Diane Ravitch

Research Professor of Education, New York University;
Former Member, National Assessment Governing Board

Diane Ravitch is Research Professor of Education at New York University and a historian of education. In addition, she is a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C.

From 1991 to 1993, she was Assistant Secretary of Education and Counselor to Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander in the administration of President George H.W. Bush. She was responsible for the Office of Educational Research and Improvement in the U.S. Department of Education, and led the federal effort to promote the creation of voluntary state and national academic standards. From 1997 to 2004, she was a member of the National Assessment Governing Board. And from 1995 until 2005, she held the Brown Chair in Education Studies at the Brookings Institution and edited Brookings Papers on Education Policy. Before entering government service, she was Adjunct Professor of History and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Dr. Ravitch is the author of numerous books, including The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education (2010). She shares a blog called "Bridging Differences" with Deborah Meier, hosted by Education Week. She also blogs for Politico and the Huffington Post. Her articles have appeared in many newspapers and magazines. In addition, she has lectured on democracy and education in numerous countries, including Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, the former Soviet Union, Germany, Japan, Nicaragua and the United States.

Dr. Ravitch has received numerous honors, awards and memberships. She was selected as a Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar in 1984-85, the first person chosen from the field of education studies. Most recently, in 2010, the National Education Association selected her as its "Friend of Education" for the year. In 2011, she received the Outstanding Friend of Education Award from the Horace Mann League and the American Education Award from the American Association of School Administrators, among others.

A native of Houston, she is a graduate of Houston public schools. She received a bachelor's degree from Wellesley College in 1960 and a Ph.D. in history from Columbia University's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in 1975.