Erin Anderson named director of the Center for Urban Education Success

National search concludes with the appointment of an accomplished scholar-practitioner focused on educational leadership and school improvement.

The University of Rochester’s Warner School of Education & Human Development has appointed Erin Anderson, PhD, as the new William and Sheila Konar Director of the Center for Urban Education Success (CUES) and associate professor in educational leadership. Following a national search, Anderson will officially begin her role on August 15, 2026. 

Anderson brings extensive experience as a scholar, educator, and leader focused on continuous K-12 school and district improvement. She began her career as a teacher and administrator in the New York City Public Schools, where she developed a commitment to making schools more welcoming and inclusive for students, families, and communities. Since then, she has built a nationally recognized research agenda centered on school and district leadership practices, leadership preparation, and the planning and implementation of school improvement and transformation. 

Currently an associate professor of educational leadership and policy studies at the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver, Anderson has worked closely with Denver Public Schools on large-scale school improvement and transformation initiatives. Her work emphasizes both improved student outcomes and educator well-being. She is the co-editor of the book Continuous Improvement: A Leadership Process for School Improvement and the first author of Leading Continuous Improvement in Schools: Enacting Leadership Standards to Advance Educational Quality and Equity. She has also published extensively in top-tier, peer-reviewed education journals.

Anderson holds leadership roles in several prominent national organizations, including the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the University Council of Educational Administration (UCEA). In 2021, she received the Jack A. Culbertson Early Career Award from UCEA.

“Erin is a deeply thoughtful and values-driven leader whose scholarship and practice align powerfully with the mission of CUES and the Warner School,” says Melissa Sturge-Apple, dean of the Warner School. “Her commitment to educational access, leadership development, and sustainable school improvement makes her an outstanding choice to lead CUES into its next chapter.”

CUES was established in 2016, one year after the formation of the University of Rochester-East partnership (EPO), to support the success of K-12 schools in Rochester and beyond. In 2018, the William & Sheila Konar Foundation made a gift to support urban education research and practice at CUES, creating an endowed directorship that ensures long-term leadership and impact for the Center.

Anderson succeeds Shaun Nelms, ’04W (MS), ’13W (EdD), who has served as the inaugural William and Sheila Konar Director of CUES since 2018 and was later appointed vice president for community partnerships at the University. During his tenure, Nelms helped shape the Center’s vision and impact while leading significant change as superintendent of the East EPO, where student outcomes improved significantly and the school culture was transformed.

“I am honored to join the Warner School and to lead CUES at such a critical moment for K-12 education,” says Anderson, who holds a PhD in educational administration and supervision, a master’s in social foundations of education, and a bachelor’s in sociology—all from the University of Virginia. “CUES has built a legacy of partnership with schools and communities, and I look forward to contributing by working alongside educators, students, and families to continue to strengthen schools by advancing opportunity and the well-being of those who teach and learn through collaborative continuous improvement.” 

Grounded in the University’s partnership with East, CUES has played a valuable role in research aimed at identifying, addressing, and improving systems, practices, and culture at East, while also advancing broader systemic progress regionally and nationally. The Center shares lessons learned and best practices through practitioner briefs, professional and peer-reviewed journals and books, videos, and events, such as local in-person symposia, panel discussions, and webinars.

“We are grateful to the William & Sheila Konar Foundation for establishing this endowed position,” adds Sturge-Apple. “Their support strengthens our ability to attract and sustain strong leaders like Erin to focus on the students and communities we serve.”