Laura McKenna, PhD

Academia and Research

Between 1993- 2010, I worked in higher education. While completing my PhD coursework, I spent seven years as a policy director at the non-profit think tank, The Howard Samuels Center. There, I led research projects for the City of New York and the Ford Foundation.

I received my PhD in political science in 2001. My dissertation was on the politics of school vouchers.

I taught a wide range of classes at Hunter College, Columbia, and Ramapo College. I conducted research and presented my findings at several academic conferences. I stepped away from academia in 2010 to write about politics and education for the mainstream press.

Political Science Professor 2001-2010

  • Ramapo College (2007-2010), Teachers College (2003), Hunter College (2001, 2003)
  • Taught undergraduate and graduate classes, including Politics and Media, Introduction to Political Theory, Introduction to Political Science, Introduction to Public Policy, State and Local Government, American Politics and Education. Introduction to American Government.
  • Wrote lectures, wrote and administered exams, wrote recommendations. 

Education Consultant and Researcher, January 1993 to February 2023

  • Conducted interviews with teachers and administrators for a New York City charterschool for the George Lucas Foundation and wrote an internal report about my findings. February 2023
  • Jan 1993 – June 1999. Worked as a project director for the Howard Samuels State Management and Policy Center, The Graduate School and University Center, CUNY New York, NY.
    • I coordinated a team of researchers on multi-state projects evaluating charter school reform and school finance reform.
    • I conducted in-depth interviews, focus groups, and surveys.
    • I analyzed quantitative data to evaluate reforms for the city of New York.
    • I presented findings to city and foundation leaders.
    • I organized seminars for stakeholders. I edited books and publications.

Education

  • The Graduate Center, CUNY, New York City, PhD, Political Science, June 2001
  • University of Chicago , MA, Social Sciences June 1991
  • SUNY Binghamton, BA, Political Science, June 1987 

Academic CV

Education

The Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York, Ph.D. in  Political Science, June 2001, Dissertation Title: The Politics of School Vouchers, Dissertation Sponsor: Marilyn Gittell; Dissertation Reader: Andrew Polsky, Major: American Politics; Minor: Theory, Awards: Howard Samuels Tuition Grants, University Tuition Stipend, University Fellowship

University of Chicago, M.A. in Social Sciences, Concentration in Political Theory, September 1989 to June 1991, Masters Thesis: The Importance of the Individual: A Comparison of Alexis de Tocqueville’s Theory of Individualism and Hannah Arendt’s Eichmann in Jerusalem, Awards: Tuition Fellowship

SUNY Binghamton, B.A. Political Science Major, September 1983 to June 1987

Professional Experience

2003-present  Writer and Essayist. Regular contributor to Atlantic Monthly, Edutopia, and other venues. 

2007-2009       Assistant Professor. Ramapo College of New Jersey. American and International Studies.

2000-2004       Education Policy and Public Policy Consultant.

2003                Adjunct Professor. Teachers’ College, Columbia University. Department of Politics and Education.

2001, 2002      Adjunct Professor. Hunter College, City University of New York. Department of Political Science.

Teaching Experience

Ramapo College of New Jersey, Political Science, Assistant Professor. January 2007- June 2009 (3-Year Temporary Position) Introduction to Political Theory, Fall 2007, Spring 2008, Fall 2008, Spring 2009, Introduction to Political Science, Spring 2007; The Politics of Public Policy, Spring 2007, Fall 2008; Media and Politics, Spring 2007, Fall 2007, Spring 2009; State and Local Politics, Spring 2008

Teachers College, Columbia University, Department of Politics and Education, Adjunct Professor. American Politics and Education. Graduate class. Spring 2003, Fall 2003

Hunter College, CUNY, Department of Political Science, Adjunct Professor. Introduction to American Government. Fall 2002, Fall 2001, Adjunct Lecturer. Introduction to American Government. Fall 1995, Teaching Assistant. Introduction to American Government. Fall 1994

Teaching Fields: American politics, American political thought, education policy, public policy, state and local government, gender politics, technology, mass media and new media, political theory

Publications

McKenna, Laura. 2009. “Netroots Rising: How a Citizen Army of Bloggers and Online Activists is Changing American Politics”, by Lowell Feld and Nate Wilcox, Political Communication, 26:22, pp. 242-245.

McKenna, Laura and Antoinette Pole. January 2008. “What Do Bloggers Do?: An Average Day on an Average Political Blog.” Public Choice.

McKenna, Laura. May 2007. “’Getting the Word Out’: Policy Bloggers Use Their Soap Box to Make Change.” Review of Policy Research. Volume 24, Number 3.

Gittell, Marilyn et. al. 2001. The New Politics of Education.  New York, NY: Howard State Management and Policy Center.

Gittell, Marilyn and Laura McKenna.  September 1999. “Redefining Education Regimes and Reform: The Political Role of Governors”. Urban Educator. Volume 34, No. 3, pp.268-291.

Gittell, Marilyn and Laura McKenna. 1998. The Ends and the Means of Education Policy. in Marilyn Gittell ed., Strategies for School Equity: Creating Productive Schools in a Just Society. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Gittell, Marilyn and Laura McKenna. August 1997. Activist Governors and a New Conservative Direction for Education. New York, NY: Howard State Management and Policy Center.

Gittell, Marilyn and Jennifer Holdaway with Laura McKenna. January 1996. Why Good Students Leave CUNY. New York, NY: Howard State Management and Policy Center.

Papers Presented At Conferences

September 2009. “The Internet and American Politics: Where the Politically Rich Get Richer and the Politically Poor Get Perez Hilton” Paper to be presented at the American Political Science Association Conference. Toronto, Ontario.

