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From Durham to Canberra, Exploring the Moral and Political Status of Children

Alexandra Oprea (Ph.D. in Political Science ’17) describes how her Bass Connections experience enhanced her understanding of civic education and education policy.

Alexandra Oprea

My research interests include public education, the moral and political status of children and institutional design. I am currently working on a series of articles investigating the appropriate distribution of education power among local and state governments, teachers’ unions, parents’ associations, nonprofits, law courts and school administrators.

My Bass Connections team, Citizenship Lab: Civic Participation of Refugee Youth in Durham, offered me a unique perspective on K-12 education and the challenges faced by students from immigrant backgrounds, especially students arriving as refugees from countries facing political instability. At the same time, it allowed me to observe the complex interplay of legislative, legal, executive and nongovernmental actors involved in education policy.

My research into the role that foundations and philanthropic donations should play within education policy drew inspiration from my experience with both the project team and the Bass Connections Student Advisory Council.

Starting July 2019, I will be a Lecturer in the School of Politics and International Relations at Australia National University (ANU). I am currently finishing up a two-year appointment as a Research Assistant Professor in the Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) Program at UNC Chapel Hill.

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