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ATLANTA — Douglas Harris, professor and chair of economics at Tulane University in Louisiana, will present “What Future for Schools Should We ‘Choose?’ Charter Schools, Vouchers and the Future of American Education” at the 2025 Dan E. Sweat Distinguished Lecture April 16 at Georgia State University.
The lecture will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies on the ninth floor of 55 Park Place, Atlanta.
“This lecture by Dr. Harris, one of the leading experts on the effects of large-scale school choice programs, promises to offer invaluable insights on challenges and opportunities in such policies, helping to deepen our collective knowledge and inspire further inquiry,” said Professor Ross Rubenstein, who holds the Dan E. Sweat Distinguished Chair in Educational and Community Policy.
The Dan E. Sweat Distinguished Lecture Series memorializes the legacy of Dan E. Sweat, one of Atlanta's most respected public servants. Recognized by The New York Times as Atlanta’s “premier civic administrator,” Sweat was a committed educator and a steadfast supporter of Georgia State University. Throughout his four-decade career, he was a key figure in community development. In recognition of his visionary leadership and commitment to community and learning, Georgia State University established the Dan E. Sweat Chair.
“We are proud to sponsor the annual Dan E. Sweat lecture series, bringing in nationally known experts sharing insights from their research to inform critical debates in education policy,” Rubenstein said.
A leading scholar in education policy, Harris serves as the Schlieder Foundation Chair in Public Education and directs both the Education Research Alliance for New Orleans and the National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice at Tulane University. His most recent book, “Charter School City: What the End of Traditional Public Schools in New Orleans Means for American Education,” examines the transformation of New Orleans’ public education system. As director of the State of the Nation Project at the Brookings Institution, he’s worked with advisers to the last five U.S. presidents to identify key national performance metrics. Harris is also lead editor of the AEFP Live Handbook of Education Policy.
Click here for more information on the Dan E. Sweat lecture series.
— By AYSPS Graduate Student Assistant Ayomidotun Olugbenle (M.A. in Communication)