Dear Colleagues,
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Laudan Jahromi as the new Elbenwood Professorship in Education. Dr. Jahromi's distinguished career perfectly embodies the purpose of this chair, which was established to foster inquiry into the development and teaching of children from birth through the early primary years, specifically championing innovation and cooperation with parents. She succeeds Dr. Hope Leichter, who held the position until her retirement in 2024.
Dr. Jahromi currently serves as Professor of Psychology and Education and is finishing up her time as Chair of the Department of Health Studies and Applied Educational Psychology. Her research is dedicated to the social-emotional well-being of high-need children and their families, with a particular focus on those with complex support needs.
Her work champions family-centered programming, which treats parents as essential partners in the educational process. She employs Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) to center parent voices in program design, notably in exploring barriers to family engagement in special education. Dr. Jahromi does all this while maintaining a prolific, interdisciplinary publication record on topics such as school readiness, cultural socialization, and the intergenerational transmission of parenting strategies. Her dedication to under-served and under-resourced families ensures her innovations in early childhood education have a broad and equitable impact.
In addition to her outstanding research, Dr. Jahromi’s impact as a colleague, teacher, and mentor is significant. She has served on multiple college committees and has been an exceptional instructor. Dr. Jahromi’s commitment to academic excellence, innovative family-centered practices, and the development of young children makes her an ideal recipient of the Elbenwood Professorship. We look forward to her continued leadership and the significant contributions she will make in this new role.
Sincerely,
KerryAnn O'Meara
Provost and Dean of the College
Professor of Higher Education
Teachers College, Columbia University
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