 he was ranked 1st in the nation for influence and impact in the field of education, by Education Week.

Speech Topics

Schooling for Resilience: A Holistic Approach to Success

In recent years, as policymakers and educators have sought to find new ways to improve student outcomes, there has been a call for greater focus on addressing social, emotional and mental health needs of students. The disruptions created by the pandemic have significantly exacerbated pre-existing disparities, contributed to higher rates of chronic absenteeism, and brought greater awareness to the wide range of needs of our most vulnerable children. Too often, past reform efforts have focused narrowly on achievement while ignoring the psychological, emotional and social challenges confronting many children. It is now clear that in order for more students and schools to make greater academic progress, a more holistic approach is needed. This presentation will present research and describe strategies that have been utilized at schools that have been successful in countering the risks facing students, in motivating them to excel academically, and become more resilient. We will show through concrete examples that it is possible to create schools that are more supportive, equitable, engaging, and more successful in meeting student needs.

Creating Conditions for Academic Excellence: What it Takes to Leave No Child Behind

In this talk, America's leading expert on public education tackles the growing issue of the academic achievement gap in American schools, giving examples of failed policy strategies as well as successful ones to break down why our education system is failing, and how we can fix it. To build a school system where no child is left behind, we must focus on creating schools where a child's race or social class is no longer a predictor for their performance. Why is the growing achievement gap between the best schools and the worst ones a glaring societal problem? What success stories can we turn to as examples of a better system? And, most importantly, is a massive reshaping of our public schools even possible? With infectious enthusiasm and passion, Noguera shares his vision for the school system of the future, and explains why we must demand it for today.

Challenging Racial Inequality in Our Schools

As a leading urban sociologist, Noguera examines how schools are influenced by social and economic conditions in the urban environment. What are the challenges they face in providing safe, academically rewarding environments? What is the state of race relations, racial inequality? What is the role of diversity? What is the impact of violence, parents, and school vouchers? What factors promote student achievement? Which detract from it? What is the impact of immigration and migration? A realistic, hopeful speaker, Noguera shows you the hurdles we face in providing equal education to all -- and then unveils the solutions that are already working to overcome them.

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