Erik Ruzek, Ph.D.
UC Irvine
School of Education
Email: bbachilles@gmail.com
Biography
Erik Ruzek received his Ph.D. in Education, specializing in Educational Policy and Social Context, from the University of California, Irvine, in June 2012. Subsequently he was hired as a Research Scientist at the Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning (CASTL) at the University of Virginia.
Dr. Ruzek is interested in how classroom environments influence adolescent development, and in particular students' motivation, engagement, and academic achievement. At CASTL, Erik will continue to work on these issues and others, including using multiple indicators of classroom environments (i.e., student reports, independent observations, and teacher reports) to more accurately describe classrooms. Triangulating the information contained in these various indicators may help researchers and practicioners better understand why classrooms do or do not promote students' acaemic development.
In his previous career, Dr. Ruzek was an admissions counselor for both the University of California and the California State University systems. He has a Master’s degree in Leadership and Liberal Studies from Duquesne University and a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from UC Riverside.
Publications
Domina, T., & Ruzek, E. (2010,). Paving the way: K-16 partnerships for higher education diversity and high school reform. Educational Policy, Online First, December 31, 2010.
Zarate, M. E., Ruzek, E., & Silver, D. (2008). Middle school influences on high school graduation and college readiness in Los Angeles Unified School District. In Seizing the middle ground: Why middle school creates the pathway to college and the work force (pp. 58-67). Los Angeles, CA: United Way of Greater Los Angeles.
http://www.unitedwayla.org/getinformed/rr/socialreports/Pages/seizingthemiddleground.aspx