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I am an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Economics at The University of Alabama. My research examines educational inequalities through large-scale experimental, quasi-experimental, and machine learning methods, with a focus on understanding how leadership actions and system-level policies shape teaching quality, family engagement systems, and student learning. I work closely with government agencies to design and implement research–practice partnerships that strengthen organizational capacity and generate rigorous, actionable evidence. I aim to bridge academic scholarship and practical reform, supporting school and district leaders in advancing equitable, effective educational systems.
During my doctoral studies, I was fortunate to be advised by Prof. Felipe Barrera-Osorio and Prof. Carolyn Heinrich, who have shaped my academic trajectory. Prior to my PhD, I taught middle school for three years in a low-income community as a Teach for China fellow in southwest China, near the Myanmar border. This experience profoundly shaped my commitment to addressing educational inequality and continues to motivate my research agenda. I hold a B.A. in Economics from Sichuan University and an M.Ed. in Education Policy and a Ph.D. in Leadership and Policy Studies from Vanderbilt University.
I welcome opportunities for research collaboration and can be reached at xzhang215@ua.edu.
My philosophy of life has been shaped by lessons from the people and wisdom that matter deeply to me.
I believe that no one has ever become poor by giving, which inspires me to support the people around me in becoming better versions of themselves—with “better” defined on their own terms.
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