hello!

I'm Melanie Muskin, a doctoral candidate in Human Development and Social Policy at Northwestern University. My research focuses on the lived experiences of American educators and how they navigate the challenges of a profession increasingly shaped by social media, political polarization, and ongoing educational reform. I use interdisciplinary, mixed-methods approaches to explore questions at the intersection of education, sociology, psychology, and political science. At the heart of my work is a commitment to building systems that promote greater professional dignity, ensuring that teachers and school leaders have the resources and working conditions to be happy, healthy, and loving what they do.

My academic research is grounded in a prior career as a teacher and school leader in elementary schools and early childhood settings in New York City. Alongside academic writing, I place great importance on producing public-facing scholarship, including policy reports, op-eds, and tools for practitioners. Whether I’m coaching student teachers, teaching undergraduates, or publishing research, my goal is to bridge theory and practice in ways that support a healthier, skilled, and more sustainable educational workforce.