 “Reporters Review the Bloggers: Freaks, Geeks, or Parasites?” September 2007. Paper presented at the American Political Science Association Conference.  Chicago, IL.

“Getting the Word Out: Policy Bloggers Use Their Soap Box to Make Change.”  September 2006. Paper presented at the American Political Science Association Conference.  Philadelphia, PA.

With Antoinette Pole, “How Blogs Impact on Political Action,” September 2005. Paper presented at the Conference on Politics and the Internet. Washington, DC at the German Marshall Fund.

With Antoinette Pole. “Do Blogs Matter?: Weblogs in American Politics.” September 2004. Paper presented at the American Political Science Association. Chicago, IL.

“The New State Policy Coalitions.”  November 11, 1999.  Paper presented at the Northeast Political Science Association Meeting.  Philadelphia, PA.  

“The New State-Local Connection: The Political End-Run Around the Unions for Vouchers in Cleveland.”  May 1999. Paper presented at the New York State Political Science Association Meeting.  Queens, New York.

“Activist Governors and a New Conservative Direction for Education.” April 1997.  Paper presented at the Urban Affairs Conference. Toronto, Canada.

“Presentation of First Year Findings of Regimes and Reform.” April 1997. Paper presented at the “State Coalition Building and City School Reform” Conference for the Ford Foundation, New York, NY.

Mainstream Writing

  • Wrote articles about politics, parenting, education, and culture for major publications, including The Atlantic, Edutopia, The 74 Today, HuffPost, and more.
  • From Senator Cory Booker to a principal of a public school for emotionally disturbed children in the South Bronx, I’ve had the opportunity to talk with a diverse cast of people about schools.  I’ve covered a wide range of topics, including the opt-out movement, the closing of a small girl’s college, a supreme court case over special education, the impact of parents on schools, college affordability, the application process to elite college, the high cost of textbooks, the impact of vouchers on Catholic education, the move towards competency-based learning, how technology is changing education, and the impact of adjuncts on college education. I have discussed my work on NPR and Sirius Radio. My work has been cited in peer review journal and law review journals.
  • Discussed articles and research as a guest on radio shows, including NPR’s All Things Considered and Media Matters’ The Agenda.
  • Sample articles: 
  • Why Studying Is So Hard, and What Teachers Can Do to Help, Edutopia, February 10, 2023
  • After Social Isolation, Preparing Our Youngest Students to Thrive, Edutopia, August 2022
  • The Teaching That Works for Traumatized Students, The Atlantic, July 28, 2020

Media Attention

Interview with Media Matters, Sirius Radio, March 2013

Interview with NPR, Michel Martin’s All Things Considered, October 16, 2012, Transcript

Interview with Arnie Arnesen, The Attitude on WNHN 94.7FM in Concord NH, March 2012

Research Experience
Edutopia Project, February 2023

Conducted interviews with teachers and administrators for a New York City charterschool for the George Lucas Foundation and wrote an internal report about my findings. February 2023

Howard Samuels State Management and Policy Center, The Graduate School and University Center, CUNY, New York, NY

Project Director. Regimes and Reform: Rethinking Urban Education Reform, September 1996 to May 1999

Conducted a study of the politics of education in nine states through an analysis of charter school and finance reform.  Led and trained a team of eight research assistants in qualitative methodology.  Conducted more than one hundred face-to-face and phone interviews with key participants in education reform. Funded by the Ford Foundation.

Conference Organizer. State Coalition Building and City School Reform, January 1997 to April 1997

Organized a conference for the Ford Foundation for their grantees working for urban education reform.  Presented our research findings with other scholars researching education reform.

Co-Project Director. Why Good Students Leave CUNY, June 1995 to January 1996

Conducted focus groups and phone interviews with CUNY students with good GPAs to learn why they had dropped out of college.  Used SPSS to code their answers and quantify results.

Project Director. Evaluation of Year One of New York City’s Urban Systemic Initiative, January 1995 to May 1996

Evaluated NSF’s USI project in New York City’s Department of Education.  Interviewed superintendents and administrators responsible for the program’s development and implementation.

Co-Project Director. Organizational Change in New York City’s Probation Department, January 1993 to January 1995

Observed change in the organizational culture of New York City’s Probation Department.  Interviewed line staff, middle managers, and upper management during a major reform of bureaucratic practices.  

Professional Service
Referee, Review of Policy Research; American Politics Research; Social Science Computer Review; International Journal of Public Opinion Review

Community Service

  • Writes essays and opinion pieces for national newspapers about the needs of students, with a focus on students with special needs and at-risk students.
  • Sample:
  • McKenna: 7 Tips for Parents Who Want to Speak Out at School Board Meetings and Be Effective Advocates for Students, The 74, March 17, 2021
  • When schools close or go online, what happens to students with disabilities?, USA Today, March 23, 2020
  • Currently drafting a book about autism and schools
  • Founding member of the Social Place, a parent-led group that organized social events for children on the autism spectrum.
  • Organized Ian’s Friday Night Group, a local group that provided Friday night social events for teens on the autistic spectrum. 
  • In January 2015, launched Facebook’s “Ridgewood Special Moms and Dads Page” which presently serves over 750 parents, therapists, and teachers. It provides a place for local service providers to advertise services and for parents to ask questions. 
  • Active participant of Ridgewood’s SEPAC for 12 years.
  • Consistently advocates for students at Ridgewood Board of Education meetings.
Other Work Experience

Special Education Teacher.  The Bronx Center for Multiply Handicapped Children. Bronx, NY. September 1991 to January 1993.

Assistant to the Director. The Smart Museum. Chicago, Illinois. May 1990 to May 1991.

Editor, Assistant Editor, and Editorial Assistant.  Simon & Schuster, Brady Books. New York, New York. June 1987 to September 1989.