This month, we are pleased to introduce Dr. Aubrey Wang (awang@sju.edu), Professor, Department of Educational Leadership, Counseling, and Social Work, Saint Joseph’s University
Any particular advice or tips for someone starting out in the field who is doing work in your area?
If somehow life provided you with a different pathway than the typical doctoral degree to postdoc to a tenure-track position, it is okay. Each stop of your professional journey will open up different learning opportunities, different perspectives, and a new network of people. As long as you know you are showing up with good work ethics, focusing on personal and professional growth, and supporting your team and department to meet its goals—this will be a worthy stop. Also, take the time to pause and reflect at each stop. Are you doing something you feel is important? Are you making an impact on the community you care about? Do you feel joy while doing this work?
A short paragraph describing a recent publication and what makes you excited about it.
An older mentor whom I respect greatly shared that he was inspired by my newly published book to cast his upcoming keynote presentation as a story about the multiple identities he represented and how they challenged and empowered him over his career and life. He believes that by casting his story this way, he may be able to help the conference attendees review and reconsider their own stories. They might even begin to see their personal stories as the most important professional and spiritual resource they have for their development into leaders. This was the most powerful external validation that I have ever received about the value of my work. I’m also thrilled to share that the book has been nominated for the 2025 Society of Professors of Education Book Award.
Wang, A. H., & Grogan, M. (Eds.). (2024). Intersectionality and leading social change in education: Professional learning to transform self, others, and the field. New York: Routledge.
Your reflections on your interactions with the Asian Caucus would be highly appreciated. Please feel free to share your thoughts, whether it’s a simple message for the Caucus community or more.
I am grateful to the peer mentors and friends I have met through the Asian Caucus. It was through interactions with different people from this and other Asian-empowered organizations that made me believe in the value of pursuing the book project.
Any upcoming talks or presentations we should know about?
Collier-Bacon, L., & Wang, A. H., (accepted, 2025, April 23-27). “Standing Up for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students: Practices of Culturally Responsive School Leaders.” Accepted as a paper presentation at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Placed-Based in Denver, Colorado, April 23-27, 2025.
My doctoral student will be giving a paper presentation on her dissertation at AERA!
Vitale, J., Patterson, N., Whitehead, J., Grogan, M., & Wang, A. H. (accepted, 2025, March 8). “Empowering Educational Leaders: Intersectionality, Critical Leadership Praxis, and Storytelling.” Proposal accepted for a concurrent session at the AASA’s 2025 National Conference on Education to be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, from March 6 to 8, 2025.
We are co-presenting the newly published book with our chapter authors at AASA.
What is your preferred contact email?
awang@sju.edu
A weblink you prefer to share?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aubrey-wang-35308439/